Relocating battery

[Falcon_LS]

Last week, my 14 month old Deka battery in the Montero died. I cannot remember the model number off the top of my head, but it was the right battery for this application.

I ended up replacing it with a Johnson Controls battery that was made in India. Reckoned I couldn't go wrong with a 24 month warranty, considering every other battery comes with a 12 month warranty. Only battery on the market that comes with a longer warranty is the Motorcraft Tested Tough MAX, but unfortunately it wasn't available in the correct size for my application. Same goes for Yellow Top Optima batteries.

Anyhow, I'm not sure why the Deka died. The Deka in my Grand Marquis is now 15 months old, and still going strong (touch wood). But what sprang to mind was this - if I was to relocate my battery (say in the trunk or in the cabin) where it doesn't get as hot as the engine compartment, is there a chance that my batteries would last longer? Would it be worth the cost/hassle?

 

[berniedd]

Yup, cooler running battery lasts longer than one in the hot engine environment. Unfortunately, relocating it to your rear trunk is impractical and costly. A longer cable will be needed and may create starting problems esp in cold weather. Think more voltage drop over a longer conduit for the starter juice.

 

[spasm3]

You will also have to worry about venting issues, the engine compartment in not that air tight but hydrogen gas building up in the trunk is not good, harder to spray off corrosion also.

 

[artificialist]

Batteries mounted in the trunk do last longer.

I often see them last 7 years in Florida, whereas underhood batteries often die before they turn 4 years old.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

There are kits with a sealed battery box and a vent tube to the outside. Installation would be a lot of work (and holes drilled in the trunk floor), and this one costs about as much as two replacement batteries:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G1231-K

I wonder if insulating the battery would do you any good in that climate. My Chevy pickup has a thin foam jacket, and some vehicles have a plastic cover over the whole battery. Summit also has an aftermarket kit:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DEI-010480/?rtype=10

 

[punisher]

By the time you figure cost of a battery relocation kit (and the dangers they pose), it is less costly to keep replacing batteries, or get an insulating wrapper for it.

As sold, battery relocation kits are dangerous. If you have an accident, or are just sloppy in your wiring, that long length of unfused + cable is a fire waiting to happen.

If you want to do a relocation, I have found using the cable plus two additionl wires (one for a starter solenoid, one for vehicle power) bundled together work well/safely. Mount your starter solenoid in the rear at the battery box so your big high amperage cable is only energized during actual starting. The main vehicle power wire is fused with a 100 amp spade fuse (I used the big main fuse from Contour/Mystiques in a block mounted near the battery.)

As long as you have no unfused hot wires running the length of the car, you are good to go.

 

[SHOZ]

I've put the battery in the trunk on my last two cars. Use a sealed AGM battery like an Odyssey and put in a fuse inline near the battery. You can usually fit them in the fender well behind the liner with some modification. There are vents too in the fender wells on both sides in the trunk.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: SHOZ
I've put the battery in the trunk on my last two cars.


Okay, let's see some more pics. That looks pretty cool.

 

[MrCritical]

That's a Mitsubishi Montero? They have a trunk?