I have just taken delivery of a 1999 LWB Trooper Citation 3.0 Diesel. It has two identical 12V batteries fitted.

The dealer's answer as to why, was that it helps to turn the engine over on cold mornings.

Can anyone please give me a more technical answer as to why it has two batteries, please?

Also, if I have a problem with a flat battery (or even two flat batteries), which battery should I run the jump leads to?

The hand book makes no mention of the provision of two batteries but I am confident that the wealth of knowledge on this forum will soon make up for that deficiency <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Regards

Howard Neil (UK)

Well you are one lucky fellow, 2 battery troopers are not an option here in the states, it looks like that is an option available in the UK and you have been fortunate to get it in your purchase. The second battery can be used for many things, inlcuding but not limited to 10 backup purpose 2) vehicle is capable of mainting many adiitional devices ie spotlights, stereo's, LCD screens, refrigerators and so on. As well as the things your dealer mentioned. I woudl use the second attery for the things mentioned above as my trooper goes out into the far far wilderness here in Californiua and it is good to knwo there is a backup battery after a few nights in the bush with the nearest garage or car being two hours away. Frankly I am jealous, and am thinking of doing this mod one day to my trooper.

cheers,

l.

Howard:

First, welcome to the Board, congratulations on your purchase, and I want your engine. (We don't get the 3.0 oil-burner here in the colonies. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> )

Anyway, I don't have enough specific information about your truck to say whether the dealer's blowing smoke, but the explanation isn't outside the realm of logic. I know that diesels have a heck-of-a-lot more compression than petrol engines, and (in the past, at least) there were diesel-specific batteries with much higher "cold-cranking-amp" ratings to overcome that compression upon start-up. Given how warm it usually isn't in the UK, and the draining effect of cold on a battery, the dealer's explanation makes sense. The key is whether that set-up is standard on the 3.0TD Trooper.

You might try The Isuzu Deisel Forum for some better information.

Hope this helps, and good luck.
Kevin

Hey Finally a question that I have first hand knowledge, I work with Industrial Diesels and have had a Ford F250, with a 7.3L IHC. But here is the Skiny a Diesel Engine works solely on Compression so you have to Turn the Engine hard to get the Diesel to Expolde and also the Diesels have Glow plugs, which pre-heat the combustion chamber prior to starting the engine. Which are basicly a Resistance that has to be red hot to warm the chamber. Which take a lot of current. Thats why Diesels either have a Big Battery or 2 Batteries. Anything else I can answer feel free. <img border="0" alt="[Elvis]" title="" src="graemlins/elvis.gif" />

I second Drakemore's comment. I happens to own an 1999 diesel Trooper with single battery in New Zealand. It is locaed in front of fuse box. The second's space is next to the fuel filter. With only a single battery, it take more than 2 or probably 3 seconds, depending on the temperature, to start the engine which has ben criticised by the users. I am not sure if new ones have one or 2 locally but Australia sell diesel Troopers on 2 batteries.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Howard Neil:
<strong>I have just taken delivery of a 1999 LWB Trooper Citation 3.0 Diesel. It has two identical 12V batteries fitted.

The dealer's answer as to why, was that it helps to turn the engine over on cold mornings.

Can anyone please give me a more technical answer as to why it has two batteries, please?
(UK)</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Diesels run extremely high compression ratios. Ballpark 20:1. It takes a lot of juice to turn over a motor with that much compression, hence, the two batteries.

--Dan

Thank you, everyone, for your helpful replies.

I tend not to trust glib answers from dealers but I seem to have found an honest one for once. This distrust for dealers is common in the UK. Do you have the same regard for dealers in the USA?

I was surprised to read that the 3.0 litre diesel is not available in the USA. It is a super engine with a lot of torque at low engine revs. I live in mountainous region and on a couple of hills my 1987 Trooper 2.3 petrol struggles in second gear. The diesel engine accelerates up these hills in third gear. Very satisfying. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Regards

Howard Neil

As stated above, diesels have glow plugs requiring high charge (which is why you need to wait a few seconds with the key on before you start some diesels). Diesels usually need big batteries, or two smaller ones, some big diesels (like a K5) require TWO big batteries.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Howard Neil:
<strong>
I tend not to trust glib answers from dealers but I seem to have found an honest one for once. This distrust for dealers is common in the UK. Do you have the same regard for dealers in the USA?

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Here is the U.S. New car salesmen are held in reverence, just slightly ahead of used car salesmen. Which are just slightly ahead of the preists in the catholic church. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

OK, so we all know where I'm going when I die <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Howard,

I'm a Brit as well. I think we need a forum like this in the UK.

Rob
Eaglescliffe UK