Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Aero 8 S1 starter problem

How happy was I when the car fired up!!

After charging the battery for two hours it obviously took enough charge to start the car, I left the engine running for 20 mins to increase the charge further.

More than happy to buy a new battery obviously but I intend to check again at the weekend because the last time I was told I needed a new battery on my Audi it subsequently lasted for a further two years!!

The battery tray on this car is tiny and I can't find another battery with similar dimensions 167, 179, 128 so I will most probably go for a direct replacement Odyssey PC925

So Saturday morning will be the test, thanks to everyone for your input.

When I got my aero the battery would full discharge if not used for 3 weeks. Once recharged the battery was fine. I now use a trickle charge 24x7 and its been perfect ever since

Cerealsurfer I have noted your option in my S1 file, sounds like you guys have considerable experience of this car, comforting to know.
New battery arrived today, hopefully this is the answer, at least for a while anyway. Having read Taffy and Gin's replies it does sound like these batteries, even when constantly trickle charged fail within a few years.

I have gone through two batteries in my three+ years of ownership.

How do the battery sizes compare with those fitted in the large BMW cars with the same engine size. Perhaps the battery fitted to the Aero is not upto the job ?

As the manual claims a guaranteed longer service life with a design life of 10 to 12 years and a service life of 3 to 8 years I'd be taking this up with the manufacturer.

The manual also covers the charging requirements for the battery. Maybe this is the reason for the premature failure?

My own experience with Odyssey PC925 (or it's red top equivalent) on my +8 was appalling I had 3 new batteries in 4 years, including the original that was a battery a year. In the end I relocated the battery to the trads original (and current) position at the back, stuck in a cheapo conventional battery and problem solved. Not a solution available for Aeros I suspect.

Some people on this Forum have reported 7 or 8 year battery life with this thing, but I think that they are the work of the devil.

Have to admit I'm not a fan of dry or gel batteries - frequently the service life is not good. And, where a conventional wet battery may be recovered nearly 100% if left to go flat, it's rare to do that with the gel variety.

Cheers,

Thats not what the blurb from the manufacturer would like you to believe. Interesting reading but doesn't seem to be the case in real life.

I had the same issue with my 2003 +8 and relocated a conventional battery to the rear, since then no issues. The battery location under the hood/bonnet is hot and very hard on the battery, and the Odyssey is of a delicate construction since it uses very thin plates to maximize starting ability (power) while occupying a smaller physical volume. This also reduces battery capacity (energy) - hence the need to constantly 'top up' this type of battery (very low reserve capacity). These batteries are little more than big capacitors - IMO.