Bought a new battery today

[EMB1230]

Not really sure where to put this, after 2 weeks of my truck sitting I finally got enough $ together to get a new battery. I bought a Plus Start from Sears, from what I've read, it's just a re-badged DieHard. The one that was in there when I got it was a Duralast (AutoZone=) the AZ was group size 65, the Sears' one is grp sz 58, summer's coming up and me having a no options truck, IMO that's all I need, for now (plus it was $20 less). However, the hold down is broken off and this smaller battery slides back and forth on the tray, do I NEED to get a tie down kit for it, or will it be OK like it is?

 

[shane96ranger]

Absolutely need a tie down, even if it's a bungee.

 

[CHKNFKR]

^^ what he said!

 

[4.0B2]

metal coathangers for the WIN

 

[shane96ranger]

Your battery is literally a bomb. While charging, it puts off hydrogen. If you hit a bump and cause a spark from it hitting the hood, fender well, etc. it could be bad.

I've had one blow up by me, it ain't cool.

 

[EMB1230]

Thanks for the quick replies! I have a short-ish bungee in my truck right now, I'll put it on there till I can get a real battery tie-down. 2ndly, I live in Wisconsin is the 540 CCA enough or should I have gone for the one with 650?

 

[4.0B2]

Thanks for the quick replies! I have a short-ish bungee in my truck right now, I'll put it on there till I can get a real battery tie-down. 2ndly, I live in Wisconsin is the 540 CCA enough or should I have gone for the one with 650?

what was stock?

 

[EMB1230]

what was stock?

540

 

[schaffer]

540? Mine had north of 850. I think my battery is for a full size heavy duty truck. Had to modifiy my battery tray to make it fit.


Mines also held in with a bungee.

 

[84bluebronco2]

I can't knock die hard batteries.... There has been one in my lawn mower for going on 3 years that gets a little bit of a charge once a season. Doesn't even get disconnected for winter lol.

 

[EMB1230]

Yeah, my truck has NO options, manual windows, locks, mirrors, no tachometer, vinyl bench seat and floor, no a/c, no p/s, no pass. airbag, 2.3L M5OD, rear abs only, I'd I think it didn't even have a radio from the factory. Oddly, it is pre-wired for cruise control, how weird is that?! LOL the only thing that I'd think I'd need a bigger battery for is that it has 8 spark plugs.

 

[4.0B2]

if stock was that.. i wouldn't worry.

as far as the wiring for cruise... a lot of vehicles come prewired for a lot of options they didn't get.. my dad's 2003 f150 is prewired for the fog lights that many of them got, that his does not have... my buddy's 4runner is wired for cruise although he doesn't have it.. think its b/c they use a standardized wiring on most of them... cheaper to give away(for example, i know they don't GIVE anything away) some extra wires than it is to make different wire harnesses and different machines to run the wires differently.

 

[EMB1230]

Right, I have heard that before. My 03 Ranger was also a base, but it had the 3.0, 5R44E, a/c, cloth split-bench seats and the 7' bed. and it was not wired for CC. it also had 4 wheel ABS, and a tach but as we know, that's because starting in 01, all Rangers/B-Series got those.

 

[Will]

Your battery is literally a bomb. While charging, it puts off hydrogen. If you hit a bump and cause a spark from it hitting the hood, fender well, etc. it could be bad.

I've had one blow up by me, it ain't cool.

It's not like a bomb. I had a battery blow up before, and it was loud, but it didn't do any damage. Just made a mess. It didn't happen from not having a tie-down. The risk of not having a tie-down is a 700 amp short and then a fire.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Right, I have heard that before. My 03 Ranger was also a base, but it had the 3.0, 5R44E, a/c, cloth split-bench seats and the 7' bed. and it was not wired for CC. it also had 4 wheel ABS, and a tach but as we know, that's because starting in 01, all Rangers/B-Series got those.

They did that one some models, I dont the Ranger was ever one of them.