So I believe it's finally time to replace my original battery (April/06!) as my DSC service, ABS and traction control lights have been lighting up like a Christmas tree the past few drives.

My question for the forum is what did you replace yours with? Stock is a Varta but I cannot find it anywhere. There is an old thread talking about the Odyssey PC680 which weighs 13lbs compared to the 50+ lb stock unit.

Thoughts or suggestios?

 

The OEM battery weighs so much that you can drop weight without using such a small battery. I'd be worried about the PC680 in our cars. Astons have a lot of gremlins when the battery doesn't have enough charge (even if it has enough to 'pass' a standard auto-shop test). Using such a lightweight battery... I wouldn't suggest it unless you're planning to keep the car plugged up to a battery tender more often than not.

I'm looking at the PC925. At one point, a rep from Odyssey suggested the PC1200.

 

Thanks Telum. Had the same concerns around such a small battery. Are you still on your original battery?

 

Yep, still on the same one that was in it when I bought the car 4 years ago.

 

I have run the PC680 for years in my BMWs. As long as you drive the car at least once a week and do not live in super cold sub freezing climates, it's actually a fantastic battery.

You can run a PC680 down to zero dozens of times and bring it back no problem because it is a solid state battery (no fluids).

You will need a custom battery box adapter.

Another option is the Braille lithium-ion option, same size & weight as a PC680 but 2-3x the capacity (and a price multiple to match)

 

Is it the Varta? If you look on the top of the negative post it has the date of manufacture.

I'm interested in what other replacement batteries have been tried as its a tight fit!

 

The problem isn't the battery itself going dead. Rather, it'st he car's reaction to the battery's lack of charge.

I'd love to get a lithium-ion batter, but they're still too cost-prohibitive to be worthwhile for me. Great option for someone willing to spend the coin, though.

I'm honestly not sure. I haven't ever checked what it is. Battery space shouldn't be an issue. It's tight getting to the battery because of its location, but the OEM size is massive. The PC680 is tiny in comparison.

 

My OEM (2007) is a Varta unit. Searching the Varta website for a 2007 V8V shows three results.

The lighter two are the Blue Dynamic 595 402 080 at 21kg with 800CCA, and the

Silver Dynamic 600 402 083 at 22kg with 830CCA.

That's around 14lbs weight savings with the lighter battery, or about the same weight savings as $4,380 of carbon fiber bits.

I'd appreciate some feedback if one of you is brave enough to buy and install one of these.

 

A lot of the 4wd crowd here in NZ and in Australia have been making up lithium packs with 18650 cells, that weigh next to nothing. You do need some circuitry to regulate the charging voltage in addition to the cells themselves.

They also normally run at just over 14 volts, now I'm not sure I'd want to be first one to plug that into the Aston, but on the various 4wd's the owners often find little electrical quirks disappear with the extra voltage.

 

@DetomasoGTS74 which battery did you go with?

 

I ended up just going with the standard replacement from the dealer

 

it's funny when people say the lithium ion is cost-prohibitive, because for me, losing 40 pounds any other way gets even more expensive! ie, titanium exhaust

 

Which lithium ion battery are you using? Did you have to use a custom box adapter?

 

It's cost prohibitive compared to other lightweight battery options. It's still great bang-for-your-buck weight loss, but costs several times as much as other battery types.

 

I replaced my Varta, with a Bosch. i think these are made in Germany. https://www.boschautoparts.com/auto/passenger-batteries