Which Van, Truck or Tractor Battery? 019 or 020, EFB or AGM?

Two lookups disagree on the size, the van has stop-start, or the lorry's batteries go flat after a night on the heater. Measure and match the old battery, keep the right stop-start technology, register the new one if the vehicle needs it, and choose a grade that suits the work.

PartsForMachines stocks over 1,000 car, truck and off-highway batteries from makers including Lucas, Exide, Numax, Yuasa, Hella, Bosch and VARTA.

Two Lookups Disagree: How Do I Know Which Battery Fits?

Measure the old battery and match it, rather than trusting a code alone. Neighbouring case codes differ a lot: a type 019 is about 353mm long, while a type 020 is about 393mm, roughly 40mm longer.

Check the length, width and height (including the terminals), the terminal type and which side the positive post sits on. Then look at the hold-down ledge at the base of the case, coded B3 or B13 for example, before comparing voltage, Ah and CCA. A shorter case with the right figures is not a free swap: it still has to sit firmly in the tray under the clamp.

Stop-Start Van: Should I Fit EFB, AGM or a Standard Battery?

Fit the technology the van left the factory with, or step up from EFB to AGM. Never fit a standard battery: in a stop-start vehicle it can cause faults and fail early. An enhanced flooded battery (EFB), such as the EL700 EFB start-stop battery (70Ah, 760A), suits many stop-start systems, while the most demanding ones use AGM.

If the van came with AGM, only another AGM will do, so don't trade the right technology for a bigger flooded battery. Where a product page doesn't confirm start-stop suitability, check the label on the battery or ask us.

Does a New Battery Need Coding or Registering?

On many newer vans with stop-start or a battery management system, yes. The system monitors the battery throughout its life and adjusts the charging as it ages. Registering tells the van a new battery is fitted, so it stops charging it like a worn one. Change the type (EFB or AGM) or the capacity, and those details must be entered too.

Skip this and the new battery can be overcharged or undercharged, which shortens its life, and stop-start may stop working. Before you order a different type or size, check that your garage or diagnostic tool can set it.

Why Do Truck and Tractor Batteries Fail Early?

Often the cause is the way they are used. Night heaters, fridges and chargers drain the battery with the engine off, and deep discharges shorten its life. Short runs, such as multi-drop work, may not give the alternator time to recharge it, and a lead-acid battery that is rarely fully charged can fail early through sulphation.

For heavy cab loads, choose an AGM battery built for parking coolers and heaters, such as the A1 AGM truck battery (210Ah, 1200A). On rough ground, pick one designed to resist vibration.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• the old battery's length, width and height (including the terminals) and any case code, such as 019 or L05
• the terminal type, which side the positive post sits on, and the hold-down
• the technology (standard, EFB or AGM) and whether the vehicle has stop-start
• the voltage, Ah and CCA, compared with the original
• the duty (overnight cab loads, rough ground) and whether the vehicle needs the battery registered

Browse the Cars, Truck & Off-Highway Batteries range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the vehicle details and the numbers on the old battery.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fit a battery with more Ah or CCA than the original?

Yes, if it matches the old battery's size, terminals, hold-down and technology. The usual advice is like-for-like or better, and never a smaller capacity. On a vehicle with battery management, register the new capacity.

What do Ah and CCA mean on a battery?

Ah is the capacity, usually quoted at the 20-hour rate (C20). CCA, or cold cranking amps, is the cold-starting power figure, quoted to the EN standard. The H16 heavy-duty commercial battery, for example, is rated 105Ah and 800A. Match or beat both.

My lorry is 24V with two batteries: should I replace both?

Often, yes. Two 12V batteries wired in series make 24V, and one bad battery can damage the rest of a set. If one fails, test both, and replace an older partner at the same time with a matching battery.

Stop-start rarely works now: is the battery worn?

It can be. Stop-start only works when the battery holds enough charge, so a weak or undercharged battery keeps the engine running. Heavy loads, such as the blower fan or heated screens, can do the same, as can a new battery that was never registered.

A new battery died too: could the vehicle be to blame?

Yes. Something drawing current with the key off, or a charging system that undercharges, can flatten a new battery again and again, and each deep discharge shortens its life. Have the charging and the key-off drain checked before fitting another.

Which battery suits a tractor or digger working off-road?

Match the old battery's size, terminals and CCA, then choose one built for vibration. The EJ1000 agri and construction battery, for example, has hot-melt-fixed plate groups to resist vibration and shock, and suits tractors, excavators and loaders.

Can I change a truck battery myself?

Yes, with care, but plan for the weight: the YBX1655 weighs 34kg with acid, though it has carry handles, and the A1 AGM truck battery weighs 61kg. Clamp the new battery firmly in the tray, and check whether the vehicle needs it registered.

Which 12V battery does an early Tesla Model 3 need?

Earlier Model 3s left the factory with a lead-acid 12V battery, and Tesla's service documentation names the 85B24LS type as the replacement. The 85B24LS auxiliary battery is a deep-cycle flooded unit. Later cars use lithium-ion, so check which type yours has before ordering.

How long is the warranty on a replacement battery?

It depends on the range, and the period is shown in each product name. The H16, for example, carries 2 years and the YBX1655 12 months, while the EL700 car battery carries 3 years.