Keeping Batteries From A Cold Death

[Erebus]

You can probably fit a battery with both side and top terminals in the position closest to the driver. No way it will fit in the #2 position. Also, they make batteries with the + terminal on the "right" or on the "left".

The choices are: side only, top only, side + top. And all of them are available in "left hand" and "right hand" versions.

Make sure you get ones that will fit.

Clear as mud? Best advice I can give is go to a place that has a clue about batteries, and show them your existing setup.

[patty]

So found something really odd lately. Go to start the deli, nothing, no clicks no nothing symptoms of a mondo dead battery. Then I would take the stick shifter and put it all the way threw P to L and back again. Try the keys again and it fires up right away?
Iv done this twice now and its worked both time? My dad was saying the deli thinks its in gear and thats why it wont start, and with a a quick pull threw of the shifter it sets it straight. Any other reasons?

[Schwa]

Yep, sounds like the neutral safety switch in the shifter unit needs cleaning.

[patty]

Surprise! went out to start the deli today and it was super mondo dead. absolutely nothing. did the hole pull gear shifter thing through all the gears and nothing, totally dead. instead of waiting for some big truck to come along i decided to email BCAA (which is WAY faster then calling in). any who the driver gets here super fast and we get to work. the battery starts smoking. looked in and find the battery shake case or hold down touches terminals and had melted through the electrical tape i wrapped it in. so took that out and hooked two sets of jumper cables up, one to each battery. tried periodically for about an hour and then it finaly worked (by this time the bcaa driver had been order to either tow me some where or leave me, but he decided to just tell dispatch he was on his way to the next job but stayed and helped me (so nice).
any way he told me that because the terminals had been most likely touching for some time and i probably ruined my batteries, sound pretty much bang on. so i guess im doomed to starting my car every day recharging the battery ( right no i dont drive the deli cozz its uninsured till spring). the driver also told me to keep a bottle of eether (have no idea how to spell it) and spray that into my air filter for better starts in cold wether... he also told me that every mechanic on the planet will tell you to absolutely not do that. any one here do it?
anyone here got a plastic alternative for the battery tie down. im looking at delicats set up and will probably do that.

[Erebus]

the driver also told me to keep a bottle of eether (have no idea how to spell it) and spray that into my air filter for better starts in cold wether... he also told me that every mechanic on the planet will tell you to absolutely not do that. any one here do it?

Don't use ether. It is a excellent way to get hurt as the vapours explode in the air intake and flames shoot out to burn you. It is one thing to do on a gas engine with low compression, but with a diesel, the ether would be compressed in the cylinder and explode long before the piston gets to the top. So it would probably cause the engine to turn backwards, and/or blow a piston. In any internal combustion engine, using a fuel that is much more flammable, or much less flammable, than what it is designed for is a really bad idea.

[mararmeisto]

Um, ya, ether and a diesel engine is a BAD idea. The reason a gasoline engine can get away with it is because the compression is so much lower and it uses a spark to start the combustion process. In a compression engine, like a diesel, ether is highly flammable which means it will combust WAY before the diesel will, which will lead to knocking. Please don't keep a bottle of ether on hand.

Change the batteries, make good connections (might have to replace the whole cable harness or make a new one), and strap 'em down properly. If cost is an issue, put in a big single battery (say 800CCA) and change the harness and tie-down to accommodate the single battery.

As for your confusing initial symptoms, it could have been as simple as your getting in and out of the vehicle was enough to shift the cables to make/not make contact on whatever they were grounding out to. The first time you tried, they grounded out while you were trying, and then the engine turned over. The second time, they grounded out AFTER you finished with the van, thereby draining your batteries. As you can see, there is not much space in that battery compartment, so it wouldn't take much cable/battery movement for some things to touch other things (when they're not supposed to).

[westy]

well I drive transport truck ether is the last solution if she won't fire up but ya we use it if you don't know what your doing DON'T use ether!

[patty]

hey all again,
what a a surprise, im dead again, looks like the BCAA drive was right about toasting my 2 brand new batteries....@%$#^%$&^&*&%*@@&**! waste of 200 bucks.
any who, any one seen any good deals on red top optima batteries or any other group 34, deep cycle gel cells? im looking around and noel at enviroimports seems to have em for $140 something. is it really necessary for me to have two batteries, or should i just drop down to one ( like alot of people on here). is that a simple mod?

the only thing im worried about now is maybe my batteries are fine and just my alternator is not charging them any more. is there nay way to test this?

thanks

[loki]

hey all again,
what a a surprise, im dead again, looks like the BCAA drive was right about toasting my 2 brand new batteries....@%$#^%$&^&*&%*@@&**! waste of 200 bucks.
any who, any one seen any good deals on red top optima batteries or any other group 34, deep cycle gel cells? im looking around and noel at enviroimports seems to have em for $140 something. is it really necessary for me to have two batteries, or should i just drop down to one ( like alot of people on here). is that a simple mod?

the only thing im worried about now is maybe my batteries are fine and just my alternator is not charging them any more. is there nay way to test this?

thanks

I would think your best bet is the battery that Jesse has posted about several times as it is pretty much unkillable so if you van is killing batteries that one should survive long enough to fix the other issue/s

http://www.delica.ca/forum/frozen-deli- ... tml#p37756

[Green1]

if your delica is killing batteries you want to fix that problem BEFORE you replace your batteries, because there is no such thing as "unkillable" batteries, and you don't want to toast a new and even more expensive battery.

[RaddCruisers]

hey all again,
what a a surprise, im dead again, looks like the BCAA drive was right about toasting my 2 brand new batteries....@%$#^%$&^&*&%*@@&**! waste of 200 bucks.
any who, any one seen any good deals on red top optima batteries or any other group 34, deep cycle gel cells? im looking around and noel at enviroimports seems to have em for $140 something. is it really necessary for me to have two batteries, or should i just drop down to one ( like alot of people on here). is that a simple mod?

the only thing im worried about now is maybe my batteries are fine and just my alternator is not charging them any more. is there nay way to test this?

thanks

Optimas are NOT gel cells, they are AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat). You don't want a gel cell in your delica. AGMs also have issues, and I am no longer a fan of Optimas in certain applications.

What you DO want is a date code matched pair of Group 24 (24C6) flooded lead acid batteries that have anchor bonded plates (plate envelope bottoms set in resin to prevent vibration damage from off-roading and diesel use).

You can also switch to one Group 27 battery (27C6) - not quite as many CCA, but plenty for your Delica.

NAPA batteries (East Penn-Deka made in USA) are excellent and have anchor bonded plates in the two sizes I have listed.

If you feel you must have AGMs, come and talk to me, I keep matched pairs here and will sell them at a realistic price - but note that I have recommended flooded batteries.

Get your alternator tested, and make sure your battery connections are clean and tight.


~John

[patty]

Alright, so I just backpacked both batteries to the local walmart (nice bonding experience, sure feels great too...) anyways I told them what was up and they charged the batteries up for two hour and re tested, both came "good" so ill try it again, hopefully get the deli running, insure it, take it to a shop and get them to test the alternator. Then ill know for sure.
Just in case I'v cleaned all wires and replaced the terminals or the terminal clips. Though I was thinking and took them out to soon and forget which way they face. Do I remember correctly, is it negative in the front and positive in the back?

Getting the deli all ready for the trip home on the 18th

[Green1]

yes, negative in the front.