Battery Q: how much do I need?

[asavage]

Hello, Alan:

> Hello. I am new to the site. I just bought a 1983 Maxima Wagon
> complete, less the battery. People have told me I need at least 850
> amps but I do not know if that it cranking amps or cca. On the
> batteries I have seen the CCA is always lower than the CA. Can you
> give me some help with this? I live in Southern California and it
> rarely gets too cold. In fact it is Nov 6th and it should be around
> 80 today.

Congratulations on your acquisition. The 1983 Maxima diesel Wagon is the most-desirable of all the Gen1 Maximas, IMO. It has the coil-spring rear axle which is worlds better than the leaf springs we got in '81 & '82, and the diesel-only overdrive automatic transmission, a one-year-only trans.

Regarding your battery: this engine really works best with a lot of battery capacity. Many similar-sized diesels of that era required TWO batteries in parallel to get adequate performance.

You can get away with a 750 CCA battery for a couple of years, but if you plan on keeping it, you are better off in the long run to buy the biggest, baddest battery you can. I use and recommend Interstate batteries, and my last two cost $104 ea. Do not, under any circumstances, buy an Exide battery, no matter how much cheaper it is: you WILL be sorry.

The GP system draws 50-150 amps during startup, and add to that the starter draw, and you need a lot of battery.

I hope this helps.

In future, it's best if you ask Qs of this sort in a post on the
forum, rather that privately. That way, all can learn. In fact, have
you tried Search on the site about batteries? This Q has likely been
asked and answered before!

[SoCalanz]

Thanks for the help. The biggest, baddest, single battery I found was an AC/Delco with 850cca and 1000ca. Also, thanks for the Exide warning. I was going to get that one before I found this one.

[asavage]

I'm running Interstate's top-of-the-line MegaTron Plus MTP-27, @750CCA, 85 month. Be aware that Interstate's ratings are conservative. I used to sell them and their warranty failure rate is a fraction of the other brands I've sold/seen.

A member with a lot of experience posted that he likes the Interstate Group 31 battery. That whole thread is good reading on batteries and the Maxima diesel, BTW.

[dieseldorf]

A view years ago I bought a battery for my Volvo Diesel Wagon. At that time, I lived in Crescent City and there was not much choice of suppliers. But then I saw a battery rated at 1000CA at a "Coast to Coast" hardware store. As I remember, the name on it was "Magnum" or something like that. The battery was small but amazingly powerful. That was the best battery I ever had. I sold the car with the battery and soon regret not to kept it. The hardware store chain does not exist anymore and I do not know what brand it was or who made them.

[asavage]

I compare Cold Cranking Amps (tested at 0° F), not Cranking Amps (tested at 32°F). From Interstate's site:

Cranking Amps (CA) - A rating that is used to define the battery's ability to start an engine in moderate temperature conditions. BCI (Battery Council International) defines it as "the discharge load in amps that a new, fully-charged battery at 32ºF (0ºC) can continuously deliver for 30 seconds while maintaining a terminal voltage equal to or higher than 1.20 volts per cell." This artificially high rating should not be confused with CCA, which is conducted at 0ºF (-17.8ºC)

Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) Cold-Cranking Amps (CCA) - A rating that is used to define the battery's ability to start an engine under low-temperature conditions. BCI defines it as "the number of amps a lead-acid battery at 0ºF (-17.8ºC) can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell (7.2 volts for a 12-volt lead-acid battery).

The Sears Die-Hard line of batteries was, for many years, a very good battery. I believe Sears has switched suppliers and this good reputation may be at risk.

I stick with Interstate. But I've had a pair of matched Delcos in diesel service last almost eight years. That was a while ago though.