Battery recommendations please

RobWid

RobWid

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Hi

I have a Boxer 2.2HDi struggling to start in cold weather. Battery holds 12V and passes load test but van needs a boost to start after being left a day or so.

Have been told by the mechanic to buy a ‘better‘ battery more suited to a motorhome than a van so looking for recommendations please.

Thanks in advance.

Rob
 
RobWid said:
Hi

I have a Boxer 2.2HDi struggling to start in cold weather. Battery holds 12V and passes load test but van needs a boost to start after being left a day or so.

Have been told by the mechanic to buy a ‘better‘ battery more suited to a motorhome than a van so looking for recommendations please.

Thanks in advance.

Rob
Click to expand...
Have a look on Tayna Batteries ( https://www.tayna.co.uk/ ) to see what they recommend ..Never let me down yet, always good service and prices :-)
 
RobWid said:
Hi

I have a Boxer 2.2HDi struggling to start in cold weather. Battery holds 12V and passes load test but van needs a boost to start after being left a day or so.

Have been told by the mechanic to buy a ‘better‘ battery more suited to a motorhome than a van so looking for recommendations please.

Thanks in advance.

Rob
Click to expand...
Van or Motorhome, same engine?
;)
 
I would check there isn't any unwanted drain on it first ?

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Only when cold or when hot?
If when cold is it the glow plugs?
Try turning ignition on, wait for glow plug light to go out, turn off ignition and repeat.
Then try to start, if better, then glow plugs or glow plug relay.
You can test relay by looking to see with meter if 12v is on glow plug for a few seconds.
(needs 2 people)
 
Last edited:
The cold cranking test will pass a battery that has more or less had it ,as you have just found out. However, it's a starter battery you want and not a leisure battery or deep Cycle battery. (Just to confuse the issue many leisure batteries are in fact starter batteries that are miss labelled).
If I was you I would just drive round to your nearest Halfords where you will have an option of different starter batteries at different prices and offering different warranties. Excide make there own batteries as does Varta and Bosch produce some decent starter batteries too. That being said. you need to do a bit of investigation I think, after replacing the battery, to ensure you do not end up back at your starting point. So check for a drain or if the van is sitting idle for long periods just disconnect the neg lead. Make sure your radio code, (if needed) is available when you re-connect.
 
Larby said:
Only when cold or when hot?
If when cold is it the glow plugs?
Try turning ignition on, wait for glow plug light to go out, turn off ignition and repeat.
Then try to start, if better, then glow plugs or glow plug relay.
You can test relay by looking to see with meter if 12v is on glow plug for a few seconds.
(needs 2 people)
Click to expand...
Hi Explored those options and two faulty glow plugs found and relay replaced. Still difficulty I. Starting without a jump pack assisting the battery. Rob
 
How old is your battery, generally speaking starter batteries are only good for up to 6 or 7 years. Just relaced mine after 8 years. Now starting problems are thing of the past.
Ray
 
I got the biggest (heavy) Bosch battery that would fit, around £90.
 
If you have the 017 battery check the height clearance and replace with a quality 019 battery. Same footprint but taller.
 
RobWid said:
Hi That was hinted at by the mechanic but he was insistant on the replacement battery regardless. Rob
Click to expand...

My neighbour had issues starting his car.

Dealer insisted battery ok on several occasions after it was “checked”

I told him to change it, no issue since ?
 
PhilandMena said:
The cold cranking test will pass a battery that has more or less had it ,as you have just found out. However, it's a starter battery you want and not a leisure battery or deep Cycle battery. (Just to confuse the issue many leisure batteries are in fact starter batteries that are miss labelled).
If I was you I would just drive round to your nearest Halfords where you will have an option of different starter batteries at different prices and offering different warranties. Excide make there own batteries as does Varta and Bosch produce some decent starter batteries too. That being said. you need to do a bit of investigation I think, after replacing the battery, to ensure you do not end up back at your starting point. So check for a drain or if the van is sitting idle for long periods just disconnect the neg lead. Make sure your radio code, (if needed) is available when you re-connect.
Click to expand...
Hi Thanks - my thoughts as well ... don’t want to just spend and be back where I started ... spent enough recently sorting bits out. No radio code since after market radio fitted but am wondering if that might be one issue to consider. Might just wire in a switch to cut the live when parked. The other people have suggested is the fridge relay. Yet to find that - not under the bonnet next to the split charge relay as is often the case but will need to hunt around. As you also suggest disconnecting the battery neg or wiring in a battery cut of might be a simple idea?

But thanks again for thoughts.

