I need a new battery.

[Tronsmith]

After parking at Sainsburys to get dinner, Dave would not start. I called the RAC who came out and informed me that my bettery is faulty. He also found that one of the oil tubes is leaking (sorry I do not know the technical name).

I am just wondering who much it would cost to buy and fit a new battery. And also how much it would (approx) cost to replace this oil tube.

Not very good considering I got him yesterday eh?

[Tommy Cooper]

well Id check it is the battery and not a leak to earth or the alternator before shelling out on a new battery

oil tube? not sure what that is at all??? where was the leaky "oil tube" ?

[Tronsmith]

well Id check it is the battery and not a leak to earth or the alternator before shelling out on a new battery

oil tube? not sure what that is at all??? where was the leaky "oil tube" ?

Thanks for your reply. The RAC guy did a test on the battery which confirmed it needs to be changed so I can only go by what he is saying. Do youi think it's worth getting a second opinion?

With regards to the leak I have found an image of an engine and circled where the leak is. When the engine is running oil slowly seaps out from the fitting.

http://img269.imageshack.us/my.php?image=engine.png

I will take a picture tomorrow of my actual engine but this is just to give you an idea.

Thanks!

Ryan.

[Tommy Cooper]

the bit youve circled looks like its the HT lead but obviously thats not what you meant? its not leaking oil from an ill fitting dipstick is it? but thats not the right place for the dipstick...

[Tronsmith]

I think I am just confused. As I said I will take a picture tomorrow/later.

[stuwhitfield]

advice i was given by Kieth (millermilla):

A Standard mini battery is an 038, Heavy Duty is a 015 but there are loads of battery's which can be made to fit with a bit of fiddling. One of the biggest you can fit which everyone raves about is an 027 as fitted to a pug 306 Diesel but you can also fit an 063, 065 and an 075.

You get pretty much what you pay for with batteries i.e the more you spend the better the battery and gaurantee will be. If you want a cheap battery try Pavilion batteries opposite PC world on the Old Shoreham Road in Hove. They only give a 1 year gaurantee which is a direct reflection on the quality but they are very cheap! If you want a really decent battery then go with either a Bosch, Varta or Optima. Samson batteries from Partco are pretty good aswell and they even do a lifetime gaurantee battery which is about as good a gaurantee as you will ever get. Halfords batteries are not too bad and come with a 3 year gaurantee which is also pretty handy because if your battery fails away from home your never too far from a Halfords to get it replaced.

If you know someone with a Halfords trade card they give about 40% discount on the list price of batteries. Also remember you can buy a standard 038 Halfords battery for about £35 or a big powerfull 027 for about £80 but they both come with the same 3 year warranty so unless your running some big ICE install or like sitting around for hours with you ignition on and the engine not running a standard battery will work just as well as a big oversized battery. If it was me I would go with a standard heavy duty 015 battery.

[Tronsmith]

Thanks alot for your detailed post, Stu! It's very much appreciated. I think I will either go for the 015 or the 038 from Halfords.

Edit: I repped you for your great info!

[stuwhitfield]

as i said that was given to me by kieth. in the end i opted for a pug 306d battery from my motor factor-it cost about £65 with a 4 year guarantee.

[DrDivall]

Is it the top of the oil pipe thats leaking where it bolts to the block,
or the bottom where it joins the filter housing?
Or is the pipe itself leaking?

[Tronsmith]

Is it the top of the oil pipe thats leaking where it bolts to the block,
or the bottom where it joins the filter housing?
Or is the pipe itself leaking?


It's at the bottom. The oil slowly seaps out of a fitting/connection/bolt... I really need to learn about car parts haha.

[Wiggy (Joey)]

It's at the bottom. The oil slowly seaps out of a fitting/connection/bolt... I really need to learn about car parts haha.

from the area on the picture and you saying it's at the bottom and it being a fitting/connection/BOLT is it on the gearbox housing 'sump' the bolt that holds the oil in could have sheard theads and slowly dripping though, when cold the oil will be thicker and the oil may not run but when the engnes running it will become thinner and then leaking, maybe wrong but one of the other will say.

[DrDivall]

It's at the bottom. The oil slowly seaps out of a fitting/connection/bolt... I really need to learn about car parts haha.

we all started some where, i only learnt cos i had too ;)
not common for the pipe to leak from that end, unless it's been played with
try removing the pipe, cleaning all mating surfaces and re-assembleing
(can't hurt putting new copper washers on the top union)

Check that all the threads are clean and strait, could be leaking cos someone has cross-threaded it in the past

(This is assuming it is leaking from the end of the pipe, not the filter housing)

[smorg]

i had a problem with my first battery.. it didnt last long because aparrently the save size batterys used in the old 998 where listed as what was used in the new 1275's and aparrently was not big enough but i hear alot people upgrading to the pug 306 diesel battery