Battery too weak for my cam...
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, SC
Battery too weak for my cam... I've got a Sears Die-Hard Gold that was installed a couple of years ago and since I installed my cam the battery has trouble turning the starter. I'm afraid that it's going to burn up the starter if I continue with this battery.
I wondered if you guys had good experience with any battery brand in particular or if you could recommend a good battery with enough CCA to turnover this motor without killing the starter.
JC
I wondered if you guys had good experience with any battery brand in particular or if you could recommend a good battery with enough CCA to turnover this motor without killing the starter.
JC
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
What CCA is it? Should be at least 690 according to my helms. Bring it back to Sears and have them load test it, maybe it's just going bad. If it is there's a free 3 year replacement or they'll give you full credit towards another new one. I bought a Sears Platinum a few months ago.
Edit: Here's the info on the DH Platinum. 710 CCA, 75/860T, 48 month full replacement warranty, prorated after that. $179.
Edit: Here's the info on the DH Platinum. 710 CCA, 75/860T, 48 month full replacement warranty, prorated after that. $179.
Last edited by 2001NBMZ28; Dec 22, 2008 at 11:04 AM.
Before you spend $ make sure you have clean &
tight connections on the hot and ground cables,
the whole chain from battery to solenoid to starter
and back. 9-10 years old is plenty of time to make
corrosion etc.
tight connections on the hot and ground cables,
the whole chain from battery to solenoid to starter
and back. 9-10 years old is plenty of time to make
corrosion etc.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, SC
My Die Hard Gold is 550 CCA...definitely not up to par with what your Helms manual says. Group size 75.
When I did the cam swap, we checked the wiring for any faults and found none. Terminals on the battery look spanking new and there's never been corrosion of any sort on the terminals.
If the battery is supposed to be 690 CCA, then I'd have to get the Platinum to get the right cranking power. Sounds like the Gold isn't up the task.
Edit: Looking online, there appear to be 2 versions of the Gold series...one for "South" and one for "North". I've got the South version, which is 550 CCA, the North version 690 CCA.
Guess I'll take it back for a load test.
When I did the cam swap, we checked the wiring for any faults and found none. Terminals on the battery look spanking new and there's never been corrosion of any sort on the terminals.
If the battery is supposed to be 690 CCA, then I'd have to get the Platinum to get the right cranking power. Sounds like the Gold isn't up the task.
Edit: Looking online, there appear to be 2 versions of the Gold series...one for "South" and one for "North". I've got the South version, which is 550 CCA, the North version 690 CCA.
Guess I'll take it back for a load test.
Last edited by NOBR8KSS; Dec 22, 2008 at 12:07 PM.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
Yeah, Sears sells the south version and north version - that's why I mentioned the CCA. Helms says the 550 is OK for the V6. My DH Gold was warm weather too, didn't know about it then I bought it. Only lasted 24 months then went bad.
Most aftermarket cams will reduce cranking compression due to the increase in overlap. So I doubt the cam has anything to do with it at all. Now if you milled heads, installed a thinner gasket, and swapped in some dome pistons you might have a problem.
If the tune in your PCM has too much advance when the engine is cranking, that could make it sound like it's having a horrible time turning the engine over. Did you tune it or did someone else? I've found that table needs some attention for some setups, for others the stock table will crank and fire very quickly.
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i am not spending 179 on a 710 cca DH battery when i can get a deka intimadator 1000cca agm battery for around 100.00.
Like stated above sounds like you have too much timing while cranking, or it was just bad that it went after the install.
Like stated above sounds like you have too much timing while cranking, or it was just bad that it went after the install.
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I have a Red Optima It cranks fast as hell. But they also are a pain because you can easily ruin them. You have to charge them with a smart charger that knows the right rate to charge it at. (The blue point one works well) Also 4 yr 100% replacement warranty is nice. They can put out a ton of CCA but they die fast if you leave something on.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, SC
Nick Williams did the tune. Sounds like the largest problem is the low 550 CCA on this battery.
I'll trade it in for the "North" version and see how it works out. 690 CCA is a big jump and should clear up the slow cranking.
Thanks for the help!
I'll trade it in for the "North" version and see how it works out. 690 CCA is a big jump and should clear up the slow cranking.
Thanks for the help!
Forgot to add...I have a yellow top, and it kicks my car over when it's well below freezing and covered in ice/snow (something it'll be doing later on today when I get out of work as it's REALLY REALLY snowing in new england today) with no problems at all...plus it lets me run the stereo for a LONG time with the car off and it'll still start it up without an issue after that...I guess trying the battery is worth a shot...but if that doesn't work, next place to look (after you check to make sure all the battery cables and connections are clean and secure and in good shape) would be the tune.
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 145
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From: Missouri City, TX (Outside Houston)
I have a Red Optima It cranks fast as hell. But they also are a pain because you can easily ruin them. You have to charge them with a smart charger that knows the right rate to charge it at. (The blue point one works well) Also 4 yr 100% replacement warranty is nice. They can put out a ton of CCA but they die fast if you leave something on.
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Souther Minnesota
I own a auto service garage and I wouldn't put a die hard battery anywhere except the recycling center along with everstart and napa.
I would suggest looking for a battery manufactured by Johnson Controls Co.
There are only 3 manufactures of batteries these are the batteries you want but they do cost more the cheapest battery I sell is $90 my cost that would sell for $100
Red tops- the gentlemen that brings batteries to me has been in the battery business for 6 years and his bosses give him incentives to sell red tops and he said to hell with it it makes more work for him warranty after warranty.
He turns down extra cash! Thats all I had to hear why would he give a crap, but he does.
I would suggest looking for a battery manufactured by Johnson Controls Co.
There are only 3 manufactures of batteries these are the batteries you want but they do cost more the cheapest battery I sell is $90 my cost that would sell for $100
Red tops- the gentlemen that brings batteries to me has been in the battery business for 6 years and his bosses give him incentives to sell red tops and he said to hell with it it makes more work for him warranty after warranty.
He turns down extra cash! Thats all I had to hear why would he give a crap, but he does.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, SC
Went to Auto-Zone and picked up a Duralast Gold, 690 CCA. I looked around and most of the batteries spec'd for this car are the 550 CCA version. Auto Zone was the only place that had the 690 version in stock.
Cranking issues are gone....it works like it should now!
Cranking issues are gone....it works like it should now!
I just pulled my stock battery, with no issues and it's 9 years old, with 75K on it. My car is @ 11:1 compression. I don't think it's the battery. Possibly the starter or a connection?
I replaced it with an Optima, whick does not fit for **** in the battery tray. I may have to do something to pass tech inspection at the track.
I replaced it with an Optima, whick does not fit for **** in the battery tray. I may have to do something to pass tech inspection at the track.
