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Aug 24th, 2023
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,139 Likes: 43
Talk Morgan Expert
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OP
Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,139 Likes: 43 |
With the Exide 12-31 it's not that you need to replace them every 2 or 3 years, some have failed after just a couple of months use so you just need to replace them with a better battery. There are several batteries with enough performance to do the job well and do fit in the available space, it's just that none of them are made by Exide it seems.
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 637
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 637 |
I have recently returned from a touring holiday around Northern Spain with 4 other M3W's. One of them had an Exide AGM 12-31 battery that had been fitted 3-4 years ago and had caused no issues in that time. Following reports of problems he had it checked by the Morgan workshop that he had do a pre-trip service, it got a clean bill of health.
A few days into the trip the indicators and tacho failed, along with some hesitant engine running. We disconnected the Turn Signal Module, no indicators or tacho but the engine ran better. The engine cranked over and started easily every time. We tried but failed to find a replacement battery, so set out on the trip to the next hotel in convoy.
Almost at the next hotel the engine cut out and there was no electrical power other than the chattering of the fuel pump relay when ignition was turned on. A power pack battery across the battery terminals confirmed the battery had failed by restoring full function. We got the stranded M3W back to the hotel with a battery robbed from another M3W. A replacement was found eventually at a Stihl garden machinery dealer who had 5 in stock! They are used on mowers and small tractors, worth remembering if you need a battery. This worked perfectly for the rest of the trip.
I would suggest that if you have one of these Exide batteries fitted, no matter what age, replace it. I am not sure if the failing battery took the TSM out but some have had rectifier failures at the same time as battery failures, so some electrical power spikes are likely causing secondary damage.
Exide battery failing in Northern Spain: that all sounds very familiar! 😑
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,139 Likes: 43
Talk Morgan Expert
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OP
Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,139 Likes: 43 |
Indeed it does ☹️. If you are going to break down it is a nice place to do it.... normally. Keith and Hillary were parked up here, it may have got busy later on?? ![[Linked Image]](https://www.tm-img.com/images/2022/10/04/9738902d-2ef5-40d8-9eb3-44294b7d68ca.md.jpg) At least we learnt from your (and others) experience Shaun, thank you for the sharing of information on TM. The Stihl shop proved to be a lifesaver, well worth remembering if you are looking for a battery, try garden machinery rather than car spares.
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Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 20
New to Talk Morgan
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New to Talk Morgan
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 20 |
Being a relatively new owner and having now run it for 6 months I assumed that the random starting issues were just one of those things I'm now pretty much convinced its down to the battery. Any time its been hot or the car was left in the sun it has been a complete lottery as to how many attempts it takes to start. It would rarely be less than 3 attempts but could be as many as 10+. I'm thinking it might be time to ditch the Exide before it triggers any other problems or just gives up entirely.
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,773 Likes: 19
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,773 Likes: 19 |
Being a relatively new owner and having now run it for 6 months I assumed that the random starting issues were just one of those things I'm now pretty much convinced its down to the battery. Any time its been hot or the car was left in the sun it has been a complete lottery as to how many attempts it takes to start. It would rarely be less than 3 attempts but could be as many as 10+. I'm thinking it might be time to ditch the Exide before it triggers any other problems or just gives up entirely. That sounds like a healthy battery if its giving you 10+ start attempts!
M3W5sp 2015, MSCC, MTWC, Oxon UK
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,139 Likes: 43
Talk Morgan Expert
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OP
Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,139 Likes: 43 |
Certainly a good time to ditch the Exide. Plenty of others on the Alternative Parts List or visit Tayna batteries and do a search for 53030 motor cycle batteries. The Exide will be removed from the APL at the next update. The starting issues may be down to the battery but there are other causes.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,658 Likes: 48
Talk Morgan Addict
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Talk Morgan Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,658 Likes: 48 |
Being a relatively new owner and having now run it for 6 months I assumed that the random starting issues were just one of those things I'm now pretty much convinced its down to the battery. Any time its been hot or the car was left in the sun it has been a complete lottery as to how many attempts it takes to start. It would rarely be less than 3 attempts but could be as many as 10+. I'm thinking it might be time to ditch the Exide before it triggers any other problems or just gives up entirely. That sounds like a healthy battery if its giving you 10+ start attempts! Most of these Exide batteries were working perfectly until they failed suddenly - often whilst the car was running. A few did cough and splutter and run for a bit before failing but just because it's working now doesn't mean it's going to last. It's also worth noting that in at least 2 cases the car would not start with jump leads onto the Exide battery. Disconnecting the battery and jumping onto the cables worked for one and changing the battery for the other.
Red Leader 
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 23
New to Talk Morgan
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New to Talk Morgan
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 23 |
To add to Ian B’s comments. The battery we were able to source from the garden machinery shop in Spain is a Granit Endurance line 30 Ah / 290cca battery that was a perfect fit. I believe they were fitting them to Honda ride on mowers. Worth noting should you be away from civilisation and your battery fails. To further stress the importance of ditching the Exide battery, I had my Exide tested in the UK before setting off for Spain and then again in Spain following the initial issue experienced in both cases the battery tested good and was given a clean bill of health by the testers. They are clearly unpredictable hence for the sake of £80ish well worth swapping out before the inevitable failure.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 357 Likes: 7
Learner Plates Off!
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Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 357 Likes: 7 |
Given latest events, very glad that after the early news on this, we changed our circa 4 year old Exide before setting out on our recent trip to the Treffen....we now have an apparently OK spare battery to provide light during the forthcoming rolling power cuts we are set to enjoy in the UK!
Last edited by JMD; 08/10/22 09:14 AM.
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 139 Likes: 1
L - Learner Plates On
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L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 139 Likes: 1 |
I fitted an Exide AGM 12-31 about a year ago. No problems so far, it's always kept on CTEK charger and starts the engine much easier than the old Banner. Fingers crossed it gives me a few years before replacement.
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