To start the engine, it must rotate intensively. It is carried out using a starter, which is powered by a battery. It is she who transmits to him the necessary electricity to start the engine. The battery is the source of power supply for all elements of the car, so the battery is the most important component, without which it is impossible to operate the car.
Characteristics of the standard Kalina battery
The manufacturer installs a domestically produced Akom brand battery under the hood of the Lada Kalina. Owners of Kalina, Kalina 2, Grants, Priora and other AvtoVAZ models who bought their cars with this power source complain about its poor quality. There have been cases when batteries were replaced after just a couple of months under warranty.
The nominal capacity of the Akom battery is 55 A/h, and the starting current is 425 Amperes. These are the minimum acceptable values, and using a battery with lower characteristics is not advisable.
The standard battery is the most common, lead type, filled with acid. The temperature range allowing normal use is from +45°C to -40°C.
What does a “state employee” like?
The Kalinovaya Lada is often called a budget car option. And this is largely true. But this aspect does not mean that this “simple” car loves “cheap” spare parts, components and mechanisms.
When deciding on choosing a battery for a viburnum, take your time. And especially don’t save money. Even “state employees” don’t like “penny” ingredients for themselves and their loved ones/
By the way, here it is necessary to say about the inconsistency of a number of individual recommendations that are present on some automobile forums. Here you can often see advice like this: “Viburnum can eat everything. More precisely, cheap spare parts and components will suit it. Don’t worry too much about it.”
How can you comment on these statements? Sheer nonsense! Car enthusiasts who recommend this adhere to the following principle: I’ll drive my car for a year or two, and then, lo and behold, I’ll buy myself a new one. But no one thinks about how the car will feel after negligent care and what problems the new owner will have to face.
Our advice to you: do not listen to unprofessional recommendations. And provide quality care for your car. And then it will last a long time.
Carefully study the topic of which battery is best for this AvtoVAZ brainchild. This will help you choose a decent option for the Lada Kalina.
So what does this car like? When choosing a battery, you should in any case follow the recommendations of the manufacturer. Ignoring the “factory advice” threatens a serious blow to the well-being of your Lada Kalina, its technical capabilities and “longevity”. This is the main rule, following which you can choose a truly high-quality battery.
When is it time to change the battery and why?
Owners of Lada Kalina are well aware that replacing the battery is necessary after three to four years of active use. It all depends on various factors, for example, on the quality of the battery, on the energy consumption of the vehicle’s on-board network. But not everyone knows by what signs one can determine that it is time to think about a new battery for the Lada Kalina, because the specified period is determined conditionally. For this reason, everyone should understand when to change the battery to avoid problems associated with the inability to start the engine. Among the main signs indicating the need to replace the battery:
- The engine starts with difficulty not only in winter, but also in summer. This means that the power supply cannot hold a charge.
- The indicator lamp for the need to charge the battery lights up on the instrument panel. The on-board computer, if available, can also signal this.
- After a long trip (more than 15 km), a measurement with a multimeter shows insufficient charge. The device must be fully charged from the generator, if the latter is working.
- Once fully charged, the density measurement shows less than 1:25 Gm/cm. You can try to level the indicator with a corrective electrolyte; if this does not help, it is better to replace the battery.
- The electrolyte has darkened. This occurs due to the destruction of the lead plates. The use of such a battery is prohibited as it may cause an explosion.
- If the battery emits an unpleasant smell of putrefactive decomposition.
- You can turn on the radio for an hour with the engine off. If after this the engine starts with difficulty, this means that the battery is draining too quickly and it’s time to change it.
- If the battery lasts more than four years, then it's time to buy a new one.
If any of these symptoms occur, you may need to purchase a new power supply for your vehicle soon.
In some cases, you can extend the battery life by using corrective electrolyte and additional charging.
Capacity
The most important criterion when buying a new battery is its capacity. This indicator is measured in ampere-hours (Ah) and reflects the amount of electricity stored in the battery, which ensures starting the engine and stable operation of electrical appliances (radio, headlights, wipers). For passenger cars, batteries with a capacity of 50-90 Ah are usually suitable.
