'78 BGT Battery reccomendations?

[ATE399J]

All, what's the. Current thinking on batteries? It's time for a new one l recon and l'm guessing the standard one listed inHalfords may not be the best bet.

[nta16]

not a direct answer but I hope some of this helps with your selection of battery and prolonging its life

Halfords used to be good for batteries offering ones with 5 year warranties and a good range at reasonable prices but I think that's all changed now

to save confusing your CAs with your CCAs and your SAEs with your DINs have a quick look at this - http://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/datasheets/yuasa/Under...

and do remember to allow for the overall size of the battery if you want it to fit in physically

then if you look after all the connections and wires you should have a battery that easily starts your car for many years - battery faults account for a high proportion of breakdown call outs rarely is it a battery that is faulty instead it's something that the car owner/driver has done or hasn't done

word of caution are you sure the battery needs changing - my mate was told by the RAC man tested something with his electronic kit and told my mate that he needed a new battery (they just happen to sell them) but my mate bought his own battery from elsewhere and when he went to put it on he found on the existing battery the battery post clamp that was out of sight was all crudded up, he cleaned it and the existing battery was fine - yes he doesn't listen to what I tell him either, I'd only been telling him about the importance of a well charged battery in good condition with clean, secure and protected connections and wire for his recent purchase of a car with an electrically operated roof

he didn't watch these videos properly either -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnbQ2G5K2zI

longer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uk53AYZ_2o

Edited by nta16 on Monday 20th January 23:02

[ATE399J]

I do need to check all earth / other connections but it turns over very slowly even when charged and often the car fires just as you release the start setting. It is either poor connections or battery. Just wanted to know what to get IF it turns out that l need one.

[nta16]

ATE399J said:

I do need to check all earth / other connections

yes very much so

ATE399J said:

but it turns over very slowly even when charged and often the car fires just as you release the start setting.

so at the point of most drain from cranking the engine fires - that doesn't sound like the battery does it

if you've got a multimeter you could do a drop test on the battery as in the JT vid

if it is the battery a jump from another battery might show that up if the car starts easily and starter spins faster (or it might show up battery post clamps connections)

ETA: as you own a fibreglass bodied car you should be used to ensuring good earth connections and all other electrical connections need to be clean, secure and protected - especially important for the biggest draw item on the car the stater motor

do a site Search as there are posts on MGB main leads/connections with it's very long lead from battery(s) to starter, battery and engine earths (and joining lead for 6v batteries)

Edited by nta16 on Tuesday 21st January 13:58

[mgtony]

I've got a big Bosch battery. Just about fits into the battery box. Car always starts, even after long periods being unused. (Nigel can vouch for those long periods!)

[nta16]

Hi Tony

I'd have thought you didn't need to buy a battery just borrow one on the few occasions it's needed

I think the battery number is what's required - if it's required, perhaps for future reference

[ATE399J]

Nigel, you are, as always, right in what you say. However l think l didn't quite explain; turn key to 'start' setting and engine turns slowly and there is the highest draw on the battery, release key to 'ignition', and she fires - i.e. as the draw from the starter stops the ignition circuit gets more oomph. That does sound like a lack of elec power to me but may not necessarily be battery condition as you say. I'll go out with emery paper and vasaline!!

[nta16]

Phil,
you could try using a jump lead to make a clean and secure earth close to the starter and see if that helps or just check and clean up all the major earth connections and make they're all clean, secure and protected and in good condition so that they can transfer the full power through them

I remember someone posting that they had found corrosion or crud under the insulation a few inches away from the connection on one of the major leads from the battery

as always with starting or electrical problems it pays to keep the battery well charged up as this will help in the problem solving where as a battery in lower state of charge can hide or even hinder progress

Edited by nta16 on Tuesday 21st January 15:54

[williredale]

mgtony said:

I've got a big Bosch battery. Just about fits into the battery box. Car always starts, even after long periods being unused. (Nigel can vouch for those long periods!)

Which type have you got? I have a Bosch 063 in mine which I had to modify to fit. The mounting lug things on the bottom were hacksawed off to fit.

I agree with Nigel that there's a couple of things to look at before splashing out for a new battery. The 063 S4 battery was £40 from the euro car parts ebay store.