Rob

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« If I was you I would just drive round to your nearest Halfords where you will have an option of different starter batteries at different prices and offering different warranties. «

Thanks everyone for thoughts - followed the advice to just go to Halfords and have also bought the larger size as recommended. Went for the Excide with 5yr warranty. Will fit tomorrow morning and so fingers crossed.

Rob
 
Lumpy said:
How old is your battery, generally speaking starter batteries are only good for up to 6 or 7 years. Just relaced mine after 8 years. Now starting problems are thing of the past.
Ray
Click to expand...
Was sadly six months old - do have the receipt and 3 year warranty but presently in Norfolk and battery purchased in Exmouth so will see how that goes.
 
Try and keep it on a regular charge through a smart charger. I put my Landrover battery on my LIdl £13:00 multi stage smart charger and always has a full grunt when needed. No noticeable difference in home electric bill either
 
Double check, the battery Earth. The battery will measure OK, but if the Earth is Crap there will be a drop in return current. Also the Earth strap to the engine, Years ago I had one come adrift so the start current only was returning via the mountings, and not very successfully either! Oil perished rubber is not a good conductor!.

My Punto, which get limited use, apart from being "toad" stands facing South, I have a small solar panel in the front window that helps keep the battery topped?

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Ours is boxer 2.2 and getting due for a battery.

The cold weather soon shows any weakness in batteries, we stock up for winter as we fit a lot more.

See you went for the exide. Was looking at a Silver Yuasa myself but the Exide was my 2nd option

How much did halfrauds do that for?

Bosch used to be good but they are made by someone else and we started having failures within warranty so stopped using then.

Platinum aren't great, we had a rack with 8 on for stock. Charged and tested them all one day and over half failed brand new. Rejected the lot and replaced them all with Yuasa.

Lion... Eurocarparts own brand... Cheap n cheerful.
 
Check out Alpha batteries on line. You can also give them a call. I have always found them very helpful and competitive prices
 
Our cab battery gave up the ghost while we were at Jim's place earlier this year, and after a jump start from Jim's trusty Land Rover we managed to get home fearful of stalling the engine on the way.
After weighing up the batteries available, I bought an Exide Premium from Tayna Batteries with a 4 year guarantee for less than 90 quid delivered.

www.tayna.co.uk

EA1000 Exide Premium Car Battery 12V 100Ah - 017TE

EA1000 Exide Premium Car Battery 017TE Exide are one of the leading battery manufacturers companies in the world and have been delivering quality in the automotive and infrastructure sectors for more than 130 years! Exide premium car batteries are Exide's leading wet lead acid battery range...
www.tayna.co.uk www.tayna.co.uk
 
Last time bought a battery I got a Banner.

Bought from my local battery supplier that has a good reputation and not affiliated to any make.

Only a few quid dearer than on line as well.

Any issues it’s sorted straight away.
 
It certainly pays Battery Megastore to advertise and give freebies in Jim's magazine!

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The starter will draw around 250Amps when cranking so the couple of amps drawn by the radio or fridge are of little significance with a good battery.
 
Nixdorfer said:
Ours is boxer 2.2 and getting due for a battery.

The cold weather soon shows any weakness in batteries, we stock up for winter as we fit a lot more.

See you went for the exide. Was looking at a Silver Yuasa myself but the Exide was my 2nd option

How much did halfrauds do that for?

Bosch used to be good but they are made by someone else and we started having failures within warranty so stopped using then.

Platinum aren't great, we had a rack with 8 on for stock. Charged and tested them all one day and over half failed brand new. Rejected the lot and replaced them all with Yuasa.

Lion... Eurocarparts own brand... Cheap n cheerful.
Click to expand...

Hi

Halfords Cost 120

Went for the Halfords option to make a future/potential guarantee claim. Keep using either online or local suppliers and then end up miles away from being able to return to them. Hoping Halfords UK coverage might pay off. We’ll see.

Rob
 
Spriddler said:
The starter will draw around 250Amps when cranking so the couple of amps drawn by the radio or fridge are of little significance with a good battery.
Click to expand...
Bit misleading there, The Starter takes the current for only the few seconds it takes to fire the Motor. Over 1 minute 250A x 1/60 Ah or 4Ah. 2amps over a couple of weeks will run away with 2x24x14 or 672Ah.
 
PeteH said:
Bit misleading there, The Starter takes the current for only the few seconds it takes to fire the Motor. Over 1 minute 250A x 1/60 Ah or 4Ah. 2amps over a couple of weeks will run away with 2x24x14 or 672Ah.
Click to expand...
Yes, agreed, it was misleading. Over time the drain will reduce battery performance.
I misunderstood the OP's point and was referring (irrelevantly) to the minimal load of the radio and fridge (at the time when starting was attempted) on the basis of the OP's comment that the battery holds 12V and passes load test.

I must read more carefully. :oops2:
 

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