900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery

E. Newnes (E. Newnes <enewns45 DeleteThis @solvo.com>) gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

> The fit between the battery and the turbo heat shield is very tight. In
> fact there is usually virtually no clearance between the shield and the
> battery. In fact you will see see wear marks on the heat shield from
> contact with the battery. It doesn't seem to harm them.

Exact same situation here. I replaced the battery a month or two ago, and
it's a VERY tight fit. The turbo flange is rubbing on the heat shield.
The old one was about 10mm narrower.

I think there's precisely two choices - live with it or spend hours on
the phone ringing around and asking motor factors to get their tape
measures out...

I chose the first.
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery 

On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:52:11 -0000, "sb" <sb.RemoveThis@pork.net> wrote:

>I had this problem last time this battery needed replacing - I can't find
>one that fits!
>
>Most batteries seem to be 6 3/4 to 7 ins wide; this one needs to be 6 1/4
>max, in order to fit between manifold & inner wing panel, including
>allowance of approx 1/4 in for heat shield.
>
>Am in UK. Have been to many outlets (not SAAB itself yet, for likely cost
>reasons!) but can't find one. The last one was a Varta, but I'm told they
>don't make this one any more.
>
>Spec is 62 Ah, 10in long (not critical), 7 1/2 to 8 ins high (not critical),
>6 1/4 ins wide, Max.
>
>My previous 900 Turbo (1980), nor apparently any other 1980-94 900s, didn't
>have this annoying problem, only the 16 valve. (Indeed that previous
>battery, totally sealed, lasted 12 years!).
>
>Any help or comments, please? Getting urgent, living off charger!
>
>Thanks - sb
>

Don't worry too much about the 62Ah rating. You should be able to
reduce that to, say, 40Ah without really noticing any difference.
Hopefully, that will get you into the right size range.

Halfords often have all their batteries out on the shelf, so you can
root around with the tape measure to find what you want.

Cheers,

Colin.
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery 

Very many thanks to E Newnes, Adrian & Colin (the 3 reply posts here this
morning). Couple of comments (and please excuse if I put it badly before):

- Yes I realise about close fit, the current old one and also the one before
(which I still have lying around, but with no identifying marks left on it)
both allowed only a very tight fit for shield.

- So not sure I quite understand Adrian's "live with it", but can he say
which make battery he got, please? (Haven't found an Exide supplier yet, in
S. London or Surrey).

- Those I've tried (all recommended by suppliers, all three of them
"guaranteeing" they'd fit!) over last few days wouldn't go in even without
the shield. Halfords one was 7 ins, Bosch too (only gave height on German &
Swedish's (supplier) computer but they ordered it anyway - too wide. They
kindly measured most of their (Bosch) batteries in stock and 7 ins seemed
standard. The makers' spec lists in these shops don't differentiate the
900T 16v from any other 900s (eg Bosch just showed "900, up to 1994").

- Halfords sizes similar, gave up after finding ten or twelve the same width
but will return and try again, especially after Colin's news.

- Fascinated about the Amp Hours, Colin; that may well help in continuing
search (incidentally Bosch and the unknown one £60. Halfords £70 or £80).
Are you sure that lower Ah wouldn't cause problems with the ECU - which
after a fuel pump relay problem I had last year does seem to be a mighty
fussy item? As you'll realise, I'm ignorant on electrics - and most other
car things.


Again many thanks for your feedback, you're all very kind. Any ideas on
particular brands/item nos would be v welcome.

sb
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery 

sb ("sb" <sb RemoveThis @pork.net>) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

> - Yes I realise about close fit, the current old one and also the one
> before (which I still have lying around, but with no identifying marks
> left on it) both allowed only a very tight fit for shield.
>
> - So not sure I quite understand Adrian's "live with it",

Ah. No, if it won't fit at all...

> but can he say which make battery he got, please? (Haven't found an
> Exide supplier yet, in S. London or Surrey).

It doesn't own up to a brand...

It's a black, fairly anonymous, rather old-tech looking (ooh, blimey,
screw caps!) cheapie which was all the local motor factor had in stock in
069 size. It claims 70Ah.
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery 

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 11:23:09 -0000, "sb" <sb DeleteThis @pork.net> wrote:


>- Fascinated about the Amp Hours, Colin; that may well help in continuing
>search (incidentally Bosch and the unknown one £60. Halfords £70 or £80).
>Are you sure that lower Ah wouldn't cause problems with the ECU - which
>after a fuel pump relay problem I had last year does seem to be a mighty
>fussy item? As you'll realise, I'm ignorant on electrics - and most other
>car things.

It shouldn't cause any problems with your ECU. It'll just affect how
much you can use the electrics without the engine running before the
battery goes flat. For instance, if a 62Ah battery could run your
parking lights for 30 hours, a 40Ah one would last about 20 hours.
Both would easily be able to start the car in the depths of winter as
long as the battery and the engine are in decent order.

If the car needs lots of cranking before it starts, the 62Ah would be
more able to take the abuse. Also, when the battery gets old and loses
capacity, the 62Ah one will have more capacity to lose before it dies,
so it might last a bit longer.

In general, more capacity is better, but it's not really a big deal if
you can't get a high capacity one to fit.

Cheers,

Colin.
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery 

Thanks Colin - fortunately the car is a star starter; I'm not sure it's ever
once failed to start till that relay problem and now this battery problem,
so your info is V welcome & useful. (btw Is it possible to tell if it's the
"car's fault" for finishing the battery (not charging it) or simply the
"battery's fault", for wearing out all by itself?).

