Car Battery Replacement

sward071

Hey.

Apologies for whats probably a stupid question but yesterday my Ford Focus 1.8 TCDI 2008 car battery finally packed in. Now seeing that its a Ford Genuine battery and so 6 years old I didnt mind. so went to the local motor factor to get a new one.

The battery I took out was a 80Ah 700A Ford battery. but the replacement one sold to me is a 68 Ah 570A. Now not only is it a small capacity battery its also a smaller size physically.

I stuck it in to see does my car start and she starts alright now so Im glad its working and my problems seam to be only a dead battery.

So my question is do I need to get a refund A.S.A.P from the motor factors and were they trying to pull a fast one on me or was it a genuine mistake.

Sorry Im a bit inexperienced with cars they are definitely not my thing.

Special Circumstances

sward071 wrote: »

were they trying to pull a fast one on me or was it a genuine mistake.

Sorry Im a bit inexperienced with cars they are definitely not my thing.

They do this all the time.
"Hello, do you have a battery for X year, Y car, W engine?"
...tap tap tap...
"We do to be sure, €80"
...Drive all the way there...
"It's a completely different size, shape and rating?"
"Ah tis equivdalent, plus there , minus there, up the yard an shave a bullock ha?"

Take it back. And go somewhere else.

sward071

so they tried to pull a fast one on me so. they said it came with 2yr warranty which I said sounded low but I was stuck so just got it.

I just don't get what would be in it for the retailer? buying a specific size battery in bulk and selling it for every car from a 1 litre corsa to 2.5 litre merc is it???

biko

It's not uncommon to use smaller batteries and the car does start.
80 euro is about right too.

Check your owner's manual for specs on the battery.

The old battery can be left at any place that sells car batteries for free, they must take it even if you don't buy anything.

Special Circumstances

sward071 wrote: »

so they tried to pull a fast one on me so. they said it came with 2yr warranty which I said sounded low but I was stuck so just got it.

Never attribute to malice what can be sufficiently explained by incompetence...

dieselbug

2008 Focus. The correct battery is a silver calcium for the type of chargeing system on this car. It will be expensive.

sward071

so should I bring it back and replace it or will the new battery do the job.

biko

Check new battery, does it say "silver calcium" anywhere on it?
A lead battery may not be able for the new fancy smart charging and not last.

sward071

no no mention of silver calcium its a lucus lc 096.

biko

LC096 - Lucas Classic Car Battery is calcium
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LC096-Lucas-Classic-Car-Battery/dp/B007NY56FU

The question is of course does it have to be "silver" calcium?

So back to google
http://www.yuasa.co.uk/info/technical/silver-calcium-batteries/

Ford introduced silver calcium batteries worldwide for their vehicles in 1997 together with a smart charging system. They told their dealers that these batteries must be replaced only with other silver-calcium batteries as the life of normal lead antimony batteries would be drastically reduced if these were used for replacement. This of course, implies that Yuasa batteries must not be used.

In summary, you can fit a Yuasa battery to any Ford car (i.e. recommended catalogue model fitment) with the complete assurance that it will give first time starting and trouble free motoring.

Take from that what you will...

sward071

but the fact that the battery is physically too small. its about 1-1.5 inchs shorter than the old one. will that not mean the likelyhood it will move alot over time?

dieselbug

The battery needs to be secure in the tray, a loose battery is dangerous and an nct fail item.

I'd advise you to take it back and point out is is not the correct fit and may be dangerous (should set alarm bells ringing)

Any reasonable factor will exchange it for the correct fit. You may have to pay a few euro extra for the correct fit and correct capacity, maybe.

A silver calcuim battery is the correct spec but... in my experience they are rarely replaced like for like as they are simply too expensive. Usually a standard battery is fitted but it will not last as long as it will be exposed to higher voltages than it was designed for.

Special Circumstances

sward071 wrote: »

but the fact that the battery is physically too small. its about 1-1.5 inchs shorter than the old one. will that not mean the likelyhood it will move alot over time?

There is some adjustment available in cars with an "open" battery carrier. But if you find yourself chopping bits of wood so you can clamp it down, or trying to cut the lip of the battery tray, or bend the top part off the clamp, I'd say stop unless you are really stuck.

In the enclosed type of battery carrier I would want a like for like replacement for the original.

PukkaStukka

I had to replace the battery in my wife's Cmax which has the smart charge system. The guy in the factors didn't know that the calcium battery was needed and tried to flog me a bog standard one instead one instead. The correct one was (from memory) about €30 dearer than the standard one.

Another worrying battery incident preceeded the above by a few years when my wifes old Renault Scenic also needed its battery replaced. Anyone who knows anything about the original Scenic knows that the battery is under the drivers seat and and is a gel one. The factor didn't have one and referred to me directly to a Renault main dealer. The Renault main dealer tried to sell me a standard lead acid jobbie! He didn't know that it had to be a gel, nor the reason why (risk of a hydrogen accumulation and possible explosion when charging in a confined space) and commented he sold lots of the standard batterys for Scenics and had no complaints.... :eek:

jimgoose

I use and recommend Yuasa/Bosch Silver batteries. Same form-factor as OE, with considerably higher capacity and CCA. A tad pricey, but excellent and guaranteed for five years.

biko

Special Circumstances wrote: »

But if you find yourself chopping bits of wood so you can clamp it down

This is my go to solution

Special Circumstances

biko wrote: »

This is my go to solution

Been there done that haha, but now my attitude is that manufacturers don't just make up random sizes and specs - there is a correct replacement type and that's what I want when go to buy one.
Not a "be grand, like" job with the implied "well if it isn't Mr. Pernickity, looking for a like for like replacement" vibe you get if you look for anything other than bargain bucket parts in many factors.

If they even told you over the phone that what they had was "similar" or "equivalent" or "it can be made to fit" rather than "yes 100% we have a battery to suit the battery type you have quoted to us".