Car battery question

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Car battery question

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492 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1245634 24-Feb-2015 15:31

Depending on the age the car may need to be told that it has a new battery. I know that my BMW needs to but its an 07.

qwertee

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#1245694 24-Feb-2015 16:01

If you have AA membership, get the AA guy to check it.

We had a flat battery in secondhand Honda Accord, recently purchased.
The AA guy jump started and also did some checks and gave a print out of the battery health and charging time required ,
depending on Ampere rating of the charger, etc...

Luckily we didnt have to replace the battery and by coincidence was replaced by the AA last year!

cheers

scuwp

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#1245707 24-Feb-2015 16:47

qwertee: If you have AA membership, get the AA guy to check it.

We had a flat battery in secondhand Honda Accord, recently purchased.
The AA guy jump started and also did some checks and gave a print out of the battery health and charging time required ,
depending on Ampere rating of the charger, etc...

Luckily we didnt have to replace the battery and by coincidence was replaced by the AA last year!

cheers

By all means get the AA to check it, but can't recommend their battery service, very expensive, although I guess you do pay for convenience. Just have a ring around the area, I am sure you will find a good deal.

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BlakJak

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#1247241 26-Feb-2015 18:12

Any off the shelf battery of similar post (terminal) size and similar capacity will be fine. I paid $160 for one recently - but that was discounted. I would suggest spending $200 is not unreasonable. Minimum life expectancy around 3 years, have seen them last 7 or more.

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TwoSeven

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#1247258 26-Feb-2015 18:55

$300 is ok for a modern car battery, mine is about $450 or so.

Modern cars with lots of electronics are quite sensitive to the batteries, so while there is some wiggle-room around what battery you can use, my rule of thumb is stay with OEM. The number on the battery will give all of the specifications (CCA, charging criteria etc.). Typically, I have found that batteries fail due to being taken over 50% discharge from which they tend not to recover so well.

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jeffnz

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#1247263 26-Feb-2015 19:33

generally the only special batteries needed are Silver calcium for stop/start vehicles due to drag on battery.

Your car looks like it takes a DIN66 type battery which is a Eurpean type battery with terminals set into lid so flush with lid.

Repco and Supercheap sell Century batteries ex Global Korea so shop around as most available are similar quality so don't be coerced into going OE as Merc don't make batteries I think they are Varta.

As to your current battery I would suggest getting it checked by a auto sparky you trust as the electronics testers can tell you anything. If you are in Auckland PM me as I can get it charged and checked.

Not sure on what retail prices are but $150-$200 seems about right.

edit: spelling

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jeffnz

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#1247267 26-Feb-2015 19:36

TwoSeven: $300 is ok for a modern car battery, mine is about $450 or so.

Modern cars with lots of electronics are quite sensitive to the batteries, so while there is some wiggle-room around what battery you can use, my rule of thumb is stay with OEM. The number on the battery will give all of the specifications (CCA, charging criteria etc.). Typically, I have found that batteries fail due to being taken over 50% discharge from which they tend not to recover so well.

Car batteries shouldn't be discharged at all as they have very thin plates so when charged the heat generated bends grids and the active material falls out so that part of plate can't be used.

Deep cycle batteries have thicker plates to handle the charging but shouldn't be taken below 75% of charge for same reason. Semi Traction will handle 50% discharge better but too big for cars.

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Geekzone

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#1247312 26-Feb-2015 20:29

Folks, folks. Please use correct forum.

Jase2985

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#1247330 26-Feb-2015 21:01

TwoSeven: $300 is ok for a modern car battery, mine is about $450 or so.

what kinda battery are you buying for $450?

TwoSeven

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#1248007 27-Feb-2015 19:11

Jase2985:
TwoSeven: $300 is ok for a modern car battery, mine is about $450 or so.

what kinda battery are you buying for $450?

Only a DIN66MF, but its the not so common one (although I have seen it around for $350 odd).

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jeffnz

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#1248023 27-Feb-2015 19:20

TwoSeven:
Jase2985:
TwoSeven: $300 is ok for a modern car battery, mine is about $450 or so.

what kinda battery are you buying for $450?

Only a DIN66MF, but its the not so common one (although I have seen it around for $350 odd).

thats really expensive then, is that an Exide brand?

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#1248033 27-Feb-2015 19:36

where are you getting it from?

TwoSeven

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#1248068 27-Feb-2015 20:26

Yuasa from Yuasa.

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jeffnz

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#1248089 27-Feb-2015 21:10

TwoSeven: Yuasa from Yuasa.

So made in Japan by Yuasa or made in Korea for Century Yuasa, just curious

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RUKI

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#1256926 12-Mar-2015 11:12

Every one has their experience with batteries. Here are my 2 cents:

1) 12V starter Merc's battery I have tested recently was AGM - and not the fluded lead acid low maintenance conventional type. Those AGMs are more expensive.
2) 12 Battery from Camry Hybrid 2013 was also AGM type (around $800 from the dealer) - the diference from any other AGM type on that particular one was temperature sensor firmly attached to it (which can be reinstalled to another similar AGM pack, although may void your warranty)
3) REPCO - what a pathetic supplier of anything car related. I would never ever buy from those cheap busters again. Leaky oil filter, battery which will not hold capacity for more than 2 years (I wish I kept receipt to return the one I bought from them back), rubber tubes which do not fit what they suppose to...

Note: I have invented, developed, build and tested specialised tools which allow to test high voltage traction batteries for remaining capacity, including High Voltage Traction Batteries from EV or Hybrid Cars like Prius, Camry, Honda etc. Within less than an hour or two, depending on the required load...
My tools allow to load test and measure capacity of Lead Acid, Lithium and NIMH batteries.

Looking forward into Green and Clean all electrical cars future of New Zealand....
My tools are already in use in USA. They have millions of EV and Hybrids over there

Tests for HV Batteries are free in Auckland for people donating me electronic stuff....

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