If I'm looking for a replacement battery, should I give Ah or CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) priority.

For example I can get an 027 battery with this:

68AH + 580 CCA - the highest Ah I could find, but poorer CCA

or alternatively

62 Ah + 640 CCA - 10% higher CCA but 10% lower capacity.

Since batteries perform less well when cold - mine feels as if it might be struggling in this current cold snap just like it did last year - that suggests CCA is actually the more critical figure

Correct?

Interestingly the Bosch 12v 027 Heavy Duty Car Battery (S3005) BOS524 5-year guarantee version is only 56 ah + 480 cca - very poor on both figures. EDIT - I see the S5 version is higher - at Start-up Power: 610 amps

AH Value: 63 Ah - but much more expensive than other brands

(Please note I do not intend this thread to get into discussion of an 96 battery instead - even if I went for one of those the quandary would still need resolving.)

Edited 2 February, 201214 yr by DRJ

This one - http://justcarbatteries.co.uk/index.php/ukb-platinum-car-batteries/platinum-prestige-plus-car-battery-027.html - appears pretty good on both figures at CCA-SAE: 640 + AH-20hr-rate: 66 at a cheap price.

CCA is what it says on the tin. which is what you need for starting the car on very cold mornings/evenings.

Ah is like how much energy it can hold in simplest of terms, e.g. a 900mAh AAA battery is the capacity it can hold before it dies. (but its not a unit of energy )

Yes - I realise the definitions of the two aspects - but which is more critical to a Fabia vRS? Logically as one went higher the other would too - but clearly that's not the case. To be honest the battery I've linked to seems the best on the market - seems to have a four year guarantee and a 4/5 review at AutoExpress.

CCA more important for a diesel, and things like high powered car audio with amps/subs. It rates the amount of power the battery is able to supply, which diesels usually take a lot of when cranking. A bigger AH rating means you can sit longer with the car not running listening to the stereo, and longer resistance to the natural drain on the battery when not in use on your drive.

Try Euro Car Parts. Enter your reg number and it will show you suitable parts for you car.

Free delivery and enter "brisk25" in the basket for 25% off.

Phil

Thanks - as always you can't do that for a late Fabia vRS - but I've found the 2.0 Petrol takes the same battery which makes searching much easier.

Unfortunately their website crashed as I was using it (just after entering the "brisk25" code!) and it's now totally unresponsive. However the Exide Premium Battery 027 4 Year Guarantee giving Amp Hours (Ah): 64Ah Cold Cracking Amp (CCA): 640CCA seems possible the best bet - better figures than any of the Bosch batteries.

The car started this morning though it sounded rather reluctant. Local weatherstation was reporting -9 but the car thermometer suggested -6

I think you want to look for a 096 battery?

I know that's what mine takes (same PD 130 engine and battery box etc).

If it helps I will PM you my reg number and it will show you the battery you need for your engine.

The one I found was a Bosch with 70AH and a CCA of 720. Only three years warranty on that one but there are others.

Phil

There is an Exide. 4 year warranty. 72AH and 620 CCA. £61 delivered.

Phil

I think you want to look for a 096 battery?

I know that's what mine takes (same PD 130 engine and battery box etc).

Please note I specifically said in my opening remarks:

(Please note I do not intend this thread to get into discussion of an 96 battery instead - even if I went for one of those the quandary would still need resolving.)

Late model Fabia vRS's have a 027 battery and I wish to use that size of battery and not the alternative larger 096 one which doesn't fit properly.

Ah sorry!!

Missed that. Wonder why it has a smaller battery... ah well.

In that case then. Ignore me!

Hope the site works ok. Worked a few minutes ago with me and let me put the code in.

096 is 36mm longer along the longest dimension of the battery, than 027, so would be very obvious a bigger battery won't fit.

You can get specialised batteries with high CCA, but lower AH, but they're rather expensive and I believe would necessitate some messing about with the battery tray to fit and make secure. I'm thinking of red top and yellow top optima batteries. This http://www.tayna.co.uk/Optima-Red-Top-35R-35-720-8020-164-P7480.html is probably closest in dimensions to the 027.

Just go with one of the uprated ones like Bosch Silver, Varta Silver etc. Will be fine unless you're installing a 1000000000w amplifier later,

The 096 is reported as just about fitting - though without the thermal jacket going on properly. I just feel I want to keep the original size.