More important, Any info on Makes + Part Nos for batteries would be Truly
Welcome from anyone listening, as Saturday proved a total failure - and
totally exhausting, humping batteries around, trying to fit marginal ones,
unfitting, carrying back into shops, etc.

Thanks to all for help, anyway - sb

"Colin Stamp" <col.dustbin.DeleteThis@stamp.plus.com> wrote in message
news:6kfcn3t9rr07u9ehm1o5ssqgh9cu3v1vvr@4ax.com...
>
> It shouldn't cause any problems with your ECU. It'll just affect how
> much you can use the electrics without the engine running before the
> battery goes flat. For instance, if a 62Ah battery could run your
> parking lights for 30 hours, a 40Ah one would last about 20 hours.
> Both would easily be able to start the car in the depths of winter as
> long as the battery and the engine are in decent order.
>
> If the car needs lots of cranking before it starts, the 62Ah would be
> more able to take the abuse. Also, when the battery gets old and loses
> capacity, the 62Ah one will have more capacity to lose before it dies,
> so it might last a bit longer.
>
> In general, more capacity is better, but it's not really a big deal if
> you can't get a high capacity one to fit.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Colin.
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery 

On Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:33:11 -0000, "sb" <sb.TakeThisOut@pork.net> wrote:

>Thanks Colin - fortunately the car is a star starter; I'm not sure it's ever
>once failed to start till that relay problem and now this battery problem,
>so your info is V welcome & useful. (btw Is it possible to tell if it's the
>"car's fault" for finishing the battery (not charging it) or simply the
>"battery's fault", for wearing out all by itself?).

You can check that the battery is being charged by putting a voltmeter
across its terminals with the engine idling. It should be somewhere
between 13.8 and 14.4V. Take the measurement with the headlights on to
give a decent load.

If the charging is OK, then it's either a duff battery or something on
the car draining the battery whilst parked. You could use an ammeter
to check for excess current whilst parked, or get the battery itself
tested at a garage or battery dealer.

>
>More important, Any info on Makes + Part Nos for batteries would be Truly
>Welcome from anyone listening, as Saturday proved a total failure - and
>totally exhausting, humping batteries around, trying to fit marginal ones,
>unfitting, carrying back into shops, etc.

I can't be much help there, I'm afraid. If it's any consolation, I've
been there too, with a Nissan 200SX. I finally ended up with the car
at the back of a Nissan main dealer, watching them bring out battery
after battery until they finally found one which physically fitted and
had the terminals in the right order...

Cheers,

Colin.
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery 

Thanks again Colin, and again many thanks to you three. For those
interested here's the middle and end of the saga:

Ten or so spares shops & their suppliers could find no trace of Mr Newnes's
Exide PDIN66, neither could Google or Yahoo, so I gave up on that one(!).

Also on the telephone "assurances" from several suppliers that theirs would
Definitely fit. None did. Then my back gave out from constant insertions
and withdrawals (of Batteries!).

Then amongst my stuff I found the name of the old one, Varta 562 14. Did a
search on Varta's very helpful website and Hey Presto! There it was, the
exact item!

Three shops and 50 miles later a knowledgeable sounding outlet asked, "Is it
for a SAAB Turbo?". And told me it was discontinued two years ago (when
Varta "expanded" its range).

So bit the bullet, raided the piggy bank, went to the SAAB dealer. No
problem at all (well, no problem apart from the price and the exceeding
tight fit). Apparently all the dealers have been moaning to SAAB, but of
course, it isn't anymore.

Sadly I can give no further details; all it says on the item is (stuck on
label) "SAAB 60Ah". (I have to say it closely resembles - colour, handle,
size & shape - the Halfords one I have in my other SAAB but, weight off
mind, who am I to complain!).

Many thanks - sb
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery 

"sb" <sb.TakeThisOut@pork.net> wrote in message
news:F9SdnU6ed6QOaeHanZ2dnUVZ8vWdnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Thanks again Colin, and again many thanks to you three. For those
> interested here's the middle and end of the saga:
>
> Ten or so spares shops & their suppliers could find no trace of Mr
> Newnes's
> Exide PDIN66, neither could Google or Yahoo, so I gave up on that
> one(!).
>
> Also on the telephone "assurances" from several suppliers that
> theirs would
> Definitely fit. None did. Then my back gave out from constant
> insertions
> and withdrawals (of Batteries!).
>
> Then amongst my stuff I found the name of the old one, Varta 562 14.
> Did a
> search on Varta's very helpful website and Hey Presto! There it
> was, the
> exact item!
>
> Three shops and 50 miles later a knowledgeable sounding outlet
> asked, "Is it
> for a SAAB Turbo?". And told me it was discontinued two years ago
> (when
> Varta "expanded" its range).
>
> So bit the bullet, raided the piggy bank, went to the SAAB dealer.
> No
> problem at all (well, no problem apart from the price and the
> exceeding
> tight fit). Apparently all the dealers have been moaning to SAAB,
> but of
> course, it isn't anymore.
>
> Sadly I can give no further details; all it says on the item is
> (stuck on
> label) "SAAB 60Ah". (I have to say it closely resembles - colour,
> handle,
> size & shape - the Halfords one I have in my other SAAB but, weight
> off
> mind, who am I to complain!).
>
> Many thanks - sb
>

Hi,
do you want to tell us how much this one cost?
Just curious after reading the adventure.

Richard.
 >> Stay informed about: 900T 16 valve (1990) Help? - Issue re Replacement Battery