FYI for guys in the UK, Hankook MF31-1000 batteries are back in stock.
I have just ordered one as mine is a bit iffy. Next day delivery they say.
I am looking around for a decent heavy duty battery charger/booster as mine packed in and I have only got a small smart charger. Any recommendations?
I fancy the Clarke range in Machine Mart.
I've bought 5 over the years for mine and other people's cars and they have always turned up the next day. Can't knock them for service.
I bought a Noco Genius charger early last year - it's been great so far. Mine is only 3.5A but it does do a full P38 battery overnight if needed. I'd link you to it but the precise model I have has been discontinued but they have a wide range.
Not for a P38 but the other day I bought a Yuasa 334 battery and Ring RCB320 charger from Halfords.
Seems these days makers of battery chargers quote peak amps instead of RMS amps, the RCB320 is supposedly a 20amp charger but is only around 12amps RMS. Expected that when I bought it though and just wanted a dumb oldskool charger rather than a modern umpteem stage computer controlled one.
Still waiting for theHankook battery. So much for next day delivery.
I have got a small Ctek smart charger and I was toying with the idea of permanently bolting it in the car, probably in the boot on the left by the bass speakers. Would the current run back through the charger though? or would diodes in the circuitry stop it ?
I also need a big heavy duty charger/ boost starter. 200 amps min. I have got a diesel.
But you did order it on a Friday, so Monday will be next (working) day.
I'd run the output of the CTek to at least one of the three BeCM terminals under the seat if you want to connect it inside the car. If its an MXS5.0 then a 4mm cable from under the seat to the loadspace would be fine, fused down at the terminal to 10 amps. Yes 4mm is overkill for 5 amps, but you want a decent connection to minimise voltage drop between the charger's sense circuitry and the battery you're charging.
Otherwise (for example, using the tow bar perm 12v) you have a myriad of wiring and other connections that will add to the resistance and potentially confuse the charger. The wiring is all old now as are the connections. Those three BeCM feeds are 6mm^2 back to the fusebox, via a maxi fuse each and then onto the battery. About the best you'll find inside the car for charging.
A direct connection back to the battery (suitably fused at battery end of course) would be best. Or just fit one of the CTek weatherproof sockets onto the battery terminals and place it somewhere convenient?
I had meant to reply to this post earlier. I bought a heavy duty charger from Los Bandito's, AKA Halfords, about 2 years ago. I have found it to be a really good charger. Sorry about the rubbish picture as it is stored on a shelf, in my garage. [Ha, just noticed that Lpgc bought the same charger].
Pierre3.
Dave3d, I have a 2.5 DSE and I would like to ask if the Hankook battery just drops straight in to the battery tray ? I am sure that any member can answer this, anyway, because, if I am correct the battery tray compartment is the very same whether the car is petrol or diesel.
Do the battery leads fit without any modification ? And lastly, does the battery clamp still fit correctly ?
Pierre3.
Drops straight in, clamps fit but on some cars the leads are a bit short as the terminals are nearer the centre of the battery. Mine was fine, a 99 DSE was fine, a 98 4.6 was fine, but on the Ascot (96 4.6) I had to run the positive cable to the fusebox over the ECU box rather than round it.
Hi Richard, thanks for your advice. What's the difference with the Ascot compared to the petrol or diesel ?
Pierre3.
There won't have really been a difference - but who knows in the 20+ years of the cars life if it has had the terminal cut off and a new one fitted, or if the battery leads available on that day of production were just slightly shorter...
Many many people have fitted MF31 type batteries without issue :)
I've got one, it really spins the motor like it's nothing and you never get the random EAS/ABS faults that lesser batteries cause when the voltage drops during cranking.
Thanks for the information. Looking at the battery leads, I believe that they are original. The crimping on the plugs looks original, I don't think that new terminal connectors have been fitted.
I will order a new Hankook next week, all going well it will last more than a week to ten days, which is what the current battery does. Nearer to a week.
Pierre3.
I can confirm what others have said. The Hankook battery fits OK without any problems.
The terminals are more towards the middle of the battery but the cables have enough slack in them to reach (my cables are original).
The battery clamp also fits as well. I have a winch control box next to the battery.
Anyone know what the unused plug is for at the bottom of the picture. Can't think what it could be. Maybe the alarm which I disconnected a while back?
As Morat says, it really spins the engine over. Like about 10,000 rpm and mine's a diesel !
dave3d wrote:
Anyone know what the unused plug is for at the bottom of the picture. Can't think what it could be. Maybe the alarm which I disconnected a while back?
Yes, alarm sounder.
When I fitted the Hankook battery the strap profile needed a bit of manipulation so the front bolt would drop straight through the hole and tighten up without hanging on the side.
Maybe 1/4 to 1/2 hole diameter short as was.
Soft alloy jaw covers in the vice and a gentle tweak spread it just fine. Not forgetting to grease the spreading side jaw first so things would side apart easily without ripping the paint off!
Clive
If you don't have soft jaw covers extruded alloy angle 1/8" or so thick works well or split, hammer and bed an off cut of copper pipe. Fibre jaws are expensive and a bit to soft for many automotive jobs. The standard hatched grippy type are for bodge jobs. One day I shall buy a stash of those lethally strong button magnets off E-Bay an machine up a few sets with useful grooves and pockets like what the CNC guys use.
Thanks for all the information. I will get onto Battery Megastore on Monday.
Pierre3.
I see that Battrery Megastore are listing the Hankook battery "Out of Stock". However, the Yuasa battery, Yuasa YBX3642 Super Heavy Duty Commercial Battery, looks like a decent alternative. It is listed 925 CCA, so pretty close to the Hankook MF31.
The other thing about the Yuasa battery seems to be that it is much more available from different suppliers, rather than just the Battery Megastore.
Pierre3.
Should have ordered as soon as it was shown as in stock. Whenever they get stock they sell out pretty quickly (probably to P38 owners...).