Sluggish engine cranking problem

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Sep 15, 2017 5:22 pm

Check/change the battery terminals too.

Mine had a slow crank and intermittent no-start issue that was simply the factory battery terminals had stretched over the years and could no longer clamp the battery correctly.

Quick fix is to just use some thin sheet metal to pad it out.
Or just cut off he old terminal and put a new one on (what I did)

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Sep 15, 2017 8:22 pm

I understand the Panasonic is still available. Insofar as Mazda dropping the AGM it was probably related to cost because the battery was amazing for long life. Plenty of guys are putting non Agm batteries for the same reason- cheaper not better and many buyers what not know the difference anyway.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Fri Sep 15, 2017 8:52 pm

With all this talk, I looked closer at my battery today, and looks like it is the original! So maybe that's why mine's been cranking slowly too! Something to keep an eye on ...

Edit: I'd already upgraded my battery connections not long after buying the SE in exactly the same manner as hks_kansei mentioned in his post (thin piece of metal) :lol:

The Zork · Postby **The Zork** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 5:16 pm

You blokes are GENIOUS........GENIOUS.
You saved me $410 for a good AGM battery and $350 for a EOM starter motor. And who knows what?
Today I disconnected the batter terminals and sanded the terminals and terminal rings until they were bright and shiny. Re connectd and tightened the bolts,,, tight.

Turned the key to hear the fuel pump for a few seconds and then turned the key to start. Crank, crank, START. I let it run for 15 minutes.

It used to be crank, crank, crank, crank, ccrraannkk, cccrrraaannnkkk, ccccrrrraaaannnnkkkk, ssttaarrt. Sometimes a flat battery or flooded engine.

I started the engine five times and all good. Volt meter aftr 5 starts read 13.3v. BRILLIANT.

YOU BLOKES ARE GENIOUS