Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Morgan 4/4 1998, battery problem?

I was out today enjoying the nice weather, stopped for lunch. Went to start up and nothing, not a sound not any illuminations on the dashboard.

Called the A.A. They checked and said that the battery was not holding a charge and suggested that I replaced the battery. The battery that I have is 036 300amp heavy duty. I went to Halfords (AA kindly followed me) but they did not have this battery.

Whilst driving the speedometer needle was pointing to zero or the maximum above 140mph. The mileage counter was functioning but was adding two miles or so for each mile driven. The rev counter was stuck on 2.5.

I am not at all technically minded. Could the speedometer and rev counter be affected by the problem with the battery?

The Morgan will start using booster cables. So I was able to get home.

Is the battery that I have 036 300amp the correct one for the car? Should I replace it like for like? If so where could I source a replacement?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Lol

[quote=
Could the speedometer and rev counter be affected by the problem with the battery?

Cheers, Lol [/quote]

Hi Lol, I had a similar problem earlier this year. The guys on here put me right. The battery had lost a bit of its power, enough to startup but it caused the rev counter to either stick or go off the scale. The issue for me was resolved by using a Ctek battery conditioner and leave it plugged in whilst the motor is not in use. The problem has not recurred. So if you park the motor near a power supply and the battery is still usable it is worth a try.

Sadly my garage is some way from my home and does not have a power supply. I have always envied those that can use a battery conditioner.

Good to know that the battery can cause some of the instruments to go haywire. I thought that I might have another problem but now it seems it is just the battery that is causing the problem.

Thanks for replying. Hopefully somebody will recommend a suitable heavy duty battery that I can purchase as a replacement?

Best, Lol

I wonder if a 'booster pack' jump starter thingy would work for you? I use one in a remote shed for a tractor and it works....

Booster packs (they go under other names) keep their charge for a very long time and, being portable, you can charge them, when needed, at home.

If you had one with a cigar lighter socket, you could run a trickle charger from it. Trickle chargers use so little power, it would probably keep your battery charged for a month (wild guess of course). Take it home one night and it would be fully charged again.

Obviously you'll need to change your current battery - once they're flat they're either damaged, knackered or, at best, highly unreliable.

And yes, your crazy speedo is highly likely to be going mental for voltage reasons.

Type 036 is not heavy duty, at least not in my book!

Regrettably I can't remember the exact number, it may be 018 (it is 01something though) but there is a battery with the same physical dimensions - so will fit your clamp, but with a higher capacity. Halfords used to say it was the +8 battery, but now they say 70s, 80s, and some 90's Morgans are all 036 fitments. My advice is take a tape measure to your local store as you'll be able to see most types on the shelf. Note not only do you need to get the right size, but also the positive and negative terminals in the right place.

The three wheeler can also take a 036, but I cheated and bought it a clamp for a four wheeled Morgan.

That sounds very interesting.

My Jump starter has a cigarette lighter socket. I wonder if it would run a trickle charger for a month? Has anybody else tried this?

I will be changing my current knackered battery as soon as I can find a replacement.

Good to know the voltage drop is the reason for the speedo throwing a fit. Glad that all the rest of the electrical system works as I had to drive for one and a half hours to get home.

Thanks for your help, Lol

Hello Martyn

The current battery is marked 036 300amp. Halfords has 036 285amp? Not being technically minded I thought that I should get the same? On their web site in the battery section you can type in your car registration. It identifies the Morgan 4/4 1998 (R) but then states that the battery is not available. I don't know what that is about? Same answer on other battery web sites.

Best, Lol

A type 036 battery is a type number - manufacturers will vary a bit.

The battery is a 12 volt (obviously!) 41 amp hour type and that means the capacity is such that fully charged, it can supply 41 amperes for an hour. The figure of 300 amps is the cold cranking current, but obviously, at this extreme rate of discharge, the effective capacity is reduced, ie 41 amps x 60 minutes is more than 300 amps for however long the battery can do it.

A higher cold cranking figure is good, but not the be all and end all - 300 versus 285 is neither here nor there. I'm reasonably happy with the quality of Halfords batteries, but their recommendations can suck big time.

Many parts catalogues bomb out with Morgan bits, and they certainly do for batteries.

I did some research last night, and at least 2 on-line retailers were 'recommending' a battery that could well be utterly wrong for your car as it is a different size!

Measure the battery you have, and if you have another car to go in, take the battery strap off (as it fits over the battery if a box design) and go to Halfords and make sure theirs fits (I'm 99% sure it will).

You may also find that a motor factors is helpful once you name the car.

Remote garage - perhaps a solar PV charger for the battery? Just a thought...

I used a solar charger for years on my 4/4 with no problem