New Battery Information
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 61
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From: Las Vegas, Nevada
New Battery Information
I'm sure most of you long time contributors already know this, but I thought I would let some of the newer members in on something I learned today.
I bought new batteries for my first IDI when I bought it 2 1/2 years ago, the most cca I could find quickly was 700 cca at a neighborhood auto parts. The largest case in their book was a 27 series battery. I have been scouring club stores, battery shops, parts stores, even heavy equipment stores, looking for 1000 cca batteries in a 27 series case. Absolutely no luck. Now, here in the desert, for the last two years, plenty of power to start her up, as long as glowplugs worked, or shot of ether, summer at 120 degrees or occasionally 32 degrees or a little cooler in winter, just the first start of the day. Well, went camping this weekend, up to the mountains, ran fine, started as usual, everything fine, got home, parked her and left for a few days. This AM, went out to start, no power anywhere, thought maybe my teenager ran the radio, and forgot to turn it off, since the keys where in her, although not in ACC position. Anyway, put the charger on her, and all I got was a hum, pegging the charger until it turned off and reset, and did it again. Long story short, horns were shorted out, pulled the wires, tested batteries, both shorted out, so I'm hunting for batteries again. IH dealer had a new display of 925 CCA Exides at a decent price, series 31 cases. I measured them, 1 inch longer and 1 1/2 taller, he told me I could try them for size, as long as I didn't torque on the cables to check for fit, they fit like a glove. As soon as installed, I tried to start, first rotation, no ether, no glow plugs, after sitting for 4 days, absolutely unheard of for this truck. If this is common knowledge, please forgive my ignorance. If you are struggling like I have been, look for 31's for the higher cca, you won't be disappointed. (And their maintenance-free!) I suppose I could have gotten a better deal (only $80 each, less than I paid for the 27's) or more cca's, but when I finish rebuilding the '85, I'll spend more time shopping.
I bought new batteries for my first IDI when I bought it 2 1/2 years ago, the most cca I could find quickly was 700 cca at a neighborhood auto parts. The largest case in their book was a 27 series battery. I have been scouring club stores, battery shops, parts stores, even heavy equipment stores, looking for 1000 cca batteries in a 27 series case. Absolutely no luck. Now, here in the desert, for the last two years, plenty of power to start her up, as long as glowplugs worked, or shot of ether, summer at 120 degrees or occasionally 32 degrees or a little cooler in winter, just the first start of the day. Well, went camping this weekend, up to the mountains, ran fine, started as usual, everything fine, got home, parked her and left for a few days. This AM, went out to start, no power anywhere, thought maybe my teenager ran the radio, and forgot to turn it off, since the keys where in her, although not in ACC position. Anyway, put the charger on her, and all I got was a hum, pegging the charger until it turned off and reset, and did it again. Long story short, horns were shorted out, pulled the wires, tested batteries, both shorted out, so I'm hunting for batteries again. IH dealer had a new display of 925 CCA Exides at a decent price, series 31 cases. I measured them, 1 inch longer and 1 1/2 taller, he told me I could try them for size, as long as I didn't torque on the cables to check for fit, they fit like a glove. As soon as installed, I tried to start, first rotation, no ether, no glow plugs, after sitting for 4 days, absolutely unheard of for this truck. If this is common knowledge, please forgive my ignorance. If you are struggling like I have been, look for 31's for the higher cca, you won't be disappointed. (And their maintenance-free!) I suppose I could have gotten a better deal (only $80 each, less than I paid for the 27's) or more cca's, but when I finish rebuilding the '85, I'll spend more time shopping.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 146
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Leeward,
Good info there and a decent price from IH. I replaced both batts when I got my Ford back in February with 1000CCA/1175A batteries from Costco. They don't seem to use group #'s anymore. It was "fitment code 5" or something like that. I think I paid $55 each for them. 3 year full replacement, 100 month pro-rated warranty.
I'll keep the IH info in mind when these start to get tired in a few years.
Mike
Good info there and a decent price from IH. I replaced both batts when I got my Ford back in February with 1000CCA/1175A batteries from Costco. They don't seem to use group #'s anymore. It was "fitment code 5" or something like that. I think I paid $55 each for them. 3 year full replacement, 100 month pro-rated warranty.
I'll keep the IH info in mind when these start to get tired in a few years.
Mike
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 61
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From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Oregon-Mike
If I had more time to shop, I would have tried Costco, I've seen many posts from others about a 1000 cca battery from them, but on several visits to our local stores, unable to find one. I really wonder if they are more easily available in colder climates (it was over 100 here yesterday) than locally, the store employees seemed to know not a thing. Since I will be buying new batteries for my other truck soon (I hope) I will try again with your information. Thanks for sharing.
If I had more time to shop, I would have tried Costco, I've seen many posts from others about a 1000 cca battery from them, but on several visits to our local stores, unable to find one. I really wonder if they are more easily available in colder climates (it was over 100 here yesterday) than locally, the store employees seemed to know not a thing. Since I will be buying new batteries for my other truck soon (I hope) I will try again with your information. Thanks for sharing.