[nta16]

for owners of Bs with two 6v batteries that want to convert to a single 12v battery the 202 (002L(?)) fits without altering the battery

I don’t know if the (one) battery space on later cars that left the factory with a the one 12v battery was more or the same as the space for one of the two 6v

the following is from a 'two 6v to single 12v' conversion thread

[quote]Dave O'Neill2, Solihull, United Kingdom
Varta B35 a la Fiat Punto seems to be the current battery of choice...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VARTA-B35-002L-202-CAR-B...
[quote]


[quote]Dave O'Neill2, Solihull, United Kingdom
Footprint is the same as a 6v, but slightly shorter

[quote]


[quote]B Anderson, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
Yes to Varta B35. Spot on fit. Just needed a spacer on the clamp as they are a bit long.
Bernie[quote]

[williredale]

nta16 said:

rs of Bs with two 6v batteries that want to convert to a single 12v battery the 202 (002L(?)) fits without altering the battery

I don’t know if the (one) battery space on later cars that left the factory with a the one 12v battery was more or the same as the space for one of the two 6v

the following is from a 'two 6v to single 12v' conversion thread

[quote]Dave O'Neill2, Solihull, United Kingdom
Varta B35 a la Fiat Punto seems to be the current battery of choice...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VARTA-B35-002L-202-CAR-B...
[quote]


[quote]Dave O'Neill2, Solihull, United Kingdom
Footprint is the same as a 6v, but slightly shorter

[quote]


[quote]B Anderson, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
Yes to Varta B35. Spot on fit. Just needed a spacer on the clamp as they are a bit long.
Bernie[quote]

This also works on an MGA as that's the size you helped me with a while back. Slightly dearer than the 063 though.

[nta16]

my words got in a muddle what I meant to put was -

is the battery compartment size the same on the later cars that have a single 12v battery the same as the battery compartment on cars fitted with two 6v?

hope that makes sense this time

(info and photo above are just copied and pasted from a previous thread using the site Search)

[mgtony]

I'll check the code number on my Bosch when I manage to get home with a bit of daylight remaiming. I remember it was about £82

[nta16]

ATE399J said:

Nigel, you are, as always, right in what you say.

if only I was always right

ATE399J said:

However l think l didn't quite explain; turn key to 'start' setting and engine turns slowly and there is the highest draw on the battery, release key to 'ignition', and she fires - i.e. as the draw from the starter stops the ignition circuit gets more oomph. That does sound like a lack of elec power to me but may not necessarily be battery condition as you say. I'll go out with emery paper and vasaline!!

sorry Phil I missed this post

yes that's what I thought you meant and the first thing that came to my mind then was ignition switch but I forgot to mention it

take a photo or note of the connections before disconnecting them (unlike I did)

if the connections on the back side ofthe switch looks good then you may need to take the switch out to look at and perhaps clean the other side

emery paper seems a bit heavy duty and I prefer electric contact grease to Vaseline

[nta16]

ETA:
got my mind stuck in the battery rut when I'd already put it didn't sound like the battery

you should really do a step by step diagnostics with multimeter or test bulb or flow chart etc.

but if you jump straight to the ignition switch then as above

there's a photo of Tony's ignition switch because some idiot forgot to take his own

[Dbest92]

I'd second the type 202 battery, I have one in my '73b and, as is a spot on fit,, although not sure on the battery box size of the later cars?

Has proved more than adequate on starting the car even on the coldest of mornings!

As mentioned though is worth checking the charging system/alternator and terminals

This is the one I have : http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/accessories-car-...

[nta16]

wow Darren are you actually using your B through the winter (don't let Tony see this)

is it reliable, what about the Midget are you using that through the winter too and is that reliable

[Dbest92]

nta16 said:

wow Darren are you actually using your B through the winter (don't let Tony see this)

is it reliable, what about the Midget are you using that through the winter too and is that reliable

I am trying as and when I can although not when there's salt on the roads! I draw a line there! it's off for a respray in a few weeks so will be a good month without being used then. As for reliability, without tempting fate I've had no problems at all since! Well apart from the dash lights stopping working!

The Midget is technically my dads now so it's beyond my control and on sorn unfortunately and rarely gets used (awaits a telling off ), although now my insurance has dropped I may try to insure myself on it again soon! I do miss it!

[nta16]

Dbest92 said:

Well apart from the dash lights stopping working!

bypass the switch - there was a B owner that posted that didn't even realise he had a rheostat, why - well yes of course he hadn't got or read a Driver's Handbook

Dbest92 said:

The Midget is technically my dads now so it's beyond my control and on sorn unfortunately and rarely gets used

the answer is obvious, swap cars you have the Midget and your Dad the garage ornament

I think you'll find it's the law that bright red MGBs have to be hibernated for at least 8 months of the year and longer if it's a later MoT date

you should stick to one classic and get it used through out the year - we've not had that many days when the roads have had salt on them and the rains soon wash it away on the few we have had

[Dbest92]

Haha, that book has helped me put a few times I must say!

It will end up looking a typical garage queen! And will be driven only on sunny Sunday evenings, well for the other 4 months ,, I joke, it will see regular action, last summer I completely re-undersealed it and with fresh paint it should be fairly well protected!

Technically the B is my only classic, which i won't be swapping , but not sure what will happen with the midget hopefully with the summer coming my dad will use it more :P