hey, im after a new battery becuase the current ones stuffed any way what are peoples recommendations on brands and types
i was lookin at getting these new Calcium free ones becuase there maintenance free too and raved about now and get one recommended for a v6 to alicate for the subs and other add ons maybe like a 400cca??

Yeah, ive seen the Bosch Maintenance Free Batteries. Look good.
I guess its worth a try...

I got a Bosch 13-plate battery in mine - 550CCA I think..... Very happy with it.

Instantly better fuel economy, power and torque back to where it should have been. This is mainly do to low battery energy and once the revs kicked in, the alternator was kicking in with some extra voltage and current. Stop start traffic was like 18-20L/100km in the city :shock:

Once the battery went in, back to 12-14L/100kms city and just over 10L/100kms highway :D

Also runs my audio gear okay, but I am going to put a split system in with an optima in the back.

Mine cost $115 from supercheap - unsure of model number but I only have to run to the car for that. I reccomend getting the biggest rated battery you can, don't go for a wimpy little one.

...I reccomend getting the biggest rated battery you can, don't go for a wimpy little one.
Yep, always lookup the ref for the max spec car as it'll usually have the largest battery

eg Elante TN


As long as the terminals fit (correct side & size) and the battery is not too tall (hits bonnet)
and fits in the hole, it'll work. You can buy larger battery clamps if necessary.

I reccomend getting the biggest rated battery you can, don't go for a wimpy little one.
so its fine to run it over but not under then?? if so how far over??
i would have thought you shouldnt go to far eg puttin one recommened for like a v10 in a 4cyl


Yep, always lookup the ref for the max spec car as it'll usually have the largest battery

eg Elante TN


As long as the terminals fit (correct side & size) and the battery is not too tall (hits bonnet)
and fits in the hole, it'll work. You can buy larger battery clamps if necessary.

yer ive looked up on the bosch and was thinkin of geting the heavy duty for the gen1 elites as there rated the highest for the gen1s but do you think i should maybe look at a recommened one for like a v6 gen3

so its fine to run it over but not under then?? if so how far over??
i would have thought you shouldnt go to far eg puttin one recommened for like a v10 in a 4cyl
Quick lesson #1 on lead acid battery chemistry... they don't like getting flattened regularly.
Flatten a leadacid to 0V and its toast. Keep it fully charged all the time.

So a bigger battery = less % of its capacity gets used each time it cycles (start & recharge)
so the bigger battery will last a lot longer in your car. Not much more expensive too.


Also "big" means physically big... big battery = higher power capacity.

Ratings of CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) does *not* mean capacity,
CCA is the measure of how much max current the battery can crank out for starting.
Is related to the battery's "internal resistance" in geek speak.

Two batteries of the same case size can have different CCAs... to increase CCAs
the manufacturer can make thinner plates and put more of them (eg 13 vs 9 plates).
More plates = more lead/acid surface = more current FLOW capacity.

It may flow more current, but it will still have the power capacity of the samesize battery.
So if you're cranking away continuously .. the capacity is still the same.

But thinner plates are MORE FRAGILE, they'll crumb more easily under vibration.
(And hell, we all know living under an AstronII's bonnet is mightly vibrating!!)
When the plates break up and gunk up - the battery's life is over.

A lower-CCA battery in a big-as-u-can-fit size is best.






yer ive looked up on the bosch and was thinkin of geting the heavy duty for the gen1 elites as there rated the highest for the gen1s but do you think i should maybe look at a recommened one for like a v6 gen3
Gen3 battery isn't all that big, same size as top-range 1st gen.

Gen3s all specs seem to have the same battery (that I have seen).

Mitsu gave some really tiny ones for the 1st gen lower specs when they were new.

thanks magnette for that info :D



Gen3 battery isn't all that big, same size as top-range 1st gen.

Gen3s all specs seem to have the same battery (that I have seen).

