Need a new Battery - any recommendings?

[Welly]

After ignoring steve_earwig's advice recently and then my mechanic giving me a verbal warning last Friday I have conceded that I should really get a new battery for my car as I'm still running the factory-fitted batt of circa 10 years to be fair the marter stoater is sounding a bit fed up of a morn as I coax the thing into life ......

Found a reasonable-looking unit on "the battery guys" website delivered all in at £73.00 it can has 80ah 'capacities' and has 730 cold cramps although I've no idea if that's good it's the best darn battery they sell and has a 4 year warranty* cheapest was £59.00 but with fewer credentials.

*warranty does not apply

Any other suggestions before I commit?

[steve_earwig]

*warranty does not apply

Why not?

I generally get, umm, whatever Goran says is good because I usually have the choice of about 3 batteries - 1 Bosch for seriously major monies or two brands I never heard of before

Does it cover your car's requirements? Is the 4 year guarantee for real or are you proposing to put it to tasks for which it was never designed?

[Welly]

*warranty does not apply

Why not?

When does it ever?

I thought I'd best go with the best I can afford so I don't have to worry about the battery crapping out at the worst time one Winter and also that the electrickle systems are happily supported (probably all bollocks buy hey).

The 'makes' were Solite and Everstart, never heard of them either but seeing as that Bosch make Washing Machines for Hotpoint (which subsequently burn the place down) I don't really care who makes what nowadays.....

[steve_earwig]

the best I can afford

And the $64,000 question is...

Never heard of thems either, so I Giggled them - Solite seem to make kitchen units and some model aircraft covering but Everstart are the battery choice of..... Walmart

I wonder if anybody fitted a solar panel battery yet, damn expensive but I suspect you'd be able to drive to work on the starter motor...

White goods, pfft XXXX brand, who are a subdivision of YYYY company, who are part of the ZZZZ corporation, whose stuff is made by the ???? manufacturing co. of, er, Korea.

[Welly]

White goods, pfft XXXX brand, who are a subdivision of YYYY company, who are part of the ZZZZ corporation, whose stuff is made by the ???? manufacturing co. of, er, Korea.

Cars? buy a Volvo, made by Ford or a Volkswagon Bentley.......

Those battery makes sound a bit iffy then? or are they? I'd like to see who actually made the Fordvo's battery (if it was easier to actually get too) cos it'd be a good idea to buy one of them (Build Date: Mid-2004)

[steve_earwig]

Next: cars made by white goods manufacturers. I could get a Smeg 4x4

Even if you could see who made the battery, there's no guarantees that they're any good 10 years later on

I've no idea what to suggest, pin the tail on the donkey, or maybe the workers on here will have a better idea when they get home

Meanwhile, I found a new badge for the back of the yoyo - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMEG-HEAD-wid ... 1c18951b53 shame the locals wouldn't understand

[markw]

I wonder if anybody fitted a solar panel battery yet, damn expensive but I suspect you'd be able to drive to work on the starter motor...

Brilliant! Except I suspect the thing would need to have an area the size of ten footy pitches......or more
I had a 3' x 4' solar panel on the top of my camper van....it managed to cough up a measly 50W in full sunlight, enough to keep the leisure battery topped up but not much else.

[steve_earwig]

Not the panels themselves, the batteries for them - http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/Rolls_AGM_Battery_Range_12V/ Look at the CCAs

[Welly]

Got a nice Exide Battery this morning with 680 cold crankers.

Summary of this morning:

Heavy Rain
Squeeze front end of car into Garage
Remove Strut brace
Remove old battery and clean up
Go to get new battery out of boot.....
Boot locked (electrically)
cannot open rear doors, jammed against garage door frame
Crawl through cabin commando style
Fold down rear seat and crawl into boot
Finds 'shopping door' still up blocking access to battery
Finally teases battery from confined space and hauls through to outside
Finds new battery slightly shorter in height and battery 'clamp' too loose.
Fabricate and spray black a 'packer' to lift battery for snug fit.
Put everything back together.
Reset clock
Reset Audio Settings
Car now spins over very healthy on the key.

All happy now but took nearly 2 hours

[Doggy]

I thought that kind of thing only happened to me........

Needless to say, your risk assessment should have identified the need to make the replacement battery accessible, before commencing hostilities.

[Welly]

Indeed, it's just that you always assume you can get in your boot don't you? electricity shouldn't get in the way.....