wrong MX5 Battery from Battery World? (acid based?)

[TieNN89]

well, yes...........if you're one of those who "must have" the supposedly superior american version, you'll pay more for the same thing............personally, i buy australian..........at least i think i do.........the truck now has 2 high grunt Battery World batteries in it

Come on people support Australian products (Don't you wanna keep your jobs)

[muzzy66]

When I first bought my previous car (KF Laser Ghia) just over three years ago, it had a 'typical' battery in there.

A couple of weeks after buying it, I got stuck 45 mins from home in a carpark with a dead battery for no apparent reason. Luckilly I was with a group of friends who gave me a hand to clutch-start it which got me home.

Not long later I ordered an Optima D34 and had it installed along with a high end, high current draw sound system.

Just over three years on, and the battery has never let me down. I've run at least two high power amplifiers (three in the last year or two) and have at times spent literally hours tuning in the car at home and on competition days with the engine off.

My entire time it only died on me once, and that was when I got too cocky and left the system running for about 4 hours with the ignition on reds.

Several times I've accidentally left my head lights / interior lights on overnight (probably 10 hours +) and the next morning it cranked straight over without a hint of hessitation.

At around $499rrp it's NOT a cheap battery, but given the highly taxing nature of it's use it's left me extremely impressed with it's perofrmance over the years. I'm now selling the Laser, and the battery has been moved into my parents EL Fairmont where it will hopefully serve another 3 years or more.

A dead battery has to be one of the biggest inconviences as far as car problems go, because it can pop up practically anytime out of nowhere, or from the simplest mistake (like leaving parking lights on overnight).

I paid jsut over $350 for the Optima and if the D51 is small enough to fit in the MX-5, I'll be buying one of those in the next couple of weeks.

My installer also previously used a D34 in comparably high powered system, which supposedly had lasted him for about 9 years before he eventually replaced it for a pair of Scoche ones.

In comparison, standard type batteries have typically lasted me for 2 years at a time and even then didn't perform stunningly reliably.

I have absolutely no problems recommending optima from my experiences.

[muzzy66]

P.s.

Does anyone know the dimensions of the original Panasonic battery? I'm trying to work out if I can fit a D51 in the 5 without dramas but am having trouble finding the standard battery dimensions.

[Steampunk]

H = 16cm
L = 23.5cm
W = 12.5cm

[Alex]

good practice to keep some jump leads in the boot as well, although I have never needed them for my car I have helped out others in carparks 2 times now and hope the karma will come back to me sometime

they fit perfectly in the NB boot as well, just wrap the leads around the spare tyre and place the clamps inside a pair of work gloves (also good to keep since hands near a hot engine don't go to well) to stop them rattling

[muzzy66]

H = 16cm
L = 23.5cm
W = 12.5cm

Cheers!

[Benny]

Personally, I'll stick to the standard battery.
I know of many that have lasted 15 years!

My SP is now over 6 years old, and still has the oringinal battery.
It's parked outside every night, with the alarm on, and I have flattened the battery a few times, and after a clutch start, it has always re-charged quickly and has lasted and performed very well.

[cruiser]

Confession: I made the mistake of letting the bozo at the battery shop talk me into buying a federal. Now I know why this was a mistake:

1) It's a crappy old lead acid battery so it will only last 3-4 years vs my 2 Mazda batteries both lasted 8 years!
2) The battery tray is now badly rusted after 1 year.
3) Potential safety issue with battery fumes in the boot.
4) Who cares if it's got more amps? The mazda batteries never had a problem starting the car so who needs more amps.

I'm off to the shop to get a sealed AGM type battery like the original.

[wun911]

Weight of stock panasonic battery fron NB8B is 9.514 kg
Dimensions of stock panasonic battery (cm) is W12.5 H16.0 L 23.5

I got an odosy battery havent had it long so I cant say how long it will last but its smaller so I kinda expect a short life compared to oem.
old panasonic is now 9 years old was still good when i replaced it with odosy to save weight...

If anyone wants a GB on a porsche battery Im in

[TieNN89]

If anyone wants a GB on a porsche battery Im in

you really are a worry

[xraytyd]

Go the original. Really expensive, but you wont have a problem with it. You get what you pay for.

[xen]

Any other suggestions on this or just have to go original battery?

I just bought my car, and it failed the rego inspection for having the wrong battery type. It has one that needs to be topped up with water.
Went to supercheap and autobarn they had no idea what I meant when I said I needed a battery for the boot. Century lists a normal battery as the correct battery for a NB MX-5.

[93_Clubman]

Any other suggestions on this or just have to go original battery?

I just bought my car, and it failed the rego inspection for having the wrong battery type. It has one that needs to be topped up with water.
Went to supercheap and autobarn they had no idea what I meant when I said I needed a battery for the boot. Century lists a normal battery as the correct battery for a NB MX-5.

try the battery factory 141 newcastle st fyshwick (02 6280 6511) - that's where I bought my last mx5 battery, an ac delco (or Delkor 22NF-330D), back in '02. it was slightly taller & so needed a longer securing rod which i already happened to have. you need a battery that's sealed apart from two vent tubes which the two into one rubber pipe in your boot fits to allowing fumes to vent outside through the boot floor hole. alternatively you can go for one of the fully sealed type batteries, but they are more expensive - depends on your requirements & constraints.

[mx52nv]

Confession: I made the mistake of letting the bozo at the battery shop talk me into buying a federal. Now I know why this was a mistake:

1) It's a crappy old lead acid battery so it will only last 3-4 years vs my 2 Mazda batteries both lasted 8 years!
2) The battery tray is now badly rusted after 1 year.
3) Potential safety issue with battery fumes in the boot.
4) Who cares if it's got more amps? The mazda batteries never had a problem starting the car so who needs more amps.

I'm off to the shop to get a sealed AGM type battery like the original.

Hi there cruiser,
I think you might have bought the wrong Federal battery?
It needs to be model no. 8AMUIR which looks like this (stolen from Mania's website ):

Vents for OEM tubes can be connected too.
Regards,
Les

[ma64rk]

a calcium battery or gel battery is highly recommended for NA/NB MX5's, due to the fact it's mounted in the boot, i'd say you'd be better to change it over, sounds like it has a normal acid battery in it, which is probably venting nasty gases into the boot space & the potential to leak acid as well, giving you rust problems

Aj, is a calcium battery a viable option? Do they not vent gasses? I'm looking at this as a replacement to the OEM from my 2001 that has finally passed away:
SuperCharge Gold MF40B20DF
The SuperCharge Gold battery continues to lead in performance and quality. The Gold is powered by Expanded Calcium Grid Technology (EXG) delivering more power and longer useful life compared to a conventional battery. With superior technology, the Gold boasts of exceptional cranking & reserve capacity, proven product reliability and the longest warranty coverage in the market today - as much as 36 Month Warranty!

Anyone know the pro's and con's?
What's an oem battery worth?

Interested to hear thoughts and opinions...