I've ordered the Exide one from EuroCarParts on their "click and collect" service but when I went to collect it he told me the only one he had in stock had a cracked handle and he didn't know whether it may have affected the battery itself. So he said he'd order one in - I dithered since if that was the case I might as well order online and have it delivered early next week - he said he could get one by 1pm today! So I'm going this afternoon to pick up.

Brilliant.

Always had good service from them and their prices are great.

Phil

Mine never had a thermal jacket. I guess there must be more heat from the diesel engines.

The 096 is reported as just about fitting - though without the thermal jacket going on properly. I just feel I want to keep the original size.

I've ordered the Exide one from EuroCarParts on their "click and collect" service but when I went to collect it he told me the only one he had in stock had a cracked handle and he didn't know whether it may have affected the battery itself. So he said he'd order one in - I dithered since if that was the case I might as well order online and have it delivered early next week - he said he could get one by 1pm today! So I'm going this afternoon to pick up.

WELL WELL, it seems we have a lot in common, cos if it's the vrs you need a battery for, then that's wot I think I need.... so aswell as the leak, the battery is the other.... oh, by the way, I tried taking of the battery leads yesterday to charge, just as I took off the + terminal, all broke loose, the alarm went off and by G** is it load or what... I tried disarming with the key, but no luck, so quickly re-attached the terminal and have left for now, anyhow, wot I was about to say was, while your at it, i suggest you take out the battery tray so you can check the power steering fluid which is just below, it's not accessable otherwise, have fun and let me know what battery you got and price if you don't mind, also where you ad it from.... have fun..... did ya get that panel off????

I've ordered the Exide one from EuroCarParts on their "click and collect" service but when I went to collect it he told me the only one he had in stock had a cracked handle and he didn't know whether it may have affected the battery itself. So he said he'd order one in - I dithered since if that was the case I might as well order online and have it delivered early next week - he said he could get one by 1pm today! So I'm going this afternoon to pick up.

Well I turned up at 3pm and it wasn't there! Apparently it was coming from Bristol and there were massive traffic problems on the M4/M5 junction today owing to an accident (which didn't appear on the Highways Agency site...) so they took my number and said they'd phone me when it arrived. I had a call at 4pm to advise the driver had abandoned trying to get to Gloucester and did I want to cancel my order. I said no, I'll go tomorrow morning. So far that's 20 wasted miles going there and back twice. The only consolation is that it appears to be a very good price - but I wish now I'd taken the free delivery option...

Well I turned up at 3pm and it wasn't there! Apparently it was coming from Bristol and there were massive traffic problems on the M4/M5 junction today owing to an accident (which didn't appear on the Highways Agency site...) so they took my number and said they'd phone me when it arrived. I had a call at 4pm to advise the driver had abandoned trying to get to Gloucester and did I want to cancel my order. I said no, I'll go tomorrow morning. So far that's 20 wasted miles going there and back twice. The only consolation is that it appears to be a very good price - but I wish now I'd taken the free delivery option...

What was the price?? been looking myself just purely out of curiousity, that com, carbatteries online I see a varta, 77cca&770sae at £96 with a 5 year guarantee, that aint bad is it??

The 027 battery I'm buying is £51.62

Well I have to rate ECP pretty good on customer service - excepting their stock control that allowed a broken battery to remain on their shelves. They rang this morning at 08.30 to say my battery was in and when I went and bought it, I received a can of Winter Tyre Grip and a can of de-icer free.

Now how do I fit a new battery - must go searching for the pitfalls...

Edited 4 February, 201214 yr by DRJ

Hi DRJ

Sorry about the run around - Can you please PM Me the order number, so i can look into this.

Glad its sorted in the end - good luck with having it fitted

patrick

Hi DRJ

Sorry about the run around - Can you please PM Me the order number, so i can look into this.

Glad its sorted in the end - good luck with having it fitted

patrick

Can I just thank you guys (&Girls) on your service, I ordered a Bosch battery Sun with the 15% discount not realising that I was eligible for the 25% being a Briskoda member, anyhow, fair play to you lot, you have reimbursed the extra 10% so a big thank you & look foward to doing business with you very soon, A1 service