Bettery Issues - how to Jump start MX5?

li21 · Postby **li21** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:42 pm

Hi all,

Today I tried to start my NA6 and it wouldnt crank. Definate battery issue.
Tried to pop up the lights and it did ever so slowly. Stereo powers on, interior lights are dim.

What are some reasons battery would drain? Drove the car 5 days ago it was fine. Didnt leave any lights on or anything.

When I bought the car I noticed the owner has changed battiers 2 or 3 times in the same number of years. Theyve all been vented batteries, one in there now is a Federal about 6 months old.

Any ideas?

Anyhow first thing I want to do is jump start it and see if i can get back on the road, but I dont know where to hook the negative cable on the na6?
Where can I earth it? I'm worried i'll put it in the wrong place and seeing as its in the boot it might be tricky?
Any suggestions?

AJ · Postby AJ » Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:48 pm

positive cable on positive terminal, negative cable on negative terminal, easy as mate

li21 · Postby **li21** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:59 pm

AJ wrote:positive cable on positive terminal, negative cable on negative terminal, easy as mate

Oh I always thought you had to connect the negative cable to part of the chasis to ground it :shock:

AJ · Postby AJ » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:09 pm

old wives tale li21, the battery in the car is already grounded to the chassis

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:49 pm

AJ wrote:old wives tale li21, the battery in the car is already grounded to the chassis

yep. if you look at the negative cable on your na6, follow it back and you'll see that it is bolted to the chassis.

li21 · Postby **li21** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:58 pm

Oh right!

Anyways I just tried it , with the neighbors car but it wouldn't start.

Do I need to leave the good car to be running for a while before attempting to start the dead car?

AJ · Postby AJ » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:02 pm

if your battery is cactus, it probably won't start anyway..............but yeah, if you have decent jump leads, hook the other car up & bang some decent revs on it for a minute or so (any longer you'll probably cook your jump leads) to get some juice into your battery

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:09 pm

AJ wrote:if your battery is cactus, it probably won't start anyway..............but yeah, if you have decent jump leads, hook the other car up & bang some decent revs on it for a minute or so (any longer you'll probably cook your jump leads) to get some juice into your battery

reminds me of a caryard who used his camry to jumpstart there iveco
which cooked the cheap jumper leads

li21 · Postby **li21** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:09 pm

AJ wrote:if your battery is cactus, it probably won't start anyway..............but yeah, if you have decent jump leads, hook the other car up & bang some decent revs on it for a minute or so (any longer you'll probably cook your jump leads) to get some juice into your battery

I reckon battery still alive since lights are still coming on.

I think i cooked the leads already .. might try some better qaulity ones:)

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:22 pm

li21 wrote:I think i cooked the leads already .. might try some better qaulity ones:)

cooked is when it smokes

when it smokes stop and remove ASAP before it catches fire

is there anyway you can find out how much voltage is in there?
multimeter or something?

because if its gone too low its not gona charge and your better off getting a new battery

li21 · Postby **li21** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:36 pm

AZNTieN wrote:
li21 wrote:I think i cooked the leads already .. might try some better qaulity ones:)

cooked is when it smokes

when it smokes stop and remove ASAP before it catches fire

is there anyway you can find out how much voltage is in there?
multimeter or something?

because if its gone too low its not gona charge and your better off getting a new battery

i dont have a multimeter

ill try one more jumpstart tomrrow.

This would be the 4th battery in last 3 years. wonder whats causing them to fail.

And these vented or acid free battereis anrent cheap

"

AJ · Postby AJ » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:54 pm

get your alternator tested li21.............it might be the culprit :wink:

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:03 pm

what sorta battery are you buy? as in brand and price

i bought my supercharge gold for around $120

if you drop into Autobarn or most automotive stores they can do a test for you apparently they can tell you whether or not you need a new alternator or battery etc...