Car battery question

[Podie]

Decided to replace the battery, as starting is a touch laboured and having tested it with a multimeter, it looks like it's probably the original and therefore 5 years old. (I also can't find anything in the paperwork to suggest it has been changed).

My default behaviour is to shove the largest battery in I can find (in terms of CCA) and this has served me well over the last two decades of car ownership.

However... do I really need to be doing this?

As an overview, I appear to have 3 options:

• Standard - 500CCA, 56AH
• Better - 750CCA, 74AH (+£12 over standard)
• Overkill? - 760CCA, 80AH (+£50 over standard)

£12 more seems a no brainer for quite a bit more, but is it worth £50 for a tiny bit extra?

Thoughts?

TIA

[Toaster Pilot]

What rating is the original? Replace it with that.

Don't see why you'd want/need anything else.

[aw51 121565]

There are arguments for fitting a 'bigger' (higher CCA) battery in - but make sure it physically has the same width and height and isn't too long for the battery tray or the space it fits in.

And make sure the posts are of the same type as on the original battery, and are orientated the same way.

[Podie]

Toaster Pilot said:

What rating is the original? Replace it with that.

Don't see why you'd want/need anything else.

Not with the car, so need to double check. The Halfords online thing suggests what I've marked as "standard" in the OP.

I've also noted that the "standard" has a 3 year warranty, whereas the others are 5 year. The extra £12 for 2 years more warranty seems worthwhile to me (I am likely to keep the car for 5 years).

[Podie]

aw51 121565 said:

There are arguments for fitting a 'bigger' (higher CCA) battery in - but make sure it physically has the same width and height and isn't too long for the battery tray or the space it fits in.

And make sure the posts are of the same type as on the original battery, and are orientated the same way.

All batteries confirmed as fitting (others on the owners club have fitted the "upgraded" and "overkill" options.

Posts are identical in layout too.

[steveo3002]

all the same brand for those prices? worth getting a decent make one imo

[Podie]

steveo3002 said:

all the same brand for those prices? worth getting a decent make one imo

Standard
Halfords own
500CCA, 56AH
3yr warranty

Better
Varta or Bosch
750CCA, 74AH
5yr warranty
(+£12 over standard)

Overkill?
Yuasa
760CCA, 80AH
5yr warranty
(+£50 over standard)

[g3org3y]

Podie said:

steveo3002 said:

all the same brand for those prices? worth getting a decent make one imo

Standard
Halfords own
500CCA, 56AH
3yr warranty

Better
Varta or Bosch
750CCA, 74AH
5yr warranty
(+£12 over standard)

Overkill?
Yuasa
760CCA, 80AH
5yr warranty
(+£50 over standard)

If the manufacturer spec is as per 'standard' the 'better' option is more than enough an upgrade.

Bosch imo is the way to go.

[steveo3002]

id get the varta , seem to last ages

[r11co]

What car is the battery for?

Unless the charging system can be reprogrammed to match the larger capacity batteries, or has intelligent battery monitoring, then they are a total waste of cash as you won't see the benefit. In fact it may even be detrimental to the lifespan of the battery.

I know BMWs can be adapted through the diagnostics to work with a range of batteries but I don't know what kind of support other manufacturers have for this.

[Bluebarge]

I always find Halfords expensive for batteries.

Try the battery guys or one of the other online suppliers

[Podie]

Bluebarge said:

I always find Halfords expensive for batteries.

Agreed - it was only to get an idea of what the standard size / capacity was.

r11co said:

What car is the battery for?

It's for the Focus ST (2.5 engine).

Ford have offered to sell me all 3 options (at significant price hikes), so I assume there is no issue.

[r11co]

Podie said:

It's for the Focus ST (2.5 engine).

Ford have offered to sell me all 3 options (at significant price hikes), so I assume there is no issue.

...and possibly no benefit either (except to them, in profit).

I'm not familiar with the charging system on the Focus, so I'd investigate if it is adaptive or not. If it isn't then there's no benefit to the bigger numbers.

Personally I'd probably go for the middle option because it'll be a better quality battery, but shop around.

[Podie]

r11co said:

Podie said:

It's for the Focus ST (2.5 engine).

Ford have offered to sell me all 3 options (at significant price hikes), so I assume there is no issue.

...and possibly no benefit either (except to them, in profit).

I'm not familiar with the charging system on the Focus, so I'd investigate if it is adaptive or not. If it isn't then there's no benefit to the bigger numbers.

Personally I'd probably go for the middle option because it'll be a better quality battery, but shop around.

I'll double check on the charging system thing, but the middle option seems the most sensible.

[aw51 121565]

Podie said:

aw51 121565 said:

There are arguments for fitting a 'bigger' (higher CCA) battery in - but make sure it physically has the same width and height and isn't too long for the battery tray or the space it fits in.

And make sure the posts are of the same type as on the original battery, and are orientated the same way.

All batteries confirmed as fitting (others on the owners club have fitted the "upgraded" and "overkill" options.

Posts are identical in layout too.

, I only posted the bit about size & fit as not everyone researches thoroughly (or at all ) .

[TooLateForAName]

I'd go with Bosch Silver (thats what I usually do anyway)

try ecp, costco or local motor factor (I use andrew page - depends who is around you)