The joys of a new battery, but?

[supersport]

Finally got my fingers out and put a new battery in the car and oh the joy of a car starting after being sat for two weeks and having it turn over []

When I fitted the new one, I discovered that there should probably be a little clamp that holds one end of the battery down, the end slides under a fixed bracket. Are these brackets anything special, i.e. I have to get a Porsche one or will anything do. Does anyone know the bolt size?

Also before finaly getting my gefingers out I had to push start the car and it seemed incredably heavy and I worked up quite a sweat pushing the wife up and down the road (only for her to stall it once going). Does other's experience seem the same, I didn't expect it to be so much effort, having managed to bump start other cars in the length of the drive.

 

[DavidL]

Mark,
They certainly are very heavy, unless its flat and the surface is good I don't tend to try and push mine. Any sort of incline and you can forget it.
As for the battery, I would imagine someone like Elliot or Alastair would have some battery clamps lying around. I can't imagine it makes a lot of difference their source as long as they fit and secure the battery.

 

[944 man]

Pumping up the tyres makes a massive difference to the rolling resistance.

 

[mik_ok]

Not really related, but I tried to push wifey's Disco3 in the drive the other day (just to access something - I hate starting cars and stopping them immediately). Disco 3's weigh 2700kg. I moved it approx 1" and then gave up.

 

[DavidL]

Maybe just the tiniest bit optimistic? Unless you are a World's strongest man competitor in which case you're rubbish!

 

[Hilux]

Try a Mk 1 golf battery bracket []

 

[robwright]

Back to your original post your car shouldn't have any trouble turning over and starting after being stood for just two weeks. Especially with a new battery.

 

[Frenchy]

Bet they are as cheap as chips new from OPC, if you have a socket outlet in your garage get a battery conditioner.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Also before finaly getting my gefingers out I had to push start the car and it seemed incredably heavy and I worked up quite a sweat pushing the wife up and down the road

But why were you pushing the wife up and down the road? Any pictures? [][]

I'm not sure it should be that hard a car to push. How are the calipers? Mine were binding so much that it didn't roll on a reasonable incline with my feet off the pedals, so God knows how heavy it would have been to push. [&o]