UFI said:

This won't work on a TA as the alternator maintains 12.8v unless the SOC determined by the IBS is below it's preset threshold. The only way to ramp up the voltage on a healthy TA is to drive the car and measure output on over run. 14.8v only happens on overrun and with the brake pressed.

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I am confused
can I buy a standard battery when the original one dies, as long as I never use ss?

If it were me, I'd get hold of a secondhand battery and try it.

Mick.

liorwohl said:

I am confused
can I buy a standard battery when the original one dies, as long as I never use ss?

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In my opinion, yes, you can use standard battery if SS is off.

Robert G8RPI.

I use a standard battery in my Renault (it doesn't have factory S/S), but I switch it off manually with the key at every light/ stop. Worse yet, I drive with the alternator switched off a lot of the time. Even then, seven months in, no problems with the battery (it probably does about 40 starts a day). Using a non-S/S battery won't mean the battery dies immediately.

UFI's been running a non S/S battery for about five months, with no issues so far, but it's twice the size of the original S/S battery.

UFI said:

UFI's been running a non S/S battery for about five months, with no issues so far, but it's twice the size of the original S/S battery.

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Twice the size or twice the capacity?

Andy Monty said:

http://www.justcarbatteries.co.uk/exide-el600-096-ecm-battery.html

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This was the one I was after!

Knew I could rely on the FF for the info. Our Punto and 500 both have the same factory fitted S/S battery. The S/S on my wife's 500 works flawlessly, but the Punto hasn't worked for the best part of a year I am sure the fact it only did about 1800 miles in the 12 months prior to me buying it has permanently damaged the battery, despite the dealer's best efforts to charge it.

Noticed a few times when starting up the Punto recently that the dashboard lights and DRLs falter ever so slightly for a few seconds after firing up, before recovering again.

So with the cold weather on the way in the next few months, I think I will take the safe option and just whack a new battery in sooner rather than later. And by the sounds of it I may even enjoy the benefits of S/S, wahey!

Well, changed my mind and have booked the Punto into the local Ford service dealership.

They are going to fit the one that Mick F bought, £140 including VAT and fitting, which I think is perfectly reasonable.

I don't want to mess around with the battery myself, am sure it would be easy enough to do if someone showed me, but I don't fancy the risk!

PS sorry this isn't completely 500 related, but the advice is from the 500 section, and they do share the same batteries!

Super Uwe said:

Well, changed my mind and have booked the Punto into the local Ford service dealership.

They are going to fit the one that Mick F bought, £140 including VAT and fitting, which I think is perfectly reasonable.

I don't want to mess around with the battery myself, am sure it would be easy enough to do if someone showed me, but I don't fancy the risk!

PS sorry this isn't completely 500 related, but the advice is from the 500 section, and they do share the same batteries!

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Wimp

Least ford should be used the the system since the KA is running the same set up as the 500 / GP

i managed to get the bigger battery in my evo (see evo stickies)

Super Uwe said:

They are going to fit the one that Mick F bought .............

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I must say that ours is working flawlessly.

The old one is also working flawlessly too ........... but in a non-SS 2001 Renault Clio.

She has done in excess of 95,000miles and had a new battery at 60,000miles from new. That replacement battery was on its last legs and I fitted the "old" Fiat 500 battery into her, and it's been perfect ever since.

Nowt wrong with the battery as a "battery", but not good enough for a SS car.

Regards,
Mick.