HI guys - (and gals, just a euphemism)

When the wifemobile (1988 244) began having cranking/starting problems, I took it to AutoZone, where the battery was purchsed by the PO.

AZ said: Battery tested OK. Battery is a 47-D style, the one car is supposed to have.

NOW - through a convoluted and irrelevant tale - I have a 48-D battery in the car. THAT one fits right, is long enough to "fill up" the battery tray (47-D was not), negative terminal next to fender, lots more cranking power, etc. Car starts in under a second. Hooray.

SO - if you have a flap with anyone, AZ or anyone who sez 47-D is right, have them look at a 48-D before spending a nickel with'em.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

My cars tend to have whatever battery is kicking around in them. My only criteria is whether or not the cables will reach.

I had problems with the 47-D AutoZone in the wifemobile 1988 244GL.

It would not hold a good charge over night, even after putting new alternator brushes.

I have a good 46 Die Hard in BGVPD, on a charger. Swapped it in - EGAD, there is no clamp or other means to hold the battery tight. It's heavy, but I have experience with having a battery go dead due to no clamp-down. Got some zip ties at ACE, took three to reach around, and that's that.

THEN I took a good look at the battery in the 1984 245GL recently bought. It looked just like the clunker I took out of the wifemobile, but larger. It's a size 48-D. Same "feet" on four sides to fit the clamping system on the 1988's and newer. "Reversed" terminals, so the negative terminal is next tothe fender, etc.

Tried to make it fit - reeeeal close fit, but it's in and clamped by its "feet".

TODAY I checked at Sears, just to see what's what. Their book sez 47-D for the 1988 and up 240s. 48-D, with more CCA, is for the later 740-760-780 models.

So maybe AutoZone is right, but the 48-D a better way to go if you have the plastic battery tray.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Sounds like you have had some trouble. Neither of my 240s has battery clamps anymore. They are one of those parts that rust up and seize in salt air. I know its bad but they are loose in the trays. I have a Mopar 60, and some noname battery in the other one. I usually get mine from the bone yard. Lots of good batteries end up in there when cars get scrapped.

Re: batteries from a boneyard. Man! You are a consummate scrounge. If I can find my Scrounger of the Year" certificate, I'll send it along.

Be sure to get some way to clamp the battery down. I used 3 ZIP ties, end to end, to get the length to go around the battery and tray in between the terminals.

If not clamped, the battery can be bounced just a little, but each time a little of the lead oxide on the plates gets jarred off and accumulates in the bottom. When the bottom stuff is deep enough to reach the plates, the cell is shorted out and dies. Problem is cumulative, once the stuff is on the bottom, it doesn't go back to where is belongs. So ZIP it! (battery , that is)


Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Be all that as it may, my '85 245 takes a group 46 battery, as did my '78.