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And if you pull them make sure they actually load test them, some auto parts stores use a little hand held device that looks like a volt meter, I do not trust them.
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The 6TL battery is only rated around 700-750 CCA.Got it.
So assuming one or both batteries fail the load test at the auto parts store, what is everyone using as a replacement? I am sure the auto parts guys will try to tell me their off-the-shelf car ones will work just fine.
The military batteries are hard to come by and close to $600 each from what I am seeing. Are they worth it, as that is what I have now. Here is one I see people are using on other threads:
https://www.osibatteries.com/replacement-exide-6tagm-battery-12v-sealed-rechargeable-vrla
Yes you should ALWAYS replace both of the batteries at the same time, especially if you are using high end batteries (read if you are getting used "tested" batteries or cheap batteries than what the heck you are going to be changing batteries allot anyway)Thanks for all the tips. I plan on taking both batteries out to get them both tested. They don't have the date checked off on the stickers so I don't know for sure. They are the old Excide ones. I don't know if the prior owner changed them, or if those are the ones that came with it originally.
I agree that Optima has gone down hill. Long ago, they were my go2 battery. Back in the day, I had Optima's that lasted over 10 years and probably would have kept going except I sold the cars. Not anymore from what everyone tells me.
I would not have thought to look at Batteries Plus. They do have a Odyssey 6TL that is pretty pricey.
If one battery fails and other passes, I am guessing it is a good idea to consider buying two so the two batteries remain in balance? Especially if one that remains is under sized. And I suspect that the other one would be ready to go soon anyway and avoid wasting another day waiting for a tow! Besides, not the greatest to have one sealed and one lead-acid I am thinking.
Actually TOBIAS has a good point, given you waited so long to disclose a cap had been blown off a battery and your limited troubleshooting skills it would be best at this point to pull the batteries and have someone test them before proceeding.
That is only true if you are drawing current from the "low" side battery, all the 14V tap on the regulator can do is add current to the low side battery to compensate for the extra current draw it cannot subtract current from the low side battery so it cannot truly balance the system unless as I said you are drawing current from the low side battery.closely matched batteries is more important with the old 60 amp system because it has no mechanism built in to keep the batteries balanced.
It's also a good idea to either use an external 12V charger on each battery once a month to equalize the charge level in them, or to swap their positions once a month. The forward battery tends to charge a little more than the rear battery. It's not much; just the way a series battery system works, and eventually it can lead to premature failures if something isn't done to correct it.
The dual voltage systems are a little less picky about the batteries being perfectly matched, as the rear battery has both a draw on it as well as it's own charging circuit, but it's still a good idea to keep them closely matched if that's possible.
You can "trim" the original hold down bracket to fit.I wanted to thank the forum members that guided me on this issue. You all saved me throwing parts at it, saving me lots of $ and aggravation. Much appreciated!
It started right up with the two new batteries.
In case this information is useful to someone in the future, while the Odyssey is the same size as the military batteries I had, the top shape of the Odyssey is a little different and I could not make the original battery hold downs fit at all. So I fab my own battery hold downs from aluminum I got from Lowes. I think it was better to keep the original holder rather than beating into something unrecognizable. Nothing fancy since I cannot weld but it holds them in nice and secure. The original battery hold down j bolts looked really good so I reused them.
I got new military type terminals, new military red rubber terminal covers but reused all the cables as they looked fine. I will coat the terminals with that greasy gue slime. What a messy job!
But all good and back in business
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