"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
04/25/2020 at 15:55 • Filed to: None
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"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
04/25/2020 at 15:55 • Filed to: None | 1
| 6 |
One of the things on my list for baselining the truck was to examine the battery situation a bit closer on it. This becomes even more important as I bought the truck explicitly for hanging out in very remote places. I suspected the existing batteries in the truck were pretty old, but there wasn’t a decipherable date code in a language I read. The cranking performance didn’t feel stellar on the truck.
Nissan tracks. There are a bunch of service stickers on the truck from a Nissan dealership in Japan.
One of the attractions of my particular truck is that it is equipped with the factory optional dual battery setup. Poking around the Mitsubishi parts catalog revealed the battery spec is the same regardless of whether a truck is equipped with single or dual batteries, which means that by way of load test either one of my existing old batteries should be able to start and run the truck. It turns out neither one of my old batteries could start the truck individually(at least not a cold start with the glow plugs also going full tilt).
With my suspicion of old, not so strong batteries confirmed, I peeked in the BCI international cross reference guide and translated the JIS battery spec into something useful on this side of the world. I called up the Interstate Battery distributor and gave them money over the phone, and in exchange they set out a pair of their finest MTP-24 batteries. Doing business this way works for social distancing, but feels something akin to a ransom exchange.
I lamented not having a new fuel filter on hand, because access to it (under the intercooler on the firewall) is so much better without the rear battery in place. There’s so much room for activities without a couple of batteries under the hood.
Re-performing the single battery load test revealed that just a single new 750CCA battery turns the starter over considerably faster than both old, weak batteries together. With everything cleaned up, it should be set on batteries for years to come.
Xanadu603
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
04/25/2020 at 16:18 |
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Mmmm intercooler prons...
jminer
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
04/25/2020 at 17:20 |
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I love dual battery setups. I had an old Diesel Suburban with that setup, it was awesome for the power that the glowplugs and huge torque starter needed to fire it up.
They do stink when it comes time to replace them though as decent batteries have gotten expensive...
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ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> jminer
04/25/2020 at 17:53 |
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Indeed. It was $280 for both batteries. Fortunately I buy enough batteries from the local Interstate distributor for work (all our vehicles, equipment and weather stations) that they know me and gave me a break on the price even though it was a personal purchase.
These are small enough engines to get by with one battery if they have to, but the dual set up is certainly a nice insurance polciy. Doubly so in a really cold place. In my case, the truck coming so equipped has saved me from having to add one to it myself.
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jminer
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
04/25/2020 at 18:31 |
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I imagine in the southwest it doesn’t often get cold enough to need two batteries but it’s nice insurance. My old Suburban had to have the block heater plugged in and both batteries needed to be in good shape to start below 30. Modern diesels are amazing though, my Jetta TDI starts when it’s sub-zero just with waiting 10 seconds after I kick over the key to let the glow plugs warm up.
gmctavish needs more space
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
04/25/2020 at 20:04 |
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I almost went for the MTP-24 for the Raider but just got the MT, the 2.6 really doesn’t need much power to turn over. It had a deep cycle battery when I got it for some reason, but the normal one is plenty.
UserNotFound
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/23/2020 at 13:54 |
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Thank you for this article. I have a feeling the Japanese AC Delco’s in my Pajero are conked out and I’ve been trying to confirm what batteries I can get that will fit since, of course, they’re in non-North-American sizes. After much confusion, I thought, “Hey, I bet ITA97 already put new batteries in his Pajero, I should go see!” And here we are.