walkthewalk Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 Recently I had to jump start my 96 V6 Galaxy GLX twice in couple of days. I decided the best course of action was to replace the battery. I went to Halfords (not my first choice but it was a Sunday) to get a new battery and their little flip-book told me I needed a 065 battery, rated 500AEN/CC and 60Ah. When I arrived home and popped Gal's bonnet I noticed the old battery was a 096 (with +30% of a standard battery) rated 720AEN/CC and 80Ah. I decided to swap the batteries anyway. Later on I took the car out for a drive. I noticed it idling roughly, whereas it had been smooth prior to the battery change. If I leave the car idling, the RPM drops very low and it either just about keeps running or stalls. Weirdly, when the air-con is on the car idles smoothly, as you would expect at just under 1000 RPM. Since then I spoke to a (not particularly helpful) Ford dealer who said I need a 760AEN/CC battery. I have also spoken to a couple of other motor factors who have said I need a 075 (550AEN/CC and 59Ah) or 069 (570AEN/CC and 72Ah). Could the lower rated battery be causing my idling problems? Or may it be that the ECU needs to be reset? Will the lower rated battery cause me any other problems? Does anyone know the proper battery rating? Quote
sepulchrave Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 No, the battery swap you did will have reset the ECU so it's now re-learning its settings. With regards to rating, it's more about quality than quantity, poor quality batteries tend to cave in under the constant quiescent current drain from the alarm/immobiliser. I have a 70Ah battery in mine from a BMW 3 series and I have no problems at all. Quote
big_kev Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 Could the lower rated battery be causing my idling problems? No The new battery you have should be ok for the V6, possibly nearer the bottom end but should be fine. Depending on who you speak to anywhere between 60Ah and 70Ah and I wouldn't worrry about Cold Cranking Current with a Petrol Engine. I would worry more why your original battery went flat as this may indicate a charging problem. Quote
walkthewalk Posted August 25, 2009 Author Report Posted August 25, 2009 Thanks for the replies. @sepulchrave: That's good to know. @big_kev: The battery did look well weathered. I'm sure it was at least 5 years old. I don't know how many years they should last for? Quote
big_kev Posted August 25, 2009 Report Posted August 25, 2009 Could be.....see how long the new one lasts B) Quote
DaveM Posted August 26, 2009 Report Posted August 26, 2009 @big_kev: The battery did look well weathered. I'm sure it was at least 5 years old. I don't know how many years they should last for? 5 years (in my experience) is about right for a V6 GalI've just bought my second battery and the car is now 11 years young oh and idle for a V6 is about 650 to 750rpm, so if it's nearer 1000 then it's either cold or the air con has kicked in Quote
walkthewalk Posted October 22, 2009 Author Report Posted October 22, 2009 After a few weeks the idling problem went.. presumably because the ECU had readjusted. Quote
sepulchrave Posted October 22, 2009 Report Posted October 22, 2009 After a few weeks the idling problem went.. presumably because the ECU had readjusted. Yup. :ph34r: Quote
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