Mitsu gave some really tiny ones for the 1st gen lower specs when they were new.

yer i didnt notice till i re read the bocsh pdf that the high spec gen1s are the same as the gen3s

then it looks like ill get a few quotes on the Bosch gold B67MF

Volts: 12
Plates:13
CCA:520
Reserve mins:95
dimensions235 x 172 x 212
Assembly: D
Terminal type:STD
Special features: EL, SL, CH

Yeah, make sure it doesnt go completely flat, coz mine did and well its gathering dust now. :doubt:

Generally speaking, any decent car battery should store about 80Ah.
(80Ah = can supply 80A for 1hr, or 1A for 80hrs...)

Usable capacity is about 40-50Ah of that - don't "deep cycle" lead acids.




Yeah, make sure it doesnt go completely flat, coz mine did and well its gathering dust now. :doubt:
If you're going away for a few mths and your car is left parked unused... might as well disconnect the battery. All modern cars take a small current drain (clock, alarm etc) - it'll flatten any good battery after a few mths = cactus.

In an ideal world, you'd hook up a "float charger".
This is a little gadget that plugs to 240V and keeps the battery topped up. Can buy ones
that are designed to be installed permanently under your bonnet.

I've also bought a large-ish solar panel (18x6"?) that supposedly does the same thing.
Was about $80 from KMart, dunno how will it works - haven't tried it yet.

Float charger aye, tell me more....
Please.

yer i didnt notice till i re read the bocsh pdf that the high spec gen1s are the same as the gen3s

then it looks like ill get a few quotes on the Bosch gold B67MF

I think the Boschs are made by Exide, just compare the shape of their case moldings.

I usually buy Exide, Bosch or Century - depends whatever is cheapest. :P


For the TN I used to buy CCA 380 (9 plate?), used to average about 3-4 yrs each
out of those before their plates vibrated to bits. Once I paid extra $$ for a CCA ~480
and that only lasted about 2 yrs... :cry:

btw my battery usage is pretty "severe".
My RC hobby sucks a lot of 12V power whilst the car is parked, so that really kills any
sub-standard battery. Bought an offbrand one once... lasted only 6 mths!

yer thats why my current ones crap cos its gone flat to many times now and just sucks :doubt:
but yes tell more on this Float charger :D


I've also bought a large-ish solar panel (18x6"?) that supposedly does the same thing.
interesting.... i can get staff price at jaycar from a mate now and they sell these cheap as is

Yeah, i have to power alot of things.
I always got my phone charger going, lets not get started with the audio setup too. :doubt:

For the TN I used to buy CCA 380 (9 plate?), used to average about 3-4 yrs each
out of those before their plates vibrated to bits. Once I paid extra $$ for a CCA ~480
and that only lasted about 2 yrs... :cry:

btw my battery usage is pretty "severe".
My RC hobby sucks a lot of 12V power whilst the car is parked, so that really kills any
sub-standard battery. Bought an offbrand one once... lasted only 6 mths!
gees 6months thats my worry paying top $$ for something that lasts that short thats why i thought i spend the extra so i knew i was getting what i needed
but yer sometimes if im workin on my car few days in a row or even weeks i like to play the stereo for a while and with the current battury im lucky if it doesnt go flat with in an hour

Float charger is just a little transformer & electronics thingy, probably $20-40 only.
They are very useful for classic cars that are parked for months on end - starts 1st time!

Solar panel... buying them by themselves aren't cheap. And they're fragile glass.
The special one for battery floating have a plastic case around them and some
electronics for voltage control.



gees 6months thats my worry paying top $$ for something that lasts that short thats why i thought i spend the extra so i knew i was getting what i needed
but yer sometimes if im workin on my car few days in a row or even weeks i like to play the stereo for a while and with the current battury im lucky if it doesnt go flat with in an hour
Your usage isn't much different to mine. lol

Yep I have the ICE going whenever I'm working in the garage... usually few hrs no probs.

When playing RC... my chargers can suck 5-6A each, x2. I get 2-3hrs of that draw
before I start getting worried whether it can crank the engine after that.

Float charger is just a little transformer & electronics thingy, probably $20-40 only.
They are very useful for classic cars that are parked for months on end - starts 1st time!

Solar panel... buying them by themselves aren't cheap. And they're fragile glass.
The special one for battery floating have a plastic case around them and some
electronics for voltage control.



Your usage isn't much different to mine. lol

Yep I have the ICE going whenever I'm working in the garage... usually few hrs no probs.

