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Battery Replacement / Upgrade

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Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby factotum » Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:11 pm

2014 VN Custom (290S) - Factory fitted twin batteries (regular)

Looks like I've run the aux battery low too many times and it's dead (always <10v) so time to replace (and install a low battery cut-out for the gear in the back which is connected to the CCP).

Local guides say the battery is a DIN75LMF or equivalent.

I was getting excited about replacing it with a DIN75 AGM (or similar) but then I read the BEMM :shock:

Can't mix battery types or capacities :cry:

So my two questions are :

1) Is changing the battery type (parameter 210) in the central car configuration vital? Looks like this is a dealer only change...
2) Is changing the batteries a warranty voiding exercise?

I'll call the dealer tomorrow and ask for a quote but can bet it will be $$$...
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby S60r » Tue Mar 28, 2017 7:17 am

G'day.

Honestly, the Ford oem battery is not good. If you are having trouble, I would change them both out for any reputable make. I know its an expense to do both, but you will reap the rewards long term. In fact, you can almost get 2 batteries (in exide or varta flavour for example) for the price of a single silver calcium Ford supplied battery.

Loads die inside 3 years, you could of course try to get them exchanged on warranty or goodwill but if you are keeping the van for a few years I would change them both out. Only my opinion of of course..... thats what I would do for sure. I have had too many problems with Ford batteries.
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby Altransit » Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:00 pm

S60r wrote:G'day.

Honestly, the Ford oem battery is not good. If you are having trouble, I would change them both out for any reputable make. I know its an expense to do both, but you will reap the rewards long term. In fact, you can almost get 2 batteries (in exide or varta flavour for example) for the price of a single silver calcium Ford supplied battery.

Loads die inside 3 years, you could of course try to get them exchanged on warranty or goodwill but if you are keeping the van for a few years I would change them both out. Only my opinion of of course..... thats what I would do for sure. I have had too many problems with Ford batteries.

Ditto, I use Varta E38, which would be a similar spec to the original, but a better battery 8) :D
What are the physical dimensions of the batteries that you have :?:
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby factotum » Tue Mar 28, 2017 1:42 pm

I haven't pulled it out but the local guide says a DIN75L MF is the replacement and it measures 315 L x 175 W x 175 T.

Talk on several sites suggests AGMs measuring 315 x 175 x 190 will squeeze in...
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby Altransit » Tue Mar 28, 2017 1:59 pm

Maybe it will, but it's not necessary as you can get the right size, Varta F18, or fit the Varta E38 which is slightly smaller, but equal in power output to the factory battery :)
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby factotum » Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:11 pm

Altransit wrote:Maybe it will, but it's not necessary as you can get the right size, Varta F18, or fit the Varta E38 which is slightly smaller, but equal in power output to the factory battery :)


Thanks for that - I'm still tempted to go the AGM option given I have a fair amount of gear in the back and figure I'll get a better life span...
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby yasser » Tue Mar 28, 2017 3:02 pm

factotum wrote:I haven't pulled it out but the local guide says a DIN75L MF is the replacement and it measures 315 L x 175 W x 175 T.

Talk on several sites suggests AGMs measuring 315 x 175 x 190 will squeeze in...


Its a very tight fit height wise and i'm not sure you would get an extra 15mm in above the original spec
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby Digrizrat » Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:01 am

yasser wrote:
factotum wrote:I haven't pulled it out but the local guide says a DIN75L MF is the replacement and it measures 315 L x 175 W x 175 T.

Talk on several sites suggests AGMs measuring 315 x 175 x 190 will squeeze in...


Its a very tight fit height wise and i'm not sure you would get an extra 15mm in above the original spec


The 190mm high fit great, i have a pair of them.

This is my text from another thread.

