Twin Battery Replacement

[Ian]

Posted on behalf of members Sandy & Lynne:

My Bongo has two factory fitted batteries and the switch for the cold start (I’ve never used it).

One battery is defective and the other needs to be charged to survive. The mechanic said to replace the defective battery with one the same size as existing i.e. match the two batteries.

I have tracked down a 95Ah battery from Euro car parts – but the battery is 50 mm longer and 20 mm taller than existing – which might suggest the existing batteries are each around 65-70 Ah. http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Mazda ... 19b&000020

I have spoken to Alpha Batteries in Rochdale who have recommended replacing both batteries with a 60Ah
http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/005l-u ... r-battery/
(or 68Ah eurocode 068) Ultra model which are £60 or £66 each. I asked Euro Car parts about this and they referred me to my mechanic.

I am assuming both batteries are drained and charged at the same time in our Bongo’s system and fitting two at 60 Ah is effectively the same as one at 120 Ah.

Is there any specific advice for this situation?
Replace both? Or just the defective?
Replace either or both with 60-70 Ah size? Or the larger 95Ah size?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Rebiam]

Hi - i have (had) twin batteries and now use the second passenger side one as a leisure battery with a Willington Kit. She starts on the button every time and I will just replace the second battery with a new purpose made leisure battery when it gives up. One battery is enough - someone will be along in a second to tell you which is the best.

Cheers

[francophile1947]

I replaced mine with 2x60A batteries, as they were cheap at Kwik Fit (special offer). There is no reason why you should not just replace the offside battery with a more powerful one though - just bear in mind that the starter motor on the winter versions is more powerful than on the normal Bongo, so don't go too low. Remember to insulate the positive terminal, on the nearside, to avoid the possibility of a short

[M 80NGO]

Just put a Bosch s4 335 on mine as a starter battery as my other battery is for leisure, euro parts £84 delivered.

[loruntz135]

Can recommend the Bosch S4 route... thought we had a 75ah starter battery (other is a leisure battery)
as it was called a star75.... came with 'Betty' from Japan.... google search suggests this was in fact just 55ah and
since replacing with the Bosch 'Betty' starts far more cleanly... and no longer is leading me to believe that I had
a broken glow plug!... seems the old 'un didn't have enough juice to do the job properly.

[Titan1995]

I have a really simple system. Two batteries with earth cut off switches. Either one will start the Bongo. Just switch one off when parked up and using 12v power. Very simple and very effective. Any thoughts on this one

[hillbasher]

A sparky at work recommended replacing both batteries on the basis the "good" battery could shorten the life of the new battery. This was very much on the basis that the battery was at least three and a half years old (time since importing). A normal battery life for average mileage is given as 4-5 years, so although we do a low mileage we decided to replace both.

I replaced both with Bosch S4 068 70Ah batteries bought from Euro Car Parts for £63 each incl delivery. Ordered them on Sat 22 Dec with free standard delivery and they arrived on Christmas Eve (the label showed a despatch date of 24 Dec).

The eurocode 068 code gives the handing of the battery as well as the size - which tied up with one of the codes from Bongo Fury. I assume now the 068 code relates to the twin battery cold starting model. The other uk code from Bongo Fury ( 249) seems to relate to a 95Ah battery which I now assume is the code if you have a single battery as standard.

While sorting all this out we recharged the good battery and the Bongo started first time with the dud battery disconnected and its live lead insulated.