Find out the charging time of your battery
The maximum capacity is always indicated on the battery case. Before purchasing a new battery, you can focus on the performance of the old battery - they should be equal or slightly different from each other. It is also worth considering the generator rating - to obtain the optimal battery capacity, its value must be multiplied by 0.75.
Important! If the indicator in question is significantly lower than the required one, then in cold weather problems with ignition may occur. If you exceed the maximum value, this may lead to starter failure.
All new Lada cars have standard batteries with a nominal capacity of 55 Ah. However, this value may not be enough for trouble-free startup of the injector in cold weather, so it is better to adhere to the following recommendations:
- For a VAZ 2107, the optimal choice would be a powerful battery with a capacity of 70 Ah.
- Batteries with a capacity of 60-70 Ah are suitable for the VAZ 2110 and VAZ 2111.
- For the VAZ 2114 it is better to purchase a capacitive battery of about 80 Ah.
By following these tips, your car will operate reliably even in frosty Russian winters.
How to choose a battery for Lada Kalina
The issue of choosing a replacement for an old battery must be approached responsibly. There are several important criteria, each of which is worth considering in detail.
Brand
Western countries use much more advanced technologies in the production of batteries. They even check in a completely different way. In our country, the charge is tested with a load fork, with the help of which the load is applied for 10 seconds, and the charge should not fall below 9 V. The European test involves 30 seconds of load with the same minimum threshold of the “drawdown” voltage. As a result, Russian batteries are inferior in quality to their foreign counterparts. It cannot be said that there are no brands on our market that are not inferior in quality to European ones, but there are not many of them. And you shouldn’t focus only on a popular brand; characteristics and compliance with the required parameters are much more important.
Date of manufacture
Proper storage of batteries is important. If the charging rules were violated, or the devices were in aggressive conditions of unacceptable temperatures, then their characteristics will be distorted even before they are purchased and installed under the hood. The best option is that the device was manufactured no more than four months ago. You should be very careful when buying a battery that has been stored for a year or more. Checking with a load fork is mandatory.
Capacity
Capacity selection is a broad topic and there is a lot of controversy surrounding it. But it all comes down to the fact that you need to choose a battery with a capacity no lower than the factory one. More is possible, but not less. In everything you need to know when to stop and understand that a battery with a large capacity simply will not fit in its rightful place due to its increased size.
Starting current
This parameter is indicated directly on the battery. It is not recommended to buy a battery with a starting current lower than the minimum declared for the Lada Kalina. The same amount or more is allowed. At subzero temperatures, the battery can lose up to 40% of its charge, and insufficient starting current may not cope with the difficulty of starting a frozen engine. In this matter, you need to find a middle ground, since options with a high starting current are quite expensive.
Polarity
The battery can be with direct or reverse polarity. This means that the terminals can be in opposite places. It is worth considering this when choosing a device. The cost of models with reverse polarity is somewhat lower, but installing them on Kalina, where direct polarity is provided, will not be easy.
Load fork test
Mandatory procedure before purchase. Usually, sellers themselves, without unnecessary requests, perform a load fork test in front of the buyer. To do this, voltage is applied to the battery for at least 10 seconds. The battery charge during this time should not drop to less than 9 V, otherwise it is not worth purchasing the device.
Guarantee
If a manufacturer gives a guarantee for its product for up to 5 years of operation, this indicates reliability and high quality. But the price tag for such batteries is unreasonably high. The optimal warranty period at an affordable price is from two to three years. These are honest numbers that correspond to the service life of the battery. If the warranty is only for a year, this is a reason to think about it. A short warranty period is given for a reason; it is not recommended to buy such products.
Brand selection
There is no doubt that the manufacturer plays a huge role when choosing a battery.
The company must be trusted both by you and by influential rating agencies. It would be a good idea to consult with other Kalina owners who have been driving this car for many years and have changed the battery more than once. The results of a study conducted by specialists from the Central Research Institute showed that preference should be given to the following brands:
- Tyumen Battery is a Russian manufacturer that deservedly occupies the first line of this rating. The Siberian plant produces reliable and high-quality lead-acid batteries mainly for domestic cars.