LxWxH
315x175x175, standard
315x175x190, What I fitted, agm batteries were not available in 175 tall. They are a snug fit under the slide on standard battery cover
350x175x190, What I've seen others claim will fit. I measured, and yes it will definitely fit, but the standard hold down bracket will no longer fit, you'll have to fabricate a new one. Also you'll need to be carefull with the standard wiring down the sides.
yasser wrote:
factotum wrote:I haven't pulled it out but the local guide says a DIN75L MF is the replacement and it measures 315 L x 175 W x 175 T.

Talk on several sites suggests AGMs measuring 315 x 175 x 190 will squeeze in...


Its a very tight fit height wise and i'm not sure you would get an extra 15mm in above the original spec
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby herez84 » Fri Mar 31, 2017 2:47 pm

Hi
I have Econetic model and I'm thinking to change batteries because start/stop sometimes works sometimes not. Sometimes i need to start engin my self again. I do usually short city runs not long routes so cheep bateries that i have don't have time to recharge. I'm thinking about buying duracel 80Ah instead 70Ah . Did anyone had same problem ? Did anyone changed batteries and that solved start/stop problem ?
Thanks
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby factotum » Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:41 pm

Digrizrat wrote:The 190mm high fit great, i have a pair of them.


Hmmm...

I put in a pair of 315 x 175 x 190 AGMs today (locally available Delkor brand).

I can't say I'm really happy with the fit - there's enough rub on the cover to deform it in such away that the tabs on the seat (to stop it from sliding all the way out when fully forward) drag on the top. Did you have this problem?

Not sure where to go from here...
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby yasser » Thu Apr 06, 2017 9:19 pm

factotum wrote:
Digrizrat wrote:The 190mm high fit great, i have a pair of them.


Hmmm...

I put in a pair of 315 x 175 x 190 AGMs today (locally available Delkor brand).

I can't say I'm really happy with the fit - there's enough rub on the cover to deform it in such away that the tabs on the seat (to stop it from sliding all the way out when fully forward) drag on the top. Did you have this problem?

Not sure where to go from here...


I did say it would be tight with that extra 15mm. The only thing I can think of is if you remove/cut away the carpet and sound deadening underneath the battery box to drop it down a bit. Might give you 5-10mm back
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby ake » Fri Apr 07, 2017 7:41 pm

Altransit wrote:Maybe it will, but it's not necessary as you can get the right size, Varta F18, or fit the Varta E38 which is slightly smaller, but equal in power output to the factory battery :)

I bought a new Transit Battery from Ford the other day.
It's Ford Silver Calcium branded, with a wee Varta logo on the part number label!
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby Altransit » Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:47 pm

ake wrote:
Altransit wrote:Maybe it will, but it's not necessary as you can get the right size, Varta F18, or fit the Varta E38 which is slightly smaller, but equal in power output to the factory battery :)

I bought a new Transit Battery from Ford the other day.
It's Ford Silver Calcium branded, with a wee Varta logo on the part number label!

Well, well, so now we know who makes them :lol:

I'm willing to bet that the spec is not the same, I've never had a Varta literally die overnight like the Ford ones do, and one of them is over 10 years old now, and still going strong :? :wink: :D
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby factotum » Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:24 am

Altransit wrote:Maybe it will, but it's not necessary as you can get the right size, Varta F18, or fit the Varta E38 which is slightly smaller, but equal in power output to the factory battery :)


But from my reading neither of those Varta batteries are AGM type which was the original goal...
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Re: Battery Replacement / Upgrade

Postby factotum » Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:30 am

yasser wrote:The only thing I can think of is if you remove/cut away the carpet and sound deadening underneath the battery box to drop it down a bit. Might give you 5-10mm back


I did think about that. I also thought about bending the slide tabs that are rubbing up slightly...

Working with the seat in place is such a drag! I presume as a safety I should pull the airbag fuse before disconnecting the seat electrical harness connector or is this overkill?

I also attach a 12v lab power supply to the battery jump start terminal under the hood (and steel chassis obviously) to maintain the memory / settings while the batteries are out. Any reason I shouldn't do it this way?
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