Technical 85Din wet battery versus 110Din AGM

[Trekkertony]

Hi,
I have a Fiat 2.3 motorhome which l find difficult to start. Batteryworld advice was to swap out the 85Din battery for the 110AGM battery. The company who supplied the 85Din battery advises the difficulty to start lies with the starter motor not the battery. The Fiat manual does not specify battery size. Advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
TT

 

[bugsymike]

Hi,
I have a Fiat 2.3 motorhome which l find difficult to start. Batteryworld advice was to swap out the 85Din battery for the 110AGM battery. The company who supplied the 85Din battery advises the difficulty to start lies with the starter motor not the battery. The Fiat manual does not specify battery size. Advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
TT

Does it start quicker with jump leads or a power pack?
If so and assuming your charging system is 100% OK then go with a more powerful battery.
If it makes little difference then assuming all battery main leads are clean and in good order, then a weak starter can be the problem.
If an engine has had a problem starting in the past and someone has "flogged" the starter over and over to get it going without resting every while, it can burn the windings out in the starter so it turns slower until eventually it gives up.
In that case I have seen the difference in cranking speed a new quality starter can make.

 

[CheeseMonster]

Isn't Cranking Amps (CA) and Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) important? The higher the better from a lead acid battery.

 

[bugsymike]

Isn't Cranking Amps (CA) and Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) important? The higher the better from a lead acid battery.

Agreed, but if starter or leads faulty ???

 

[Trekkertony]

Thanks for the replies, the MH started immediately off battery pack on the 85din battery so l will be off to buy a 110din AGM

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks for the replies, the MH started immediately off battery pack on the 85din battery so l will be off to buy a 110din AGM

That's good so it appears to rule out any other starter issues.
I always like to be sure, as often you come to a vehicle where loads of parts have been fitted in a quest for the answer, so I always liked to test first to justify any expense to my customers. It must have worked as many were with me for well over 30 years.

 

[Anthony489]

If your vehicle is the X250 type from 2006 onwards, consider changing the short gearbox to body earth strap which takes all the starter motor current. These corrode internally (inside the crimped ends) and cannot be repaired. They cannot be tested with an ordinary meter as the resistance should only be about one thousandth of an ohm. Clean the mounting points at the same time. Any good quality high current braid strap will do, e.g. have one made up by an auto electrician. It doesn't have to be a Fiat one.