Battery Recommendations

[KevGoat]

The last 2 editions of the RACV magazine openly acknowledge that the average batt life is 3 years

Always baffled me that most batteries in new cars, not just MX5's, will usually last at least 6-10 years, but as soon as the original battery dies and are replaced, you are replacing them every 2-3 years What's so different in the originals? Even buying what appears to be exactly the same battery usually doesn't return the same lifespan.

[droo]

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online ... 8931#Cross

i've had this for 2 years in mine. Completely sealed with no worries on ventilation, the terminals have holes so I used the battery connector bolt holes to connect, it's lighter then standard issue and fits perfectly in the stock battery compartment in my NA8.

Get it when supercheap have a 20% off day and it's just over $100.

Incidentally, i've used a hi-amp battery strap from battery earth to the chassis in the boot as well as a strap from the chassis to the engine, it makes a very noticeable difference to cranking speed (old or new battery irregardless), as the standard strap from the chassis to engine (near the passenger side of the forward of the bell housing) is pretty naffy being exposed to grime and after 20 years, isn't exactly making great contact with each surface.

[Mr Morlock]

Kevgoat raises a valid point and one that many of us have questioned. Aftermarket cheapo batteries are definitely built with planned obsolescence and the 2 and 3yr batteries die pretty much on schedule. The dearer AGM quality batt was more cost effective- you cannot grumble with Mazda using a batt that lasted a user > 10 years.

[KevGoat]

Kevgoat raises a valid point and one that many of us have questioned. Aftermarket cheapo batteries are definitely built with planned obsolescence and the 2 and 3yr batteries die pretty much on schedule. The dearer AGM quality batt was more cost effective- you cannot grumble with Mazda using a batt that lasted a user > 10 years.

Question though .. do even the replacement AGM's last as well as the OEM?

[93_Clubman]

Replaced my '89 NA6 original Panasonic around 2002 with an appropriate aftermarket battery & sold the car in 2004. My '93 NA8 had its original Panasonic replaced with another Panasonic in 2000 for $300 - replaced the second Panasonic last year, again with an appropriate aftermarket battery. Of course it remains to be seen how long a recently produced Panasonic will last - so can be worthwhile if you're keeping the vehicle or the battery for the longterm, but not necessarily cost effective these days where vehicle ownership seems shorter. How often do we hear a vehicle is a 'Keeper' only to see it moved on for another 'Keeper'. Nothing wrong with this, but it needs to be factored in to the discussion.

[manga_blue]

Kevgoat raises a valid point and one that many of us have questioned. Aftermarket cheapo batteries are definitely built with planned obsolescence and the 2 and 3yr batteries die pretty much on schedule. The dearer AGM quality batt was more cost effective- you cannot grumble with Mazda using a batt that lasted a user > 10 years.

Question though .. do even the replacement AGM's last as well as the OEM?

It's more a question of frequency of use. All cars nowadays require a "stay-alive" charge for the ECU (and maybe alarms, audio, etc) so there's a constant small drain on the battery. When charge drops below 80% sulfation occurs, causing degradation and ultimately failure of the battery. New cars tend to be daily drivers and have their charge maintained above the 80% level. Older cars are often 2nd cars and not dríven so much and they may also have charging and electrical leakage problems - so they're much more likely to suffer from sulfation.

[fastfreddygassit]

Aftermarket cheapo batteries are definitely built with planned obsolescence and the 2 and 3yr batteries die pretty much on schedule.

I take it this is only your opinion/poor reasoning and not fact, just as long as we all recognise it as such.
I only mention this as in my previous employment I was a sme and greenbelt in numerous lss (lean6sigma) projects and you become conditioned to question statements that purport to be factual but are actually fallacies. Especially when they become a roadblock to continuous improvement.
Of course you are very welcome to provide evidence to support your statement of "definitely built with planned obsolescence and the 2 and 3yr batteries die pretty much on schedule".
Maybe the quotes from the RACV mag you refer to?

The beauty of this thread is that we have a range of personal experience/feedback on a number of battery options ranging from (super)cheap to FullRiver AGM (which I have used) to Odyssey, Optima and OEM.
Perhaps from this we can separate fact from misconceptions.

[Steampunk]

Aftermarket cheapo batteries are definitely built with planned obsolescence and the 2 and 3yr batteries die pretty much on schedule.

I take it this is only your opinion/poor reasoning and not fact, just as long as we all recognise it as such.

Morlock you are a broken record, recorded by a 12 year-old.

Old enough to have some semblance of validity, but not mature enough to accept what is cold-hard fact.

Bigdog mentioned his "cheapo" battery has gone strong 6years plus, mine in my old MX-5 almost as long, current one in Pulsar is close to 2.5 years and cranks like first day installation.

Now if you paid attention to the above sentence, explain to me why my Odyssey lasted 1.5 years and cost me around $400, and convince us as to why we should spend more than double for a battery that can still fail within a few years?

Keep in mind that the cheapo has a 3 years warranty so even IF it fails you can get another one, and the Odyssey only had a 1 year warranty.

Also, please enlighten us with YOUR FIRST HAND experience with cheapo and expensive batteries. Try to keep references within the last couple of centuries please, nothing steam-powered or involving Tesla coils ok?

I usually ignore your comments because you are SSDD (same sh#t different day) and it's pretty much like talking to a brick wall, but I currently have my keyboard warrior hat on.

[MrRevhead]

Possible prize for next dodgy day:

[mrpham]

I picked up a AC Delco battery today for $71.50. It's the equivalent to the Supercharge MF43, same dimensions and specs.

It's definitely a calcium battery because it has it written in big letters, and it has a vent hole.

Part no. 22NF-330D

[Aussie Stig]

I picked up a AC Delco battery today for $71.50. It's the equivalent to the Supercharge MF43, same dimensions and specs.

It's definitely a calcium battery because it has it written in big letters, and it has a vent hole.

Part no. 22NF-330D

I have just been quoted $100 in Perth, Challenge Batteries, it is the best option so far. No maintenance and 2yrs warrantee, I can live with that. RACWA was way in excess of $200

[wun911]

I had the oem battery for about 8 or so years was still good but I was obsessed with wait.
I've had a 7 kg odyssey battery for about three years or so, it's still good, was easy to fit in stock battery holder.
When this one dies I will move to something lighter like some AAAs

[Steampunk]

When this one dies I will move to something lighter like some AAAs

Shame, shame, shame.
You're really losing the plot now.
23A battery, 1/4 the size of AAA, and they are 12V.

[Silvia]

Just back from 5 weeks in Greek islands and the 2002 NB didn't start - tried and clicked but no. Jump started easily and seems ok now. Original battery is 11 years old too. Should I be looking at a new battery and would the Full River HC20 from Battery World be the go with some wood work to make up for smaller size?

[Caffeine]

Just back from 5 weeks in Greek islands and the 2002 NB didn't start - tried and clicked but no. Jump started easily and seems ok now. Original battery is 11 years old too. Should I be looking at a new battery and would the Full River HC20 from Battery World be the go with some wood work to make up for smaller size?

That's pretty much exactly the path I went down.

The car is still starting perfectly now, a few months later.