Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

For the last few weeks I have crashed and burned in my quest to find a Type 037 battery for my S4 Coupe in the UK. I have pestered/asked friends that have provided leads but they all failed for one reason or another. Either post type or location was an issue, dimensions an issue no clamp lugs. Does anyone on the forum have any recent experience of buying a battery in the UK only that fits, has bottom side clamp lugs and has the negative round standard post to the rear (or left side as you look at it)
I would be ecstatic to find one with more Ah than 39 and a CCA of around 350A or slightly more.
BTW at this point I am noy looking for one of those little skinny racing batteries. However I suspect time and desperation might change my view.
Thanks in anticipation.
Al

I fink I’m right in saying an 037 has the rectangular lugs. The 038 has round posts.

A Google showed a Numax battery at around £45 odd and appears to have a bottom lip for the clamps.

Looks like it? D

Does this help?

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/types/038/

Tim

Have a look at Tayna batteries. They list loads of both 037 and 038 types.

No personal involvement etc - I just buy all my motorcycle batteries from them

Hi

Have used Shield batteries on my cars

01279652067

they make exact copies of the original lucas batteries

hope that helps
Deryck

Thanks, Deryck, they are just down the road from me and I had not come across Shield before.

Link to their classic car brochure: https://www.shieldbatteries.co.uk/docum ... d_-_22.pdf

Tim

Thanks everyone for your efforts.
Tim, 69S4, and TBG.
I checked Tanya and Lion. They gave all the spec apart from the terminals are the wrong way around. I could re-route the cables but I'd be looking at it every time I use the boot. In the end it might be the only pragmatic option. I am positive I will not be the only one.
Deryck, I tried Sheild but they said it was not possible to get everything in one battery.
Elanfan1 Numax was a new one sadly it failed the terminal location test.
Thank you all a real team effort. I'm beginning to realise I need to re-think thst the negative terminal on the right is my only option.
Al

Regarding the posts being wrong, I use a type 038 in my +2 and just turn the battery around so the label faces away...

Hi Al,
The battery in my S3 is this.
Raylite Turbo Start type 063.
Amp Hours 44
SAE 380 whatever that is !
Posts are towards the centre of the boot with negative rearwards.
I like them that way for access.
This battery has been in for nearly 12 years now and still seems OK
This may not be helpful as it does look a bit big, but as it is under a cover you cannot tell.
Cheers
Eric in Burnley
1967 SE DHC

My battery currently positively (see watt I did there?) secured in the correct position is a Platinum Prestige.

The terminals are as you seek, positive to the front (RH as you look at it). Here is a link to their web site: https://www.platinuminternational.com/c ... al-battery

Tim

Draenog, although it does seem an obvious solution if I rotate the battery the terminals end up much closer to inside of the wing panel making it harder to fit and more difficult for access as Eric mentioned.
Tim, I phoned Platinum, their thinnest battery was 175mm leaving me with an overhang on the tray and contact issues with the boot shelf and spare tyre replacement.

Raj - I think you will find they all overhang a little but that does not greatly affect the boot floor or spare wheel removal. D

Raj, as David says above, they all do that now, sir!

I've been working on my Sprint today so took the attached photo for you. My battery shows how little it overhangs the tray. It certainly allows me to fit and remove my spare tyre without a problem. The 075E I have has a capacity of 60 Ah and is H:175mm, L:242mm, W:175mm

Have you spoken yet to Shield, who Deryck recommended?

Tim

Tim yes I did, the same day.
They couldn't find one that met all the spec. Under 175mm wide was the main issue.
There are 3 issues I've encountered with finding a modern battery for the S4. There is not much choice when looking for a battery less than 175mm and to fit the tray comfortably it needs to be less than 150mm.
Many that meet tte 037 and 038 dimensionally have the pillars the wrong way around. (positive to the rear/left hand side) They are also a bit light on CCA as Eric has noted the standard starter motor needs about 350A on cold start.
Where I am at right now is.
I want it to fit the tray and I want a CCA as close to 350A as possible.
As I have not any wiring in the car, I am happy to accept the terminals in the "wrong" position. I have learned from this post that different people are happy to accept slight deviations and so am I. I tend to overthink things.