Fitted my new battery today but it was slightly different. Just wanting to check its all ok and not putting extra strain on the alternator or to much power for the ecu or whatever!

Old one

New one

Edited 19 January, 201610 yr by hutchysrs50

So long as it fits and + and - are the same way round, you're good. 

Oh yeah it fits ok although it's very slightly wider, been for a drive and all is ok.

Checked the alternator wire while I was on it and tested the output.

Put the tester on and it said 12.5, started it and was charging at 14.5

Edited 19 January, 201610 yr by hutchysrs50

Yeah, that's not unreasonable, if we're being fussy, I'd say it's a bit low to start with, but I'd put that down to it being sat on a shelf for a bit, then maybe started up a couple of times in quick succession afte you fitted it?

It's basically a higher capacity, 670 cold crank amp instead of 540 and an extra 10 Ah's,   so it'll cope better with leaving your lights on(engine off) and when your alternator packs in it'll drive for longer before cutting out.

The other point is that, if you were to put it on a charger from flat, it would take longer to get "full".

Check that there aren't any vent bungs that are supposed to be removed. There's something sticking out each side in line with the word Exide.  If anything is supposed to be removed, there should be clear instruction stickers on the battery, but someone recently had a battery that should have a bung removed, but there wasn't any instruction on it. 

 

Another thing worth checking is how much/little the voltage across the terminals drops when, with engine running, you add some loads like headlights/cabin fan on 4 etc.  This might give an indication that the cabling between alternator and battery isn't as good as it should be (if the voltage drops a lot under these conditions, say 0.5V).  Because the wires between battery and alternator are pretty thick, the voltage drop should be pretty small, unless there is a problem.

You're looking at open bungholes Wino, the bungs themselves are usually red or yellow plastic plugs.

Yeah, that's not unreasonable, if we're being fussy, I'd say it's a bit low to start with, but I'd put that down to it being sat on a shelf for a bit, then maybe started up a couple of times in quick succession afte you fitted it?

Pretty much yeah, pointing out the obvious but it's a major improvement over my old battery!

I guess I'll find out tomorrow on a cold start but seems worth the £45 I paid for it.

Thanks for the replies anyway, a little piece of mind knowing it's fine to use.

No bungs on this battery, I had a quick look but it's a sealed battery anyway so don't think it has them. I'll double check next time the bonnets up anyway.

Thanks

Feels like a different car now, I knew it would improve starting on these cold mornings but it's transformed them!

Starts instantly now, no revs jumping about when it starts, no puff of smoke out the back, no juddery or slowing down.

Just straights straight away, great

Edited 20 January, 201610 yr by hutchysrs50