When playing RC... my chargers can suck 5-6A each, x2. I get 2-3hrs of that draw
before I start getting worried whether it can crank the engine after that.

I turn my deck on for like 2minutes and it goes flat.
STUPID BATTERY :gtfo:

I turn my deck on for like 2minutes and it goes flat.

heh!

Either you've got a real crappy battery with 1 or more dying cells, or you need to buy
a nice 13.8V switchmode powersupply to run your ICE off 240V whilst parked. :cool:


Batteries store like 80Ah.
To suck out 80Ah in 2 mins... needs a 2400A draw = impossible. :doubt:
Your battery electrolyte would be BOILING before that.

2400A x 12V = 28,800W... that's 29kW!! :)

Once had a shorted-out starter motor. The battery (new!) pumped about 200A through
the starter circuit and it was 'on' for about 5 mins whilst I wondered what was happening.
Wiring got a bit warm and the battery was starting to bubble its electrolyte.

Maybe there is somethin else wrong yeah?

Maybe there is somethin else wrong yeah?
Nothing like the smell of boiling sulphuric acid. :P

well i finally went out and got a new battery cept im still having a few probs like:
at idle it still sits at around 12.3v is that right??

and when i put the a/c on full it droped right down to 10.6 volts when i put my foot on the cluch and twice it stalled yet it didnt do that with the old battery
also when i pull up the lights still dim

but now with the new battery it runs smoother and doesnt drop the revs so quick

So im thinkin maybe the alternators died??
also i didnt end up getting the bosch i got a abi calcium free also has an indercator on the top saying when its ****ed and when it need to be charged but i got told with this type of battery when it goes flat and cos its a high drawing battery u have to use a home charger the alternator wont charge it, so maybe its just a ****ty battery what do u think i should do get a bosch one?? get the alternator check?

well i finally went out and got a new battery cept im still having a few probs like:
at idle it still sits at around 12.3v is that right??

and when i put the a/c on full it droped right down to 10.6 volts when i put my foot on the cluch and twice it stalled yet it didnt do that with the old battery
also when i pull up the lights still dim

but now with the new battery it runs smoother and doesnt drop the revs so quick

So im thinkin maybe the alternators died??
also i didnt end up getting the bosch i got a abi calcium free also has an indercator on the top saying when its ****ed and when it need to be charged but i got told with this type of battery when it goes flat and cos its a high drawing battery u have to use a home charger the alternator wont charge it, so maybe its just a ****ty battery what do u think i should do get a bosch one?? get the alternator check?


Yeah, sounds like your alternator is the problem.
I just got the readings for my alternator the other day, isnt charging.
It idles rough and stalls when i put the air con on so stupid alternator :gtfo:

Yeah, sounds like your alternator is the problem.
I just got the readings for my alternator the other day, isnt charging.
It idles rough and stalls when i put the air con on so stupid alternator :gtfo:
yep sounds like my car atm, well looks like im off to the auto elec 2morrow then

well it seems i just fixed 1/2 the problem...somehow the isc motor bracket screws had come loose and one had widdled out compleatly so thats what it was going skiz at the lights with the a/c so it doesnt stall now and it can hold the a/c on at idle also the lights dont dim as much but will still pop around to the local auto elec to check out the alternator

you should look into Odyssey batteries as well. High capacity, gel-filled so they can be fitted on their side, much lighter than standard car battery, and much smaller as well - so you can fit even more stuff under your bonnet :bowrofl: .

Of course, such nice things cost money!

Exide Orbital or Odyssey are the two I'd be looking at...

you should look into Odyssey batteries as well. High capacity, gel-filled so they can be fitted on their side, much lighter than standard car battery, and much smaller as well - so you can fit even more stuff under your bonnet :bowrofl: .

Of course, such nice things cost money!
Those things are like four hundred bucks and up... :badgrin:

Odyssey V800 with 400CCA dry cell battery. Not sure if that helps but we do them at $260 + freight from Adelaide.

Cheers.

Odyssey V800 with 400CCA dry cell battery. Not sure if that helps but we do them at $260 + freight from Adelaide.

Cheers.

What makes these so special? :P

They're not wet cell. That means there's no sulphuric acid to spill, or eat it's way through the battery tray.

