Battery Problems - Help!

[arnie70]

Had to jump start my gal a couple of mornings in the last few weeks. Had battery tested & it on its last legs. Went to my local Ford's and have got new battery,

 

but got a couple of problems!

 

1 - new battery won't clamp in place?? Does the new battery need to be exact diamensions of old one?

 

2 - When tried starting car with new battery, turned on ignition, dials on dash went mad & just a clicking sound, engine never attempted to turn? So put old battery back in & started no probs?

 

Confused!!

[Smilge]

You would have thought FORD's would have given you a battery that fits and also one that is Serviceable!

 

Take it back and make sure they give you the correct battery ..... ie a Ca (Calcium type) as the manual states and one that is fully charged.

[Beyond Help?]

The clicking noise and dash behavior is either a bad connection or a flat battery. And yes, the new battery should clamp in.

[tiny]

It should be a Ca battery if the manufacture date (not the registration date) is after 09-99 (build code XT)

 

The following document gives what information I could find without TIS

 

Noteworthy is the fact that it is dangerous to have a battery that is not clamped in, and a definite MOT fail!

TSB..txt

Edited December 5, 2007 by tiny

[Smilge]

Nice one Tiny :D

[Beyond Help?]

Noteworthy is the fact that it is dangerous to have a battery that is not clamped in, and a definite MOT fail!

Whilst I agree wholeheartedly about the danger of an insecure battery and having in the past had a car fail an MOT for that reason, the current MOT testers handbook does not include testing the security of the battery, and as it is not in there then your car cannot fail the MOT Test for having an unsecured battery.

 

I will have to check this on the VOSA helpine though, it seems strange that a simple test that takes a second has been removed from the test.

[arnie70]

Thanks for the replies, sorted the 2nd problem, it was down to a faulty connection on the negative terminal, changed the terminal clamp & ok now.

 

Clamping the battery in place still not fixed but now know why, the old battery had a square lip at bottom but the new battery (and all batteries I've looked at) have a angled lip at bottom, my battery clamp is designed for the old one!

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/arnie70/untitled.jpg

 

Have jammed a bit of wood under clamp to hold it in place for time being.

 

Will I be able to get a different clamp?

[Neils TDi again]

The clamp plate is slotted and if you turn the plate over and then put the bolt through it is designed to clamp on a tapered shoulder, both types are within the design criteria.

[arnie70]

The clamp plate is slotted and if you turn the plate over and then put the bolt through it is designed to clamp on a tapered shoulder, both types are within the design criteria.

 

 

Thanks, will give it a try!

[kevinc6081]

Had to jump start my gal a couple of mornings in the last few weeks. Had battery tested & it on its last legs. Went to my local Ford's and have got new battery,

 

but got a couple of problems!

 

1 - new battery won't clamp in place?? Does the new battery need to be exact diamensions of old one?

 

2 - When tried starting car with new battery, turned on ignition, dials on dash went mad & just a clicking sound, engine never attempted to turn? So put old battery back in & started no probs?

 

Confused!!

IF FORDS CANT GIVE YOU THE CORRECT BATTERY WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR ANYONE. NOW I KNOW WHY SOME CALL THEM FRAUDS!!!!