Check your Batteries!!

[MG MAL]

As some of you may know, I am currently running around in Sean's H plate Red(and white) efi.

I know for a fact that this car has bean immaculately maintained in all respects.

But even I got caught out this morning.

It seams there was a 'cold snap' some time during the night, that has affected quite a few peoples batteries.!

I came to start the car this morning, (which has run faultlessly since it came to me) only to be faced with what seemed to be a flat battery! Shocked

I check every thing, connections, power drains, even a spare ecu.

Jumped the car from Fiona's Skoda, and took it for a run.

While out I called at my local friendly motor factor, and asked him to test the battery.

(I was the 'umpteenth' this morning)


Now, even though I had done a few miles in the car since jump starting it, it had taken on little charge.

I asked him to test the alternator, as Im testers are at the barn, since I last used them.

He went through all the electrical systems and found no faults.

£49 later and a 2yr cover, I have a TD heavy duty to fit to the car.

So a word to the wise.....

More cold snaps are expected as winter closes in, and if you rely on your car for daily use, then get your battery checked!!!.

As even the most experienced can (and do) get caught out! Evil or Very Mad

Mal.

[B18 GPC]

£49 for a "063" Battery?

They saw You Coming!

£35 , Fitted ;)

[MG MAL]

£49 for a "063" Battery?

They saw You Coming!

£35 , Fitted

Up here that's the cheapest one there is!.

Believe me, I would'nt spend that much unless I had to!

All battery prices will go up and up in the future due to the demand for lead out stripping supply.


Mal.

[B18 GPC]

Ouch .

Did i mention , three year warrenty ;)

[Oli]

Eh.. wise words Mal.
I can top that Graham:idea: :laugh:
At my work its £29 fitted for a 063 ;)

[E_T_V]

£49 for a "063" Battery?

They saw You Coming!

£35 , Fitted ;)

It isn't an 063 battery if it is a diesel heavy duty one. They are a LOT bigger than an 063 and have roughly twice the capacity. I think my last one was about 50 quid.

[oseerees]

Auto Express did a test of batteries recently and the EXIDE X-Tra+ won easily. 063 is £45 but not only looks 'modern' unlike the black Halfrauds basic, it does the biz too and FOUR YEAR guarantee. Sadly Exide marketing is crap, nearest supplier to me is 60 miles away.

Personally I like the batteries with the magic eye, green when its charged so if it changes colour you know instantly trouble is about if you don't give it a charge.
Auto Express battery test link
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/210441/exide_xtra_plus.html

[steve smith]

both my vp montys have very large heavy duty batterys fitted they never fail to start the non efi monty had stood for well over a month i had left the battery on it and to my supprise it started first time

[Rich]

I bought a diesel battery from Makro back some six years ago, it was on the LX first, and has been on the van since, it cost about £30, a proper cheap nasty battery, and its still fine! Every winter I have expected it to die, and it just won't!

[Andrew]

At the moment, to make up for my missing alternator, I have A 730CCA heavy diesel battery mounted behind my passenger seat with an old 3-phase power cable acting as the (+) lead as well as a 520CCA battery in my engine compartment. Both are heavy duty maintainence free batteries with the little hydrometer mounted in the top to tell you if it needs charging.
Adds up to 1250 cold cranking amps (most cars will start quite happily off 250CCA) and Just last week I wired them in series and used them to start my bosses truck - a 12.5litre turbo diesel.

I paid $125 for the pair of them, thats with a full three year warranty.
I love my batteries, they are probably the most valuable part of the whole car :laugh: