Sudden Catastrophic Battery Failure, Or Something Else?

[Smilge]

Ok....

 

- The existing battery is opaque (black plastic) so I can't see the state of the plates.

- The manual says use CA/PB battery only

- There are no indications on the battery (the original) it's a CA one. Model is Varta DE 1J0915105AC and there's a Pb marking on it.

 

No idea if I've a CA battery at the moment or if I should replace by one :-(

 

Well Pb is a lead acid battery matey peeps ......

[mumof4]

I don't think it matters which one you fit. It's the AVR(automatic voltage regulator) in the alternator that regulates the voltage output of the alternator and this in turn decides the current going into the battery. The AVR will maintain the voltage of the electrics to 13.8volts ish (it does this by regulating the excitation on the coil of the rotor in the alternator). If the battery voltage is low then more current will flow through the battery so charging it.

Car's aren't designed for Pb or Ca, the alternator and battery are matched to the predicted use and load on them. When driving there should be no load on the battery - it's all on the alternator and the battery is being charged hopefully to full if the journey is long enough.

I work with UPS systems and generators and we have all sorts of different batteries, but the rule is CHANGE them when 5 years old - even the ones on our big generators( 6 off 750 Kva)

 

 

I disagree here .. it states calcium battery in my book and that is what i always use.There is a reason for it and i know its been covered before.Ill have a search for it.

[Andrew T]

This is what I was told when I asked...................

[mumof4]

Ahh,,thank you Andrew T. ^_^ Knew it was somewhere.

[Wibbly]

This is what I was told when I asked...................

 

Hence my dilema - manaula says use Ca. Pb seems to have been fitted as an original (and lasted 6 years). What should I fit as a replacement?!?

[mumof4]

I would go for a silver calcium battery....but thats me.They can be more expensive though.

As that is wht i requested when i bought my current one up in the shetlands.Guy in the garage had to have it shipped over specially as he just whacked normal acid batteries in cars.He did try and talk me into getting an acid one but i stuck to my guns.even took my manual in to show him.lol

[Andrew T]

There is little difference in price between Ca and Pb batteries. For a 2.3 around

[mumof4]

here is a link to Vartas website so you can have a gander..i got it onto the Ca batteries.

 

http://www.varta-automotive.com/eng/index2...kraftwagen.html

 

try a battery search on there aswell.

 

http://www.varta-automotive.com/eng/index2...pplication.html

[Wibbly]

For a 2.3 around

[Andrew T]

I got mine from National Tyres, should have been

[Wibbly]

Anyone ever bought from these guys?

 

http://www.tayna.co.uk

[richyrich]

This is what I like about this site - it gets me thinking and looking. My Y reg 1.9 should have a Ca battery in it. From new it had a Pb battery in it ?? and when I had a problem I replaced with a Pb battery! (been in the car now for 3 years!) The info about the Smart Charging System is correct -sorry I doubted it. The charge voltage is raised from 14.4v to 14.8 volts

Many thanks - patience with a newbie!!

[Wibbly]

From new it had a Pb battery in it ?? and when I had a problem I replaced with a Pb battery! (been in the car now for 3 years!) The info about the Smart Charging System is correct -sorry I doubted it. The charge voltage is raised from 14.4v to 14.8 volts

 

So despite using Pb battery, you've had no practical ill effects?

[Andrew T]

As said earlier I think only the 2.3 has SCS so quite possibly you can use a Pb batttery on a VW engined model and get away with it.

 

If a Pb battery was fitted from new it could have been swapped by the dealer before delivery or early in the cars life. If you dig through the early posts premature failure of Ca batteries was common. By contast I replaced the Pb battery on my Honda at the start of its 11th winter!

[richyrich]

Had mine in for 2 years + and no problems. My handbook says should be Ca

Didn't have time to shop around, straight down to halfrauds - HB 010 - still there in shop for 76.99.(just looked for you) - didn't have the Ca battery HCB 010 in stock so don't know price.

Note - these batteries all have lead in them so all still have the Pb label on them.

I think the silver helps with the current flow/connections inside and the calcium is used to suspend the lead in - I think

Checked my motor at lunchtime and even after running the engine for a while the battery voltage never went higher than 14.2 volts

[Andrew T]

Just tried the same on mine (2.3 with SCS allegedly) and got 14.2 as well. That said the battery should be in a good state at this time of year, with little demand being made on it with the warm weather. Could be after a cold start on a dark winter morning it would go to 14.8V.i

[MrT]

My battery played up at the weekend after I had been spring cleaning the car all day. I assumed that I had run the battery down over the course of the day. Recharged it and all seemed fine. On reading an article linked to in this thread it said if the battery indicator was clear, that the battery should be replaced. I went out this morning to check it and every time I unlocked the doors, they immediately locked themselves again before I had time to open the doors. Once I got in, the interior lights and everything else was working but it would not start. The battery indicator was clear and I decided to phone around and get a replacement.

 

It was unbelievably difficult trying to source a battery. Halfords only get them to special order (5 days) for the Galaxy and they would be

[Wibbly]

Anyone ever bought from these guys?

 

http://www.tayna.co.uk

 

I just mail ordered from the above. Type 075 Varta Blue Dynamic Car Battery (Ca). Lowest price I could find too -

[Andrew T]

Wibbly, Like MrT I ended up with an oversize (Diesel) battery on mine when it was replaced under warrenty due to none availability of the oddly sized 2.3 spec one. I don't believe there is any harm in this, indeed the extra capacity has to be benficial. It may be that going to a larger more commonly used size may be cheaper or at least no more expensive.

[MrT]

Just a point for anyone else reading this is that it is easy to think you have a Lead battery installed instead of a Calcium due to the labelling on the batteries. My old battery was a Calcium (from the design and part numbers) and was made for Audi in Eastern Europe but it only had the Pb (lead) warning on it. My new silver-calcium battery mentions silver, lead and calcium.

[mumof4]

My calcium battery doesnt even fill the battery tray.nor is it clamped down.its just sat there looking pretty.next one i get..(which shouldnt be for a long time)..i will get one to fill the tray me thinks.

[tim-spam]

The battery really should be properly clamped down to prevent movement and the consequential fire risk, quite apart from the possible fatigue failure of the main battery leads. If the clamp is missing, I shouldn't think that it would be an expensive item to replace.

[mumof4]

Ive got two black things......but i dont know how they fit..its been like that since the battery was put in...the guy gave me the black things and said he wasnt sure how they went on

[MrT]

The battery should have a lip at the bottom (see the Varta web site Hold Down Type 13) . This lip should slide under a bent over metal lip at the back of the battery tray. At the front of the battery tray there is a triangular piece of metal fixed to the body and another loose triangular piece of metal with curved edges and a hole in it. The loose piece should fit over the lip of the battery with the smaller edge fitting into the edge of the lower fixed triangular piece. A bolt goes through the loose piece into the fixed piece and when it is tightened, it pushes down onto the lip of the battery holding it in place.

 

There is also a black (in my case) plastic cover (about 6cm square) that goes over the postive terminal to insulate it and stop anything from falling on it.

Edited May 3, 2007 by MrT

[mumof4]

Ahhh..thanks for that Mrt..i shall have a gander tomorrow.see if i can fix em on.Mucho appreciated!