mx5cartalk.com

HI All,

I've been browsing the previous threads on batteries and thought it would be interesting to post up the following info.
After a Syd-Wollongong return trip (3 hours total) my car did not start the next day. The Battery Voltage had dropped down to 9.0V the next day!
I did notice hesitation in cranking after I got my aircon regased a week ago, so I'm guessing the battery has gone.
(Alternator appears to have had a healthy voltage of 14.4V as I glanced at my aftermarket clock/multimeter thing the day before the wollongong trip).
I've just given it a 16 hour charge outside the car, and it's only gone back up to 11V. Doesn't seem to budge from there.

Taken out was a really old MF40 Supercharge gold.
I've owned the car for 2 years, and the previous owner owned it for 18 months, and he said he never replaced the battery.
Looking at the labels, there was no punch mark or circle on the mfg or install date. The date range available on the label was Jan 2007- Dec 2009

Assuming the date label was meant for install date (Not really sure what it was for):
Worst case: the MF40 lasted 6 years, or
Best case: the MF40 lasted 8 years.

Not too shabby for a $139 battery (current autobahn price - guessing it was cheaper back then)



I'm not yet sure if I should put another supercharge in, or expand our knowledge-base by trying out one of those SSB AGM Motorcycle batteries with 400-ish CCA.
I hear the fullriver HC20 does a good job, but wouldn't mind testing out another option (It's a similar price to the fullriver)

Wilson

Gave up and just bought another MF40 from autobarn - too cost effective, and I don't plan to keep the car for another 10 years.
(40 month warranty and an easy place to swap if there's issues)

Attached is some info I got on charging the MF40 from a supercharge enquiry:
(Note these numbers might get out-of-date over time)

I have a Supercharge Gold in another car for about 3 years that's the 'garage queen car' that hadn't been dríven since I got the roadster, the battery went flat after a month or so of non-use. Red indicator.

Being a maintenance free battery I thought that was the end, need to replace with new, but after trickle charging it back up to +12V and going for long drives it's revived again. Now I just leave the battery disconnected for long periods of parking.

So yeah, good experience with Supercharge Gold from me.

**thumbs up**

edit: if you're after longevity, the OEM battery in my old Civic lasted 8+ years and I didn't even think of maintaining it!

Sold it with the car!

I've had a Civic battery before too. Got 6 years out of it I think. Which by the end was still working, but wasn't holding charge for as long. Couldn't get them anymore last time I went to BatteryWorld, turns out they were manufactured by Century Battery anyway.