Battery Gone, What to replace with?

[julian64]

Boring I know , but after eight year the battery has gone. Seemingly this means I can't take it back under warrenty.

I've seen the alternative parts list but does anyone have a part number at Halfords or elsewhere for their recommended replacement?

[tejr]

Can't be much more help till I get home to give you the model number and price, but I'm sure I didn't pay much more than £60-80 at Eurocarparts for my battery (which I think was a Varta). I asked the guy to check if the terminals were the right way round too and they were...

best part was it came with a 3-5 year warranty

Its never let me down and starts the car on the button every time no matter how long the car is sat there

[Tanguero]

Halfords changed the height of their 072 batteries a few years ago so that they no longer fit in the engine bay. Some people have managed to get an 089 to fit but it wouldn't in mine.

I ran with an 096R for a little while but it is so tight a fit that it was distorting the cover. If you go down this route it has to be the R variant with the reversed terminals - the standard 096 has them the wrong way round.

In the end I put an Optima Red Top RTS 42 in, which while expensive has been fine ever since and comfortably fits in the engine bay. It also has the advantage that it doesn't mind the odd deep discharge and seems to suffer less in the cold than standard batteries.

[julian64]

Odd, mine says 069 on the top?

[Tanguero]

I am fairly sure that 072 was the original fitment at one point at least. I never tried an 069 but I suspect there are a number of batteries that will fit and in the right CCA range.

[Mark.]

Replaced mine earlier this year - can check the invoice if you like?

Pretty sure it's an 072 but make sure it's an 072T - the T means the terminals are flush with the top of the battery - otherwise it's too tall.

[julian64]

Okay this thread isn't going to be the easy one I had planned.

Anyone want to suggest which is the largest battery (cold cranking amps) that will fit and if I'm very lucky has a fluid equalisation gantry so you don't have to get the battery out every time you want to check and top up the levels on the sixth cell?

[Y194 ODX]

If you are a wealthy man, try this one (it's only 4 kg):

http://www.braillebattery.co.uk/index.php/batterie...

expensive - but saves more than 12 kg compared to a "standard" battery setup.

[tejr]

julian64 said:

Okay this thread isn't going to be the easy one I had planned.

Anyone want to suggest which is the largest battery (cold cranking amps) that will fit and if I'm very lucky has a fluid equalisation gantry so you don't have to get the battery out every time you want to check and top up the levels on the sixth cell?

Just walk into your nearest ECP and they will tell you what will fit and if it doesn't they'll take it back no questions asked They will have a choice of batteries too.. They don't list batteries for a Cerb on their website, but in store they had a few options when I asked

[Tanguero]

julian64 said:

Okay this thread isn't going to be the easy one I had planned.

Anyone want to suggest which is the largest battery (cold cranking amps) that will fit and if I'm very lucky has a fluid equalisation gantry so you don't have to get the battery out every time you want to check and top up the levels on the sixth cell?

Optima Red Top RTS 42 : 815 CCA
096R : 680 CCA
072 : 550 CCA
089 : 505 CCA
069 : 505C CCA

Looks fairly clear to me.

ETA And the Optima is a sealed cell gel battery so no need to top up.

[Robscim]

Tanguero said:

Optima Red Top RTS 42 : 815 CCA
096R : 680 CCA
072 : 550 CCA
089 : 505 CCA
069 : 505C CCA

Looks fairly clear to me.

ETA And the Optima is a sealed cell gel battery so no need to top up.

What he said!!! ^^^^ Red Top!

Get one off the net and they'll deliver quickly too!

Spins the car much faster and holds the charge much better.

Best investment for a Cerbera!

Rob

[ridds]

Robscim said:

Tanguero said:

Optima Red Top RTS 42 : 815 CCA
096R : 680 CCA
072 : 550 CCA
089 : 505 CCA
069 : 505C CCA

Looks fairly clear to me.

ETA And the Optima is a sealed cell gel battery so no need to top up.

What he said!!! ^^^^ Red Top!

Get one off the net and they'll deliver quickly too!

Spins the car much faster and holds the charge much better.

Best investment for a Cerbera!

Rob

Agree with the above, very good battery, good fit, good price. Job done.

[julian64]

Okay optima red top it is. Is the code above correct for which way the terminals go round and height etc.

Plus anyone know of a cheap place??

[Tanguero]

RTS 42 is the correct code.

[julian64]

Tanguero said:

RTS 42 is the correct code.

Thanks, This the one?

http://www.optimabatteries.co.uk/en/red-top/18-opt...

[Tanguero]

No - that is the reverse one (RT 4.2R) with the terminals the wrong way round

You want RTS 42
http://www.optimabatteries.co.uk/en/red-top/17-red...
http://justcarbatteries.co.uk/index.php/optima-rts...

[julian64]

Tanguero said:

No - that is the reverse one (RT 4.2R) with the terminals the wrong way round

You want RTS 42
http://www.optimabatteries.co.uk/en/red-top/17-red...
http://justcarbatteries.co.uk/index.php/optima-rts...

Okay thanks. Can I ask how you secure it as it doesn't seem to have the conventional lip at the bottom for the screw down plate.

My car gets occasional tracked.

[ridds]

Unless you're rallying it, it should be fine. I've put a piece of rubber along the edge of the retaining plate to hold mine snuggly and so the plate does not cut into the battery casing.

[anonymous-user]

ridds said:

Unless you're rallying it, it should be fine. I've put a piece of rubber along the edge of the retaining plate to hold mine snuggly and so the plate does not cut into the battery casing.

Just out of interest can you buy a plate from RG etc?? I took my battery out last week and the plate underneath was so totally corroded I broke it up by hand. Still got tot try and get the bolts out tho.

[Tanguero]

julian64 said:

Okay thanks. Can I ask how you secure it as it doesn't seem to have the conventional lip at the bottom for the screw down plate.

My car gets occasional tracked.

I have some rubber bobbins (with a centre tube) that bolt into the existing holes and are just large enough to trap the bottom of the battery. They have held it securely for regular sprinting. Unfortunately I am not sure what they were from originally.

It shouldn't be too hard to fabricate something similar.

Edited by Tanguero on Tuesday 15th November 13:18