- Mutlu is a Turkish company whose products are loved by many Russian drivers. The batteries of this company are distinguished by improved characteristics and increased starting current, which is especially important in the harsh Russian climate.
- Varta is a German manufacturer of batteries for various purposes, occupying the first place in the production of lead-acid batteries. Batteries are produced at 7 factories; in Russia you can purchase a battery made directly in Germany. The high quality of the products is confirmed by numerous positive reviews from motorists.
- Bosch is a German concern whose main activity is the production of goods for cars. All batteries from this manufacturer are distinguished by increased power and long service life. In Russia you can buy batteries made in Germany.
Of course, not all batteries from these companies can be suitable for the Lada Kalina - you need to choose exactly the battery that meets the above technical requirements and also has the best price-quality ratio.
Antimony battery
The founder of all lead batteries. It got its name from the addition of a small percentage of antimony to lead, which made it less “soft.” Due to the rapid process of electrolysis, when when charging from 12.5 V to 12.7 V, it seems that the electrolyte is boiling, the expression “the battery is charged if it boils” arose.
The advantage of such batteries is their lead plates, which are strong enough to withstand deep discharges and not crumble. The disadvantage is the need to constantly monitor the electrolyte level in the banks. The liquid takes up more volume than the plates, which means that such batteries are limited in capacity and inrush current.
Antimony batteries are difficult to maintain due to the fact that they cannot be made sealed. The violent release of gases from electrolysis can simply rupture the housing.
Dimensions
To install the battery in the engine compartment, there is a special niche with a stand and holding fasteners. To ensure that the battery stays securely in place and does not jerk from side to side, you need to choose the correct overall dimensions. And, of course, if you purchase a large battery, it simply will not fit on the platform.
Standard batteries for VAZ cars have the following indicators: 24.2 cm – length, 17.5 cm – width, 19 cm – height. When purchasing a new battery, you can rely on these measurements, but it would be a good idea to play it safe and independently measure all the geometric parameters of the old battery with a tape measure.
Calcium batteries
Calcium batteries replaced the obsolete antimony batteries. Instead, calcium was added to lead plates. The choice of this element should minimize the evaporation of water during the electrolysis process. In fact, this is a maintenance-free type of battery.
Some manufacturers add a small percentage of silver to the composition, which reduces the internal resistance, allowing for increased capacitance and inrush current. Calcium devices have low self-discharge. There are more plates here, but less liquid; they do not boil, since electrolysis requires 16 V.
But there are also disadvantages - such batteries are very sensitive to deep discharges. It is enough to discharge it several times, and it immediately loses up to 80% of its capacity. It is also necessary to take into account the high cost of relatively antimony ones - the difference in price can be three times different.
Hybrid batteries
As you might guess from the name, manufacturers tried to combine all the best qualities from the two technologies. The battery also consists of plates, but one side is antimony and the other is calcium. The characteristics of this element turned out to be average - a universal among batteries. Water consumption is at an average level, increased capacity and starting current are not too sensitive to discharge and are in the average price segment.
Helium batteries should not be considered because of their unreasonably high price and relatively low performance that does not justify the cost, although such batteries are more powerful.
Everything is in place
To identify leaders and outsiders, we introduced a scoring system. In each type of test, the best and worst results were taken and assigned five points (maximum) and one point (minimum), respectively. Each of the remaining participants received an intermediate score proportional to their position between the leader and the outsider. For example, if, when measuring reserve capacity, the leader showed a result of 112 minutes, and the outsider showed 78, then the participant with a result of 87 minutes gets 2.06 points. If a battery fails in one test or another, it receives 0 points.
The total score based on the results of measurements is the arithmetic average of five intermediate assessments. Then we divided it by the price of the battery, after which we again brought it to a five-point scale. So the final score is essentially value for money.
