Battery question!

[Jubag]

Ok, I have a 1989 Defender (was an n/a) that in 2006 I fitted an M Reg Disco 300Tdi engine to. The engine has always run sweet as the proverbial nut but I've never found a battery that starts it very effectively once it's been in the car for a week or so. It charges fine, it has a new starter with a little gearbox to give it more oomph, but still tapers off very fast and so I then have to top the battery up. I even take the battery off *every* time I I switch it off.

So my question is this, can anybody point me in the direction of a battery that holds a powerful starting punch?

[paintman]

Sure it's a defective battery & not a something wrong with the charging system or a parasitic battery drain?

[Andy_mr2sc]

I've got a 90 (19j) that I put a 300tdi in. While doing the conversion I put a new high output alternator in from Island 4x4. IIRC around 100 amp. I used the 19j starter and battery, both of which were recently new. It always turns over and starts without faultering, only needing a bit of glow plug first start on a cold morning.
Without sounding insulting have you checked all the large cable connections, especially to the starter and the return earth?

[camel_landy]

It's not the battery... It's either not charging properly or you've got something draining it.

M

[Jubag]

It buggered up totally today! I went to start it and it cranked over. It didn't catch, I let go of the key and it kept trying to turn over even though I was not touching the key. Then the started motor stalled and started to short the battery! Fortunately I had just connected the battery and I just ripped the earth off.

I am utterly pissed off with it today. After 10 years of this I think I'm going with a jap engine, best of both worlds. I'd love to just buy a Mitsubishi or Nissan but they are crap off road. bks and feck it!!!

[Jurgen Schmidt]

On the bright side, you have a lovely looking Cerb

[SimesJH]

I parked my 300Tdi for 8 weeks and she started first turn of the key last weekend. The battery is a few years old, she was parked outside, it was cold and the battery wasn't disconnected.

You have an electrical drain / electrical problem. Changing the engine is a somewhat drastic measure and I think you'll have a far simpler, cheaper and quicker job finding and correcting your electrical problem.

These are good engines.

[Jubag]

Jurgen Schmidt said:

On the bright side, you have a lovely looking Cerb

Thank you! you have a fine selection as well!

SimesJH said:

I parked my 300Tdi for 8 weeks and she started first turn of the key last weekend. The battery is a few years old, she was parked outside, it was cold and the battery wasn't disconnected.

You have an electrical drain / electrical problem. Changing the engine is a somewhat drastic measure and I think you'll have a far simpler, cheaper and quicker job finding and correcting your electrical problem.

These are good engines.

I would agree about a parasitic drain, but I always take the earth off when I switch the engine off. So that mitigates that situation. Fortunately I had just put the earth back on and still had the chair off and was able to get to the battery fast.

I don't know, it's like the engine is unbelievably, ridiculously difficult to crank when it's cold.

I wondered if I converted it to a 24v system, would that kick it up the arse?

Edited by Jubag on Thursday 25th February 17:40

[Trevor450]

Sounds like a bad connection. The engine cranking over when the key was released sounds like insulation has melted off a cable to the starter due to the poor connection and shorting to earth - or the ignition was wired incorrectly when the engine swap was done.