What makes these so special? :P
They look COOL ... like an Armoured 6-pack. :cool:

heh... let's get back to thread topic, folks. :)


What's a decent biggest battery for a 3rd gen?

My Mitsu factory Black brick has just celebrated its 3rd birthday... car's
warranty over and methink its starting to collapse.

Yeah, i have to power alot of things.
I always got my phone charger going, lets not get started with the audio setup too. :doubt:


Ahh that brings back memories. I was out of town one week and my antenna on my mobile phone snapped off so I decided to leave it in the car kit with the external aerial (which also charges the phone). I did this for two days without starting the car, and what do you know? Wouldn't crank. Thank goodness someone had a jump starter lead.

All because of a silly mobile phone!

They're not wet cell. That means there's no sulphuric acid to spill, or eat it's way through the battery tray.
mines fully sealed so u can leave theses upside down if you please with out it eating ur tray but i dont think they would recommend that :P

any who i finally got my alternator tested and its working great theres just at max a 1v drop from the alternator to battery if its under load so with in the next week i should have that problem solved with a new wire from the alternator to the battery :D

mines fully sealed so u can leave theses upside down if you please with out it eating ur tray but i dont think they would recommend that :P

any who i finally got my alternator tested and its working great theres just at max a 1v drop from the alternator to battery if its under load so with in the next week i should have that problem solved with a new wire from the alternator to the battery :D

been told thats a common 1st gen prob # xxx.2 i should do mine also :)

been told thats a common 1st gen prob # xxx.2 i should do mine also :)
lol yer i figured that when BCX7 told me he had to do the same thing to his TM

don't know if this helps but Odyssey V800 battery with 400CCA is $260 in adelaide.

My battery died today too. What's happening!
Anyway, K-mart had 25% off of Auto accessories today. I picked up an Excide Evolution 550CCA for a grand total of $87 (thats $115 - 25%).
Car cranked first time. My car isn't stalling at idle now either. Should have done this months ago :D

Im going the little odyssey path for the audio, Most likely go single battery setup but u can run these babies dry hundreds of times.

THEY ARE SOO SMALL TOO! :)

Peace

Tim

very true, the Odyssey V800 that we do is about half the size of normal battery. And since it'd dry cell, you can mount it anywhere you want, or even relocate it to the boot.

My battery died today too. What's happening!
I have a hypothesis... goes something like this:
1) daylight saving off, headlights go on earlier
2) days are still pretty warm and my a/c is on most of the time
3) car was at Mitsu's for whole day recently... they probably left my radio running 8hrs.
In essence the battery never gets a full charge at this time of the year, and I'm not
noticing it as much as in the TN (which has a voltmeter in the instrument cluster!!).

Battery was pulled out and spent 24 hrs on a charger until electrolyte started fizzling.
Topped up the acid with some cadmium sulphate laced water.

Car is now behaving itself. Am also cutting out the a/c and lights when driving up driveway
at nights and fast-idling the engine about 1/2 minute before shutting down.



Anyway, K-mart had 25% off of Auto accessories today. I picked up an Excide Evolution 550CCA for a grand total of $87 (thats $115 - 25%).

Bummer - what K-Mart was that?
Have been watching out for the TV ads too so I can go shopping!! :P

It was K-mart at Tea Tree Plaza (NE Adelaide). The K-marts had a sneak sale this week 25% off car accessories and 20% off mens clothing (I needed new underwear too so this was like an extra treat ... new stuff for car, new things to keep my butt warm).

My battery has been slowly dying for about 12 months. It's been slowly fading and getting harder to start. I work in the in the green fringes of Adelaide - a 35minute blast through teh hills each way so my battery should be getting full charge. Pulling it out, it was a no name battery, and had stamped on it "Blemished: Warning, may not perform to manufacturers specifications" - so all in all it's a good thing that it died that day. I couldn't be bothered wacking it on charge in teh car again. I'll ghare it up and keep it in the shed as a spare.

Anyway. Good news: my lumpy idle (I've had for about 6 months) has gone away. And the car used to threaten to stall when I was reversing gently ... that's cleared up too! So all in all, it was $87 well spent.