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Subject: "Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?" Archived thread - Read only
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Patrick03
Member since Aug-6-02
377 posts		 Sep-16-03, 06:29 PM (EST)
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"Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
 
   I'm in the process of locating a new battery for my '91 164S, and I'm wondering if anyone has found a good replacement that is of the regular car battery type. Tomorrow I'm going to try and find the original style battery at a commercial truck type store, but if there is a good alternative that I can get at my local autoparts store that would be better.

Thanks,
-Patrick Mills-
Grosse Pointe, Michigan USA
'91 Alfa 164S
'81 Fiat Turbo Spider


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tjp74
Member since Oct-15-01
1239 posts		 Sep-16-03, 07:08 PM (EST)
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1. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #0
 
If you are good with modification you can pretty much fit anything you can fit. For some reason european 164 not all have those huge truck sized battery. At least my German model has a much smaller sized battery tray and I can fit pretty much any size. If you are concern with the venting you can try the dry cell battery sold at almost any automart store. There is nothin special about the 164 battery. As long as it can physically fit in the trunk and provide enough cold crank power than it should be good.

tj


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AlfaBill LLC
Member since Sep-5-03
42 posts		 Sep-16-03, 08:15 PM (EST)
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2. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #1
 
   The USA cars use a huge group 31 battery and I never regret replacing it with another. The car needs big power supplies. Don't be cheap on such a basic item. $60 at Sams Club.

AlfaBill
http://www.alfabill.com
Alfa Romeo solutions and bits


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c m smith
Member since Oct-13-01
543 posts		 Sep-16-03, 08:28 PM (EST)
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3. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #2
 
   I agree, my AC Delco "factory" supplied battery (made in the US of A I suspect) lasted ten years of Canadian winters and summers. Accept no substitutes: buy North American made batteries of the biggest size designed to fit, you will remain pleased.

Michael Smith
91 164L White
140,000km original owner


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Richard2
Member since Oct-22-03
187 posts		 Sep-16-03, 08:31 PM (EST)
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4. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #2
 
   I've used the Sam's Club battery for my car once and it failed only 3 years later. They are not a good substitute for a high quality battery sold at most truck parts stores. (Sorry AlfaBill )
Richard2
1991 164S


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Alfataso
Member since Oct-14-01
1139 posts		 Sep-16-03, 10:23 PM (EST)
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5. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #4
 
I agee. Why skimp on the first thing that gets the car going?

I would use the biggest baddest battery I could find.
Thankfully our 164 already came with one that looks like it did time in a 747.

Taso,
'92 Lusso Auto Magnifico
'84 Spider Veloce Another Spider for sale
'89 Milano Gold Partissimo
'63 Giulia Sprint 101 Chrome, is expensive!! Upholstery is fun!


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Del
Member since Dec-14-02
958 posts		 Sep-16-03, 10:35 PM (EST)
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6. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #5
 
   I agree. I replaced mine with another Interstate, and it puts up with a lot of abuse that I know other batteries won't take. A few years ago, I got talked into the "guaranteed for life" Sears Diehard. Well, that sucker died about every 2 years, seems the "hard" suspension of that there Eyetalian sports car would break a cell every time. What junk!! Also, have read that the "dry cell" battery is just not worth the money. Overpriced at half the cost, and has a crummy failure rate.

Get the biggest Interstate you can.

cheers,

Del


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Fred
Member since Oct-13-01
139 posts		 Sep-17-03, 00:08 AM (EST)
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7. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #6
 
   Interstate makes good batteries but the biggest I found in US Auto Stores (Grand Auto) was a "NASCAR" 1000 CCA amp (with an Exide brand I believe) that would do a Mack Truck proud. Works fine. Cost $100 two years ago. A lot of gremlins bailed out of the wiring at that point IMO. Bigger is best in this machine.

91 164L manual

Fred


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Bob C
Member since Oct-22-01
855 posts		 Sep-17-03, 08:48 AM (EST)
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8. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #7
 
   I have owned my '91 164L for several years and as far as I know it still has the original battery (AC Delco) in it. And, it is working fine!

While in the subject of battery, ...
I am thinking of getting another battery (for a pretty close to getting back on the road Milano) and am considering a gel cell battery (Optima brand). ~$100 at Costco. Anybody has good or bad to say about this type of battery? Or, should I just stick with the conventional lead-acid battery?

Bob C


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Patrick03
Member since Aug-6-02
377 posts		 Sep-17-03, 10:59 AM (EST)
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9. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #0
 
   Ok, so it still is not clear to me. Should I get a direct replacement battery? hehehhe

I called Dean over at TrailAuto (which is close to me) and he has a direct replacement battery, so I'm off to go get one.

Thanks for convincing me to stick with what was designed for it!

-Patrick Mills-
Grosse Pointe, Michigan USA
'91 Alfa 164S
'81 Fiat Turbo Spider


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Dom
Member since Oct-14-01
41 posts		 Sep-17-03, 03:46 PM (EST)
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10. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #9
 
   I have an optima battery on my ferrari. $99 at costco. They are reported to be great batteries, and the ferrari guys swear by them. I've had no problems since installing it.

I will eventually replace the battery on the 164 with an optima as well.

Dom
1991 Alfa 164S
1975 Ferrari 308 GT4


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Del
Member since Dec-14-02
958 posts		 Sep-17-03, 04:35 PM (EST)
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11. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #10
 
   Glad you are having good luck with it, although wasn't the Optima the battery a consumer magazine reported trouble with not long ago? I seem to remember something because I was thinking about that battery as well, and then I ended up changing my mind.

Del


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gaijinshogun
Member since Sep-20-03
3 posts		 Sep-20-03, 03:58 AM (EST)
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12. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #11
 
   If you are serious about a great battery, the Interstate 31P-MHD is the one to have. It matches the original size, is rated at 950 CCA's, and is set-up for the OEM vent tube. It even comes with a replacement vent tube that even mentions "Alfa" as one of its applications. I have had success with this battery, compared to the Group 31 Delco's that incidentally have a relatively low CCA rating. Go to www.interstatebatteries.com and search 31P-MHD.

For you Optima fans, they actually make a battery in Group size 31, which is also set-up for the vent tube. A little pricey though.... Take a peek at www.1st-optima-batteries.com/deep_cycle_battery.asp

Hope this helps, from a long-time 164 owner.

gaijinshogun
94 164LS
91 164S
89 Milano Verde


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alistair_h
Member since Mar-12-02
78 posts		 Sep-20-03, 04:25 AM (EST)
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13. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #0
 
   i got a 13 plate 600CA 4x4 battery made by hela for around 70 bucks. did the trick!! fits nice and i can run my stero for hours without running the car

alistair
92 164


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xtype
Member since Oct-14-01
144 posts		 Sep-20-03, 10:57 AM (EST)
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14. "RE: Suggestion for a Battery Substitute?"
In response to message #0
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-20-03 AT 10:59 AM (EST)
 
Hmmm... why not drive to your local Interstate battery store?
I had a few bad cells on the original battery so that is what I did. The owners manual specifies exactly which Interstate to purchase. There is a tech bulletin discussing a modification to the vent hose and the bracket. But it turns out that the Interstate battery that supersedes the one specified in the manual, does not require you to modify the bracket in order to hook up the vent hose!

Also, you get to see the look on the guys face when you explain that "it is for this car" and you open the trunk. :^)

As /gaijinshogun/ stated:
It is model number 31P-MHO and the cost was $89.95


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