Changing battery advice please?
Discussion
Have come to the conclusion that my battery is knackered, so the question is...
a) Is there any particular battery i should get? Ideally I want a fairly powerful one that'll last... and where should I get it from and what sort of money?
b) Is it a job that I could trust my local Charlie Browns to do? I mean, the procedure for taking the battery out looks pretty horrendous, or is it fairly simple once you get down to it.... back to, could Charlie B do it with the bible for guidance?
c) What is a recommended trickle charger? Where from and what sort of money? I don't think one run a week is enough to keep the battery in good shape and suspect that this has been it's downfall.
All advice gratefully received... if I don't get it sorted by Saturday, I won't be going on the Snake Pass run on Sunday!!!
al
a) Is there any particular battery i should get? Ideally I want a fairly powerful one that'll last... and where should I get it from and what sort of money?
b) Is it a job that I could trust my local Charlie Browns to do? I mean, the procedure for taking the battery out looks pretty horrendous, or is it fairly simple once you get down to it.... back to, could Charlie B do it with the bible for guidance?
c) What is a recommended trickle charger? Where from and what sort of money? I don't think one run a week is enough to keep the battery in good shape and suspect that this has been it's downfall.
All advice gratefully received... if I don't get it sorted by Saturday, I won't be going on the Snake Pass run on Sunday!!!
al
Procedure is simple. First mark the floor where the battery box fits. Remove the two set studs from under neath the car that screw the box to the floor. Disconnect battery and remove box and battery from car. But new battery that fits box and has a crank rate of 630 Amp usually type 072. Put box with new battery in position aligned with your mark and the set screws will screw back easily. Reconnect battery. Just be careful removing ECU and relays etc out of way. I would not let Charlie Brown near it!
Covered in the bible and the chapter is available as a PDF download on my website. www.tvrbooks.co.uk
All you need to know.
All you need to know.
I needed a battery for the Landie recently (which incidentally is also a type 072) and I got a 4 year warranty Varta one from
www.etyres.co.uk
They came and fitted it and took the old one away for the all inclusive price of £75. That probably isn't all that cheap, but if your time is worth something then it's certainly painless. Admittedly it's slightly more complex in a TVR, but I had an RAC guy replace a battery in a Griffith once, and he found it straightforward enough.
www.etyres.co.uk
They came and fitted it and took the old one away for the all inclusive price of £75. That probably isn't all that cheap, but if your time is worth something then it's certainly painless. Admittedly it's slightly more complex in a TVR, but I had an RAC guy replace a battery in a Griffith once, and he found it straightforward enough.
I bought the Accumate from TVR Car Club for about 45 quid inc vat after I had the same problem as you it works a treat. Battery fairly simple job to change.I can agree with last remark dont let CB near it. I got lucas 4 year waranty battery from a local auto electricians for £40.
Pete
>> Edited by homersimpson on Monday 26th January 11:56
Pete
>> Edited by homersimpson on Monday 26th January 11:56
Al, take care in buying the battery too. The 072 size comes in 590 and 630 amps (cold crank capacity) flavours. Definitely want the 630 for a Griff (or any TVR V8 TVR for that matter). Not difficult job to replace, just a little fiddly at times. My last battery was about £65 from a TVR dealer (we visited with Stainless Steve.)
Hi, if you go to:
www.tvrcc-surrey.co.uk
and select Articles on the menu, you should see a write-up with photos on changing the battery on a Griff.
Hope that helps
David
www.tvrcc-surrey.co.uk
and select Articles on the menu, you should see a write-up with photos on changing the battery on a Griff.
Hope that helps
David
Thanks for the info guys - Gorners have quoted £120 plus VAT I presume for TVR battery and fitting. I guess the TVR battery will only be a rebranded Lucas or Varta model?
Can I get one of these Acumate / battery conditioners from Halfords or anywhere like that as I worried that I won't get chance to get a new battery fitted before the run on Sunday and my current one needs all the help it can get!
Can I get one of these Acumate / battery conditioners from Halfords or anywhere like that as I worried that I won't get chance to get a new battery fitted before the run on Sunday and my current one needs all the help it can get!
Al, you can get an Accumate by mail order from Leven. Give them a call, they turn orders around pdq. Get one with the cigar lighter socket so you can trickle charge it really easily.
If you need an emergency battery, I've got a spare from my Tuscan that is currently doing nothing (replaced because I thought that was the problem - but it wasn't!!). The batteries from Gorners are TVR branded - don't know who makes them, but they are the OEM fit as recommended and used by Blackpool.
If you need an emergency battery, I've got a spare from my Tuscan that is currently doing nothing (replaced because I thought that was the problem - but it wasn't!!). The batteries from Gorners are TVR branded - don't know who makes them, but they are the OEM fit as recommended and used by Blackpool.
I got one from halfords. Its a type 096 rather than a 072. It was £10 cheaper but has a 3 rather than 4 yr warranty. But, its 650 CCA's rather than 590 or 630 - ideal for this cold weather. Its a tight fit in the battery container but it fits. Also the terminals are the other way around. I have quite long cables so I could have just crossed them over but in the end I just turned the battery around and its still a doddle to fit. I dunno why everyone goes on about making sure the terminals are facing you - once you're in the foot well it doesnt really make any difference.
jam1et said:
I got one from halfords. Its a type 096 rather than a 072. It was £10 cheaper but has a 3 rather than 4 yr warranty. But, its 650 CCA's rather than 590 or 630 - ideal for this cold weather.
What's the difference between type 096 & 072? Is it physical size or something else?
I call it a type 096 but thats just the Halfords part number. However their part number 072 did refer to the type 072 battery so I think I'm right.
The differences:
1)It has 650 Cold Cranking Amps
2)It has a vent pipe for carry nasty fumes out of the car(If your old battery didnt have one look in your foot well, there should be a clear plastic hose that isnt attached to anything - this is the battery vent hose).
3)It has a hollow lip around the bottom for stability which makes it about 2mm wider than the original. It just fits in the battery box but its a bit snug. You could easily file down the lips if yours was too tight.
4)The terminals are the other way around. Although IMHO this makes it no more difficult to change. I just turned the battery around. You can still reach the terminals.
The differences:
1)It has 650 Cold Cranking Amps
2)It has a vent pipe for carry nasty fumes out of the car(If your old battery didnt have one look in your foot well, there should be a clear plastic hose that isnt attached to anything - this is the battery vent hose).
3)It has a hollow lip around the bottom for stability which makes it about 2mm wider than the original. It just fits in the battery box but its a bit snug. You could easily file down the lips if yours was too tight.
4)The terminals are the other way around. Although IMHO this makes it no more difficult to change. I just turned the battery around. You can still reach the terminals.
Well, after hunting around I have actually found that Charlie Browns had the best deal - went straight to their parts book and found that their reference No for a Griffith is a 650R, meaning 650 cranking amps 
The Lucas Auto Centre's listed type 072 battery was only rated at 540!
So, £57 inc VAT and fitting AND the guy has changed them before and knew exactly what to do... so he can do it
Thanks for all the info guys.
al
The Lucas Auto Centre's listed type 072 battery was only rated at 540! So, £57 inc VAT and fitting AND the guy has changed them before and knew exactly what to do... so he can do it
Thanks for all the info guys.
al
Al, sounds like you had more luck than me...
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