Which battery

[catzi]

Having had a few flat battery problems, I'm looking to work out what battery I need to buy if I replace the exisiting one.

The exisiting battery is a Drivemaster UK068, I think Drivemaster do budget-end parts but I can't find anything about them on Google.

According the to parts database, a Motaquip VBZ44 is suitable but this is no longer listed on Motaquip's e-parts database. There is a VBY44 which is the right layout but a bit wider than my current battery. The existing battery is 253mm wide and the VBY44 is 302mm wide so I assume I'd just have to take out the plastic tray that sites under the existing battery. The VBY44 is rated at 90Ah.

Anyone tell me if this is suitable? If not, anyone recommend a suitable replacement with a decent capacity.

Thanks in advance.

[mikexgough]

The Bongo clinic Q&A lists 068 and UK 249 as the Batteries to fit..... I have had no issues with the Jap battery that was on board but I decided to replace before the winter and I got today a Yuasa Batteries (japanese made professional branded item) equivalent to 068 which is on their list as 030 ..... £47 ....all in...and with a 3 year guarantee, specially built for the Asian market too......

Still got my old Jap battery that was on Bongo on import as a back up/jump start battery for the neighbours...

[bongoben]

As Mike says above, the generic TYPE 249 is a direct replacement such as
UNIPART 2794 which is 90 A/H. When you purchase any battery; ensure
that it conforms with the type 249 specifications and you won't have any
problems.

[brorabongo]

Mind to keep us up to date on what you get, as I'm in the market for one.
I would like one as big as poss. The one I have on loan is a Varta 068 which is smaller than the original, but does the job.

[catzi]

In that case it appears that VBY44 is now the correct Motaquip part number as it corresponds to type 249.

Also noticed that the type 249 (90Ah) is wider than the 068 (70Ah) so you would have to remove the plastic tray from underneath the battery to fit it.

Thanks guys.

[bongoben]

In that case it appears that VBY44 is now the correct Motaquip part number as it corresponds to type 249.

Also noticed that the type 249 (90Ah) is wider than the 068 (70Ah) so you would have to remove the plastic tray from underneath the battery to fit it.

Thanks guys.

I have a 2001 2.5 TDI and a couple of years ago I changed the original battery for a Motaquip
type 249. The thin plastic battery tray occupies the whole area of the metal tray and the type
249 easily fitted with room to spare. I suspect that there are several sizes of plastic trays
according to the type of battery that was originally fitted. As it was a couple of years ago I
think Motaquip must have changed their product numbering scheme.

Thanks for the additional information

[catzi]

That makes sense. The plastic tray on my Bongo is obviously for the smaller battery - perhaps related to the fact that it originally had two batteries?

[MountainGoat]

Looking at Motorquip.Com website rather than the electronic catalogue it seems that Motaquip Battery part no.VBZ44 (12v 105A) is still available. I got a replacement one in Kirkintilloch two years ago after the one that Ian sold me via the club shop failed. Can't find the original receipt but I remember that the place was in Eastside. I checked out the website tonight, this is what came up. Don't need one myself as mine is still going strong, dandywarhol commented a year ago that I had a really good starter battery when he took my Bongo for a test drive.

http://www.motaparts.com/cgi-bin/basket.asp

Tony

[mikexgough]

That makes sense. The plastic tray on my Bongo is obviously for the smaller battery - perhaps related to the fact that it originally had two batteries?

I was told (rightly or wrongly) by my Battery supplier that the twin battery set ups on Bongo's and Toyota Surf vehicles are 068 + 069 in UK equivalents..... the Japanese use a different standard to the UK and EU manufacturers (JIS) - http://www.yuasa-battery.co.uk/automoti ... ssref.html is the cross reference but is probably as good as Dutch to most people....

and some info regarding batteries..... http://www.yuasa-battery.co.uk/automoti ... nical.asp#

Having done a cross refer from the number on the original Jap battery (on at import) that I took off (JIS number) it was a larger unit BUT has less Ah than EU/UK equivalents and checked against the new Yuasa 030 that I put on - I have a smaller battery in physical size yet a more powerful battery than the JIS standards.... .....