The Tyumen Battery Premium and Varta Blue Dynamic batteries turned out to be unrivaled in our tests. Taking into account the much more attractive price, the “Siberian” rose to the top. If we didn't take prices into account, Varta would be first. However, the “foreign” battery has another paradoxical advantage over the Russian battery: it is easier to find on sale. It sounds illogical, but it is true, and not only in Moscow.
Conclusion? You cannot purchase a battery looking only at the price tag. Savings may backfire. It is better to spend a little time to familiarize yourself with the results of our examination. Good luck with your purchase and stable voltage in the on-board network!
Removing and installing the battery
You can remove and install the battery only in strict compliance with the order of connecting/disconnecting the terminals, as well as the polarity. The process looks like this:
- Open the hood.
- Remove the cover from the “+” terminal.
- Loosen the bolt connection of the negative terminal and disconnect it.
- Loosen the bolt connection of the “positive” terminal and disconnect it.
- Remove the battery.
Installing the battery in its rightful place is done in the reverse order. In this case, you need to be careful and take into account that any battery has considerable weight.
Polarity
Every car owner should know where the positive and negative terminals are located, as well as in what order to connect and disconnect the battery from the terminals, that is, have an idea of polarity.
There are two types of polarity in batteries - reverse and direct. To determine this criterion, you need to place the battery facing you so that the terminals are closer to you. With reverse polarity, the positive terminal is on the right, and with direct polarity, it is on the left. Direct polarity is found in almost all Russian-made cars, with the exception of the VAZ 2106, VAZ 21099 and Lada Largus.
Purchasing a battery with inappropriate polarity makes it impossible to properly connect the device to the network due to the missing wire length. If you connect the battery incorrectly, this is guaranteed to damage the built-in electronics.
Charging the battery
The battery itself does not produce electric current; its function is only to store it. The necessary supply of electricity in the battery is maintained by the generator, constantly recharging it. The battery life depends on the number of charge and discharge cycles. The more there are, the smaller the capacity becomes. Gradually, the battery is able to store less and less current - eventually there may not be enough to start the engine. In this case, you can revive the battery and charge it using various devices.
Before you start charging, there are several important factors to consider. The charging current should correspond to 10% of the rated capacity, that is, if the latter is 55 A/h, then the optimal current should be no more than 5-6 A. The voltage at the terminals should exceed the rated voltage by 10%. If a charged and serviceable battery shows 12.6 V, then the voltage at the charging terminals should be 13.86 V. The battery must be properly charged for a long time and at low current values. You can quickly charge the battery at a current of up to 30 A, but this method is detrimental to the plates.
Preparing to charge
Before charging the battery, you need to make sure it is discharged, and to do this it should be removed from its original place. During operation, a natural discharge is observed, but the device can also discharge due to damage to the case, when the electrolyte leaks through cracks and the chemical process is disrupted. The presence of a crack can be detected by severe oxidation of the terminals. Operation of such a power source is prohibited.
Manufacturers often use a special indicator plug, the color of which can be used to determine whether recharging is needed. All information can be found in the product passport.
The easiest and most effective way to check the charge level is to measure it with a multimeter. The device will show the exact voltage. Based on these readings, a decision is made about the need for charging.
The next step is to check the electrolyte level. This can be done through the filler holes. The electrolyte must completely cover the plates, be transparent and clean, no debris or clouding is allowed. If the level is low, you need to add distillate.
Starting current power
The reliability of starting the machine depends on the amount of starting current supplied to the starter, especially when the ambient temperature is below -18˚C. The higher this parameter, the faster the starter will rotate. In the factory configuration, VAZ cars with an injector are equipped with a lead-acid battery with liquid electrolyte with a starting current power of 255 amperes - this value is not enough to operate the car in harsh climatic conditions.
Insufficient current can be recognized as follows: the battery lamp on the dashboard lights up dimmer than usual. In this case, you should think about purchasing a more powerful battery, because at the most necessary moment the car may simply not start.
A high-quality battery for VAZ 2107 , 2110, 2111 and 2114 should provide a starting current of about 500-600 amperes. In the northern regions, it would be a good idea to purchase a battery with a capacity of about 700-750 amperes.
