New Battery Advice - Winter pack removal?

[DanO]

Hi

Bongo battery is "dead", starts non problems when the battery is jumped from another battery. My Bongo has the 2 batteries winter pack - they are Jap batteries, I'm assuming they are in parallel so they are both "dead". I know they are both present so that in the cold winters the Bongo will start but that's not such a problem in Brighton so do I need to replace both batteries or can I simply disconnect the second battery and replace the drivers side one? If so, is there anything to be aware of? I've read around here that the starter motor is "different" for the winter pack versions, does this cause any problems?

As it's Saturday afternoon and I'll need to Bongo next week I'm a bit limited with buying options and it may have to be a trip to halfrauds......but may be able to hold out till Tuesday eve if there's a internet company that could deliver by then.

Cheers

DanO

[missfixit70]

You can disconnect the second one (passy side), just make sure the end of the positive lead is well insulated so it doesn't short out, may be worth whipping them both out & charging them for 24-48 hours on an intelligent type charger, you may find one of them is ok, but the duff one is dragging them down. Shouldn't be any other issues, the only real issue with the winter pack starter is that here is no readily available kit (yet?) to refurb them cheaply if the contacts give out.
Have you checked to make sure the alternator is chucking out between 13.8v & 14.6v with the engine running?
Plenty of posts on on Battery suppliers, I'd avoid Halfrauds unless thre's no other option locally, have you not got an independent tyre & battery place nearby? Most are open on a Saturday.

[DanO]

old batteries out, redundant cables insulated, new battery purchased (euro parts - via their battery selector and it had the Bongo!) and ready to go in but................the +tive & -tive are the other way round to the Jap batteries and there isn't enough slack in the positive cabling to reach.

old battery


P1010987 by DanO 1976, on Flickr

old battery & new battery


P1010988 by DanO 1976, on Flickr

any ideas? doesn't sound safe but can you get battery connector extenders?

In the meantime is there anything wrong with putting this new battery in the passenger side (if it fits correctly) and the old battery back in for the time being?

[DanO]

I thought batteries just came one way round, just found this post from a few days ago, showing a different battery from the same supplier.......shame it didn't come up on my search earlier guess I'll be taking this one back.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... +terminals

[Northern Bongolow]

the starter shouldnt give you any trouble, but if it fails normally, later, then you just replace with a standard starter as they mount/fit the same.

[missfixit70]

If you put the new battery in parallel with a duff old one it'll just drag it down, wouldn't recommend it.

[DanO]

New battery was purchased, same as in the referenced post. Easy install. Was worried the battery clamps would touch the bonnet but not a prob. The leads that were on the second battery are all taped up. It's not worth even trying to remove as the wiring goes everywhere. Actually, I can't say I've really noticed before bit there is a hell of a lot of wiring on a Bongo!!!

Also, euro car parts are about 15-20 quid cheaper if you collect the battery.......so much for "free" postage