Series 3 Early S3 Diesel original battery cable setup

Can anyone post a photo of the original battery cable arrangement for an early Series 3 diesel?

Mine is currently fitted with a non-standard No. 643 commercial vehicle battery that needs replacing.

I am considering going back to the standard size battery due to cost. From what the battery supplier sites show, the standard battery terminals are the opposite way round to what I have now.

When looking at the 643 battery from the front (where the label is), the negative terminal is at the front left, and the positive front right. The negative terminal is connected by an earth cable to one of the bolts on the engine timing case, which is not standard. In the parts manual diagram, the earth appears to be connected to one of the bolts holding the battery tray to the chassis.

The positive is connected to a cable which goes round the back of the engine and down to one of the starter motor terminals.

The 643 and 644 batterys are the same other than terminals are the opposit way around. They are very common batts used on many trucks,tractors and digger and one of about 8oocca is good on a series diesel.
The way you are wired on the negative is a common mod as the batt tray point tends to corrode and reduce starter performance. Positive connection is standard. Unless yow want to show your truck do not get to hung up about originality, Some of Land rovers ideas wernt the best.

Thanks for the reply. I will leave the cable setup as it is. I am sure I have seen a photo of one with the negative terminal next to the air filter, and the positive towards the front.

The battery suppliers all specify the 069 battery for the Series 3 diesel. That is a bit smaller, but quite a bit cheaper.

Webley1991 said:

Thanks for the reply. I will leave the cable setup as it is. I am sure I have seen a photo of one with the negative terminal next to the air filter, and the positive towards the front.

The battery suppliers all specify the 069 battery for the Series 3 diesel. That is a bit smaller, but quite a bit cheaper.

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That sounds like the petrol setup. Mine is a 2A petrol, but different again because it's positive earth. + up by the radiator and - by the air filter, not 'across' the engine bay

Bigger is better, the engine will start easier in the winter.
I have a 110AH (740CCA) in my 300tdi which just fits in the battery box.
I can leave my rear work lights on all night and the car would still start.

I would imagine that the previous owner uprated the battery (and changed the earth point) for a reason....

Perhaps a bigger battery didn't fit at some point previously so things got moved round

The battery that's on there now was fitted when I got it, so is at least ten years old. The battery cradle that bolts onto the chassis has been modified to fit the bigger battery.

I haven't bothered replacing the old battery yet as I don't need to rely on the vehicle. Up until recently, about half an hour on a mains charger would be needed before starting it after it had stood for a few weeks.

It has got a lot worse, even in this mild weather, so it seems time to finally replace the battery. I have been using a spare 380CCA car battery to jump start it, which seems to work. The fitted battery starts the engine fine when it's warm.

I have just bought another one of these (640HD YUASA CARGO HEAVY DUTY CAR BATTERY: YBX3640) form Tayna (link). I have then in both land rovers and the tractor and have been very impressed by it. It is also a 640 setup which has the terminals in the center and a flat top so means you do not have to worry about getting them the correct way around.

Thanks for the reply. I was planning to go back to the recommended 069 battery size as they are quite a bit cheaper.

The cheapest I have seen so far was £40 including delivery. That is an offer on a modified BMW parts site of all places.

The 069 battery also fits 90s/110s, as well as some early Discoveries and P38s.

Webley1991 said:

Thanks for the reply. I was planning to go back to the recommended 069 battery size as they are quite a bit cheaper.
The 069 battery also fits 90s/110s, as well as some early Discoveries and P38s.

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They were 'specified' for those cars but I assume a bigger battery is what most owners discover is more reliable ... (I did)
Car makers will always work to a cost saving minimum.

You do seem to be talking yourself into the 069 though ... let us know how you get on through the winter.

Webley1991 said:

Thanks for the reply. I was planning to go back to the recommended 069 battery size as they are quite a bit cheaper.

The cheapest I have seen so far was £40 including delivery. That is an offer on a modified BMW parts site of all places.

The 069 battery also fits 90s/110s, as well as some early Discoveries and P38s.

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If you are running a diesel you want as high a CCA figure as possible. I would not want less than about 650 especially in a series so you need to check the rating for the cheaper battery.

Just fitted a 334 varta from Tanya.. Good price and next day delivery.. only concern I've got is the bonnet stay seems very close to the positive terminal..
The positive cable goes round the back of the engine to the starter.. and negative down to the battery tray.. ive added an extra earth to the block using 35mm welding cable..

643 or 644 is the factory fitted battery on a S3.....cannot remember wich of those 2....as some body said its the same batt but lugs on other side.
I bought my S3 2.25d new....thats the type of batt it had.

There are prob better modern types but you asked which was fitted from New.

Webley1991 said:

Thanks for the reply. I was planning to go back to the recommended 069 battery size as they are quite a bit cheaper.

The cheapest I have seen so far was £40 including delivery. That is an offer on a modified BMW parts site of all places.

The 069 battery also fits 90s/110s, as well as some early Discoveries and P38s.

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069 is not std....them may indeed be fitter to the 200tdi and 300tdi landovers....but they have modern geared starter motors way more efficient that the big heavy lump of a starter motor fitted to a S3.

That is prob the reason a smaller batt.

I fitted a 200 engine in my S3 and have fitted the smaller battery as the engine has the much more efficient starter motor....there is a good chance you could fit a starter motor off a 22 or 300 engine....you would be ok with the small batt then.

I wasn't aware that the 200tdi starter motor would fit the Series diesel engine.

Webley1991 said:

I wasn't aware that the 200tdi starter motor would fit the Series diesel engine.

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Not saying they will but look a similar bolt pattern.would be great if they did.

I fitted a 200 engine years ago...I get away with a much small batt now.

Thing is a 200tdi will start first turn just about every time, While the old 10j usually takes a few good turns when cold

Can anyone say for certain if the 200Tdi starter motor will fit the 10J 2.25 Diesel Engine?

Check the part numbers for the ring gear.

[QUOTE="nickjaxe,

There are prob better modern types but you asked which was fitted from New.[/QUOTE]


663 and 664 are modern battery's,the numbers just note which way around the terminals are on the batt and of a case size in very common in commercial use.