New Battery

[sobanoodle]

Hi everyone! My first post here (though have been reading you for a while :). I am planning to replace my battery (AA one, don't know how old it is, something around CCA500). Went flat a few times already :-X :-\

Have been thinking about getting an SuperCharge Gold MF40B20L. Would like to hear your advice/suggestions. Legacy BH5, stock standard, have an amp installed.

I'm in Auckland, where would be the best place($$) to buy one from?

Cheers!

[Scoobydoo]

If you want one of the best batteries available, then I have an Optima Yellowtop Deep Cycle battery for sale, but it's $350. I'm in Wellington and it can be shipped via Mainfreight to their depot, and I'd include this in the price.

If you're interested, send me a PM.

[sobanoodle]

 Scoobydoo said:

If you want one of the best batteries available, then I have an Optima Yellowtop Deep Cycle battery for sale, but it's $350. I'm in Wellington and it can be shipped via Mainfreight to their depot, and I'd include this in the price.

If you're interested, send me a PM.

Cheers, just cannot justify spending $350 for a battery - need something basic and want to get the best value for money spent.

[sobanoodle]

 hate-evoz said:

where u located sobanoodle? if your in auckland theres a place called "The Battery Clinic" they sell fully reconditioned batteys (with warranty) for $40 and if you give them your old battery they take $3 off the price. I usually take alot of old batterys to make it cheaper

- haha

But yeah if ur not in aucks. look on trademe'

- Cheers

Yep I'm in Auckland, just googled their website, $45 for a small battery. Now my question: how long would a recond battery last for? I mean if it only lasts for a year then I'd rather spend $150 on a new one with 3 years warranty ???

Cheers for the advice hate-evoz!

[Guest]

$3 for a battery is botherall. scrappies will give you $8-12 i know thats not huge but just saying.

Supercharge battery equivalent to what you have should be around $150-170. 3 Year warranty been selling them for 7+ years found them better than everything else on the market warranty wise. Exide are the worst....

Off the top of my head you will need a MF55B24# battery or MF50/1/2/3/4 sized. Just google supercharge and ask for a good deal. Theres the classic range 2.5 year warranty for price conscious too.

Alternatively bosch make damn good batteries see extreme/automotive supplies/autostop.

[sobanoodle]

Ok. Went to Segedins on Dominion Rd - they're Supercharge retailer. They have MF52 (CCA600, RC105) for $142+GST. Asked a sp to test my battery - green colour, the battery is alive :-\ though it's from 2007 (found a sticker on it).

Bosch S3 is $127 installed but it's only CCA300.

Half an hour prior to going to the shop played with this thing for a few minutes, a few open-close rounds - the car just started, one more "open-close" and it probably wouldn't start at all. A few weeks ago I was replacing a pollen/cabin filter - cabin lights on for maybe half an hour 45 min max, music off, aircon on for max 10 min - had to jump start the car after that, just wouldn't start at all. If the battery is still OK what else could it be? I assume replacing my current battery simply won't cure the issue (or it would?)

After browsing the forum my understanding is that something sucking juices from the battery (an alarm, a stereo or lots of other possible things) and that it's pretty hard to eliminate that bloody "sucking juices something". :-\ Especially without any appropriate knowledge.

[Guest]

5 years out of a battery isnt uncommon.

What about a S4 bosch? Supercharge you could use NS50Z or P for a cheaper option.

Installation should be free it is most places.

Your battery could be dying but still test ok just losing capacity. Common in batteries that have sulphated generally from sitting for months without being charged. A auto sparky should be able to test to see if its drawing off but i would say its simply a bad battery.

I run my car stereo for hours on end and it still starts fine with a mf5# 600cca size battery.

[ADIKT]

I would get an auto electrician to test your alternator is charging properly...

[Guest]

 ADIKT said:

I would get an auto electrician to test your alternator is charging properly...

that too but do it yourself go buy a $10 multimeter.

[sobanoodle]

 ADIKT said:

I would get an auto electrician to test your alternator is charging properly...

Yep that's the next thing we're planning to do.

I still think it's the battery and I am not sure if that salesman actually tested the battery under load - he didn't seem to be very enthusiastic

[ADIKT]

 sobanoodle']

[quote name='ADIKT said:

I would get an auto electrician to test your alternator is charging properly...

/quote]

Yep that's the next thing we're planning to do.

I still think it's the battery and I am not sure if that salesman actually tested the battery under load - he didn't seem to be very enthusiastic

In that case, take it to another place... get a second opinion...

[sobanoodle]

 ADIKT said:

In that case, take it to another place... get a second opinion...

Sure I will, any trusted places around Central Auckland?

PS: thanks for taking your time to answer all my dumb questions guys! ;D

[94 Leone]

Get a solar battery charger 1.5A ones from dse, mount it on the dash. (With double sided tape or velcro patches) just have to wire it up to the battery, to charge it.

[D-Style]

I spent extra money on a Dry cell battery and got 7 years before I sold it with car. Even one year sitting on floor in garage, put it in car and fired first try. 120mins res, 900CCA. Dont go deep cycle if only one battery.

[Guest]

 D-Style said:

I spent extra money on a Dry cell battery and got 7 years before I sold it with car. Even one year sitting on floor in garage, put it in car and fired first try. 120mins res, 900CCA. Dont go deep cycle if only one battery.

Dont go deep cycle for a car ever. Unless its for a sound install. Its the wrong thing for the purpose.

Dry cell are the s*** but you pay through the nose for them these days. Have seen 9 years in a supercharge battery and 5-7 years is not unusual in calcium batteries. In saying that batteries do fall over though and there are causes.

As for the solar charger...just check your alternator.

[94 Leone]

yeah- An alternator that works is always best- but for those times when it isn't working properly a solar charger is really useful.

[sobanoodle]

Went to a workshop this morning.

Battery - ok, alternator- 13.9v

:-\

[boon]

13.8v is pretty standard charging voltage from a Subaru, I believe. Although it means that high quality batteries such as Optimas or VRLA AGM batteries don't get a very good charge off them as they prefer to charge at 14.4v or even higher.

A standard lead-acid battery, after it's been run REALLY flat 4 or 5 times, is pretty much scrap. The deep discharge seriously borks them. Damages the plates, and the reaction doesn't reverse completely, leading to eventual complete crap-out. If your alternator wasn't charging you would know about it pretty quickly - with a buggered battery the car would probably only run for a matter of minutes.

[Guest]

Should be charging between 14.4-8 on anything 12V.