Discussion
The battery on our MX5 has always seemed a bit crap, and yesterday it failed to start the car, so it looks like I needa new one.
I understand there are different sizes of battery, and ours is a small battery in the boot/rear wing. Where can you get these from, and are there any options for fitting a bigger capacity battery.
On other cars I've always gone for the bigger capacity bosch batteries.
This car is my wifes and during the winter it only gets used once a week or so, so we need a decent battery.
I understand there are different sizes of battery, and ours is a small battery in the boot/rear wing. Where can you get these from, and are there any options for fitting a bigger capacity battery.
On other cars I've always gone for the bigger capacity bosch batteries.
This car is my wifes and during the winter it only gets used once a week or so, so we need a decent battery.
While a spillage from a non-gel type battery is a possibility, it's happened in neither of my MX5s which both came with non-standard batteries. So if you're willing to take a theoretical risk, this battery is £45 delivered and fits exactly: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190641643155
Jobbo said:
While a spillage from a non-gel type battery is a possibility, it's happened in neither of my MX5s which both came with non-standard batteries. So if you're willing to take a theoretical risk, this battery is £45 delivered and fits exactly: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190641643155
Will that fit in the wing below the carpet? The Westco battery size is much shorter. Edited by 98elise on Sunday 28th October 18:13
After trying two of the crappy lead acid batteries (one from GSF, one Ebay) I went for the Mazda gel one. It was supposed to be around £120 I think, but I talked them into a discount and got it for under £100.
Never had any battery issues again. Buy cheap, buy twice. Or three times, in this case.
Never had any battery issues again. Buy cheap, buy twice. Or three times, in this case.
Jobbo said:
What battery issues are you talking about? Millions of cars use lead acid batteries without a problem; as I said, my car has a lead acid battery, it's not brand new and it happily started the car without stumbling after being left for 4 weeks.
Millions of cars also have the lead acid battery under a bonnet - which is ventilated, unlike an air tight MX-5 boot!What problems? See below:
devnull said:
Definitely recommend a replacement OEM panasonic or the WestCo from MX5 parts. The batteries need to be the sealed gel type or something like this happens...
Mine was worse than this!! Previous owners being too tight to pay a bit more for a proper battery, the battery clamp basically crumbled to dust, which meant the battery was loose, so would hit against the inside of the boot and made a dent - causing a lot more damage in total than the extra the proper battery would cost.You need to use the breather pipes in the boot to ensure it's ventilated to the outside - using the wrong wet cell battery types might be okay for a while, but long term it's not worth the risk.
Edited by Riknos on Monday 29th October 09:16
So if the battery clamp's in place and tightened up, it shouldn't be a problem? There is a breather, as you mention, and the boot isn't air-tight anyway.
My E34 5-series has a lead acid battery under the rear seat; it came like that from the factory. Don't let them leak or spill and they're fine. Keep an eye on them, in the same way as you would any other fluids.
When I asked what battery issues HereBeMonsters was talking about, I didn't think he meant that two new batteries had leaked and caused that sort of mess. If there are starting problems after leaving it sitting for a week, there are probably more underlying issues such as dodgy earths and short circuits.
My E34 5-series has a lead acid battery under the rear seat; it came like that from the factory. Don't let them leak or spill and they're fine. Keep an eye on them, in the same way as you would any other fluids.
When I asked what battery issues HereBeMonsters was talking about, I didn't think he meant that two new batteries had leaked and caused that sort of mess. If there are starting problems after leaving it sitting for a week, there are probably more underlying issues such as dodgy earths and short circuits.
Jobbo said:
What battery issues are you talking about? Millions of cars use lead acid batteries without a problem; as I said, my car has a lead acid battery, it's not brand new and it happily started the car without stumbling after being left for 4 weeks.
Mine used to discharge because it was being sloshed around too much. 
i got a higher rated battery from halfords - it was a bit bigger than the one that came out although i'm sure it was the smallest they had in stock at the time.
3 years on, it's had no problems at all, even tho my vent pipe broken when i crashed at donnington and i have never got round to fixing it. i left it 4 months whilst i took the car off the road and despite not disconnecting anything it started right up on the button again
think it was only about £80. probably still got the receipt somewhere if you want a part number.
3 years on, it's had no problems at all, even tho my vent pipe broken when i crashed at donnington and i have never got round to fixing it. i left it 4 months whilst i took the car off the road and despite not disconnecting anything it started right up on the button again
think it was only about £80. probably still got the receipt somewhere if you want a part number.
As winter is coming I bit the bullet, and paid for a wesco one from a specialist supplier, and it lasted 4 days 
I fitted it and it started the car fine. We didn't need to use the car for about 4 days, and when we did it was totally dead. Not even the lights would work.
The terminals were tight, so I put a meter across the battery, and its reading less than 2v !!!!!! I e-mailed the supplier for advice, and so far nothing. Today I stuck a set of jump leads on it and tried to charge it from our car. But it doesnt want to take a charge.
The blub that comes with the battery said it was fully charged, and can't be charged with a normal charger so at the moment we're stuck (I good rid of the old battery )
I'll be ringing the supplier monday, but I really don't want another westco in there. I need reliability as the car is only used a couple of times per week at best.
Every other battery thats been suggested seems to be way too tall. Are you definately fitting them to cars with had the small battery? A taller battery would be sticking up above the floor of the boot. Its also very tight on length and width.
I fitted it and it started the car fine. We didn't need to use the car for about 4 days, and when we did it was totally dead. Not even the lights would work.
The terminals were tight, so I put a meter across the battery, and its reading less than 2v !!!!!! I e-mailed the supplier for advice, and so far nothing. Today I stuck a set of jump leads on it and tried to charge it from our car. But it doesnt want to take a charge.
The blub that comes with the battery said it was fully charged, and can't be charged with a normal charger so at the moment we're stuck (I good rid of the old battery
)I'll be ringing the supplier monday, but I really don't want another westco in there. I need reliability as the car is only used a couple of times per week at best.
Every other battery thats been suggested seems to be way too tall. Are you definately fitting them to cars with had the small battery? A taller battery would be sticking up above the floor of the boot. Its also very tight on length and width.
Edited by 98elise on Sunday 9th December 13:50
HereBeMonsters said:
Seriously. The proper Mazda one from a Mazda dealer. It's a Panasonic I think. It's pricey, but I'd like my car to start when I want it to.
Its expensive and not a great spec. I want something decent as the car doesn't get used enough in the winter. For my other cars I always buy heavy duty Bosch batteries, with 5 year warranties. I fitted a big bosche to my mothers car as it stands for 2-3 weeks at a time, and its not let her down yet.I wanted something similar for the MX5.
MX-5 Lazza said:
Have you checked your car out for a power drain? It's more likely that it's a car problem than a duff battery.
It worked fine on the old battery with little use. It went 2 weeks while we were on holiday with no problems. A drain seems unlikely.The only reason I changed it is that it always sounded sluggish when starting the car, even after a long run. Its original on a 54 plate car, so due for replacement and its my wifes car so I wanted a decent battery for the winter.
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