14 replies to this topic

[loggons]

Hi my battery is failing so i brought a Bosch Silver, which i asked the VX mechanic to fit while it was in for its annual service, he agreed to do it. However he failed to do it, saying it was to big and the clamps wouldn't hold it. I checked the battery number and according to Bosch its the correct model. Vauxhall quoted £104+ for a battery. Any suggestions about Brands or makes that do fit. Thanks.

[MEAGY]

Hi my battery is failing so i brought a Bosch Silver, which i asked the VX mechanic to fit while it was in for its annual service, he agreed to do it. However he failed to do it, saying it was to big and the clamps wouldn't hold it. I checked the battery number and according to Bosch its the correct model.

Vauxhall quoted £104+ for a battery.

Any suggestions about Brands or makes that do fit.

Thanks.

most battries fit mate believe it or not. its looks like a its a smaller batt but it actually isnt!

[loggons]

Vauxhall quoted £104+ for a battery. Any suggestions about Brands or makes that do fit. most battries fit mate believe it or not. its looks like a its a smaller batt but it actually isnt! [/quote] Apparently it was fitted but it couldnt be clamped because it was too big.

[mandarinvx]

I got a calcium battery from Halfords when I changed mine - standard off-the-shelf jobbie, it was one one the largest they sold I take it the Vaux quote included 1/2 hour fitting charge (tho to be fair it is a bitch) Is the washer bottle holder/battery clamp not adjustable to take into account different size batteries? The one I put in was definately slightly taller than the one that came out, but all clamped into place fine

[loggons]

I take it the Vaux quote included 1/2 hour fitting charge (tho to be fair it is a bitch) The quote excluded labour total price was £134. £90+Vat per hour Browns of Loughton.

[mandarinvx]

Mine cost £47 - tho that had 20% off (as they usually do) They're pretty much the best battery you can buy, and come with four years warranty (instead of the more standard ones that come with two or three) Took all of 15 mins to fit myself - tho did end up grazing the skin off my knuckles I've since read it's best to use a belt to hoist the thing out - that way you can hold the wires and heater cable out the way with the other hand - in fairness it would be better with a second pair of hands

[booboo]

you need 3 hands to fit 1

[Richy]

Yeah its a tw@t to do, search my post on it somewhere. They are listed as having battery size 065.. but theres no way one will fit with out stripping most of the car. I put an 063 in mine, the water bottle bracket had to be [coughs] adjusted!! because the top edge around the battery [exide power] was not flat .

[Tinhead]

I fitted a Halfords Calcium but had to "adjust" the clamping bracket same as R1CHY

[JawZ]

Isn't there some Red Top batteries which saves alot of weight also Perhaps not the best for the std roadgoing vx though

[LTW2]

I fitted a 063, same size as the one I took off. Standard lead acid £32 ish from the local motor factor. Tim.

[oblomov]

I'm actually in the process of changing my battery at the moment having taken the standard one out last night. There's nothing wrong with it but I'm changing it for an Oddyssey PC680 which gives a weight saving of 10 lbs! 14.4 against 24.8. I'm not 100% certain about this because perhaps the one place you might not want to loose weight is over the front wheels because the car is light there anyway. The way to get the old battery out is to rotate it on it's side, fit a wide strap underneath and lift it out. I have a conveniently placed large eyelet in the roof of the garage which allowed me to suspend the battery while I was lifting it out because the main problem was to ease it past the wiring loom without doing the loom any damage. The Oddyssey is about 1 inch taller then the standard battery so I've had to drill out the end of the slots in the bracket/battery clamp to allow it to raise sufficiently to fit the battery. Also I've made a small wooden frame to hold the base of the battery because the battery's tall thin shape. I recently bought a new battery for the other car and in line with what Mandarin says you can get a top notch 4 year warranty battery for between approx £45-60 squids (depending on what you want) if you're prepared to fit it yourself. The Vauxhall price is the usual inflated dealer price you will pay anywhere for an item like this.

Edited by oblomov, 23 January 2007 - 11:30 AM.

[oakmere]

I replaced my battery last week. I got a Varta blue battery (calcium) £45.00 with discount http://www.varta.co.uk . They list a 065 size battery for the NA but when I took the old battery out it was an 063? the supplier had a 063 battery but thought it to small for a 2.2 litre engine.

All I had to do was flatten one end of the bracket that holds the battery in place.

Note; I flattened the end that nearer the center line of the car as with the extra length of the 065 battery and a little packing there is nowhere for the battery to slide.

Now turns the engine over at twice the rate when starting.

Hope this is of some help

Oakmere

[Michael]

I replaced my battery a few weeks ago, I got a Varta Blue Calcium battery. I bought an 063 as that is the size I took out, the old battery was 45Ah and 380Amps cranking the Varta is 45Ah and 420Amps cranking. As has been said fitting is a bit of a pain but the satisfaction of not being ripped off by Vauxhall makes it worth while. Michael

[urbanmac]

what about a lightweight battery?