Flat batteries.

[MWS]

Hi all....Can anyone out there give me some advice?....At the moment Im only driving my truck two or three times a week, only covering about 30 miles. If I leave it for five or six days I get flat batteries. I know about the current drain from alarm etc, and that Im using lights, wipers blower etc on short trips....So, two questions, What are the biggest, baddest, meanest, most powerful batteries that will physically fit in place of the weedy 68ah/69ah standard ones?....Also, does anyone know of an 80/100/120amp alternator that will bolt directly in place (LC80 etc ) ?......Failing that expensive option, how about using one of the solar triccle charging panels (4.8amps) from Ring Automotive?....does anyone know if that would solve the problem?....Opinions please....Cheers....Mick.

[slobodan]

I don't drive my Surf for weeks, sometimes months on end.
The batteries haven't gone flat on me yet. Are you sure there isn't a problem somewhere?

(now I've said that, I bet when I get home my batteries are flat)

[tintin]

Do you know how old the batts are??

[dieselboy]

I only drive my Surf Friday night and or Saturday when I'm not at work or at home in bed. Does your alarm really drain so much?

[MWS]

I don't drive my Surf for weeks, sometimes months on end.
The batteries haven't gone flat on me yet. Are you sure there isn't a problem somewhere?

(now I've said that, I bet when I get home my batteries are flat)

Hi John.....I thought something was wrong so I took it to a trusted local motor factors and they disconnected one battery and spike tested them and put an ammeter on the alternator....All was ok...Perplexed....Cheers...Mic k.

[MWS]

Do you know how old the batts are??

Hi Alan...One is a year old, other, dont know. Both held up ok when tested....Cheers....Mick.

[MWS]

I only drive my Surf Friday night and or Saturday when I'm not at work or at home in bed. Does your alarm really drain so much?

Hi Tony....Dont know what, including the alarm is causing such a drain, unless the short trips and low milege are taking more out of the batteries than im putting back in....Cheers....Mick.

[Rustinho]

Sounds to me like it could be a battery problem - could be worth getting them checked out? Also, check that the batteries are charging ok when the engine is running (the old voltmeter across the terminals jobby)

At a squeeze the standard single battery from a UK 4runner just about squeezes in to the space for a standard Surf battery (I discovered this when I replaced one of mine not long after I bought my Surf and needed one asap from Halfrauds - have since replaced the 2nd battery with the same and everything seems ticketiboo).

The above info is true for a 2.4. May well be (probably is!) different for a 3.0.

[MWS]

Sounds to me like it could be a battery problem - could be worth getting them checked out? Also, check that the batteries are charging ok when the engine is running (the old voltmeter across the terminals jobby)

At a squeeze the standard single battery from a UK 4runner just about squeezes in to the space for a standard Surf battery (I discovered this when I replaced one of mine not long after I bought my Surf and needed one asap from Halfrauds - have since replaced the 2nd battery with the same and everything seems ticketiboo).

The above info is true for a 2.4. May well be (probably is!) different for a 3.0.

Thanks for the tip on the 4runner batteries, Rusty. That could be the increace in capacity that Im looking for. When I get it running again tomorrow, Ill go somewhere else and get a second opinion on batteries and charging system condition....Cheers.Mick.

[Rustinho]

Thanks for the tip on the 4runner batteries, Rusty. That could be the increace in capacity that Im looking for. When I get it running again tomorrow, Ill go somewhere else and get a second opinion on batteries and charging system condition....Cheers.Mick.

You may have a little bit of fun making the cables reach. I got a short battery extension lead from Halfrauds for a couple of quid or so cos the Surf batteries are left & right handed (if you follow me - the +/- terminals are on opposite sides depending on which side the battery is on) whereas 4runner batteries aren't (well, if it's got a single battery there wouldn't be would there?).

On my 2.4 it fits easily on the drivers side battery with tons of space around it. The passenger side battery is pretty tight. I'd definitely recommend looking at the measurements at an online battery supplier before you commit to anything.

Also, a caveat regarding my abilities - I'm not any sort of trained mechanic and merely an amateur so if someone qualified says I'm wrong I'd take their opinion on board ahead of mine!

[MWS]

You may have a little bit of fun making the cables reach. I got a short battery extension lead from Halfrauds for a couple of quid or so cos the Surf batteries are left & right handed (if you follow me - the +/- terminals are on opposite sides depending on which side the battery is on) whereas 4runner batteries aren't (well, if it's got a single battery there wouldn't be would there?).

On my 2.4 it fits easily on the drivers side battery with tons of space around it. The passenger side battery is pretty tight. I'd definitely recommend looking at the measurements at an online battery supplier before you commit to anything.

Also, a caveat regarding my abilities - I'm not any sort of trained mechanic and merely an amateur so if someone qualified says I'm wrong I'd take their opinion on board ahead of mine!

Thanks for the info, Rusty....Cheers....Mick.

[MWS]

Hi all....Still looking for any info on higher amperage alternators as a simple bolt in replacement for KNZ130. Anyone know?....Cheers....Mick.

[wishbone]

There are companies that will rebuild your alternator to a higher output. Have a look on the car audio forums as they do this a lot for spl cars. I've heard mixed results as to the actual outputs compared to the claimed ones.

The other option is to get whatever alt you want and get the right pulley fitted and a bracket fabbed. It may be easier to lose the aircon and put the new one where the aircon compressor was (more space to work with)

[wishbone]

This place upgrades alternators

[Predictable Bob]

Alternatively you could just take the long way home ...

I generally give our Surf a good run every 3-4 weeks cos the boss rarely does more than 3 miles at a time