I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Battery replacement.
Good morning,
I took my 2019 2.0 MX5 for servicing a couple of weeks ago to Western Mazda. One of the things I reported is that I noticed that the i-stop function wasn’t working for the last few days. They mentioned that that could be related with the battery charge.
And indeed, they recharged the battery overnight and when plugged back in, the i-stop function was back to live. They mentioned that the battery wasn’t in the best condition but after their tests it seems like the health of it was “good”. So, they keep it.
The problem is that now, after having the car for a few days parked, I started the car with no problems at all but the i-stop function is not working again, so that makes me think that the battery is again low.
I don’t mind to pay have it changed, but what annoys me is to need to take the car again to the workshop for having it changed when I just did it last week and that cost me a few hours off work in the morning since I live in the other side of the city.
Because of that, I was considering to change myself the battery, but about this, I have a few questions I hope you can help me with:
-Do you think a battery replacement is needed at all? In Mazda they mentioned that the battery health was good, but I don’t know what to think since this is happening again. I don’t mind to live without the i-stop function, but I want to avoid the situation to take the car one day and that it won’t start up.
-I bought my car about 11 months ago as a “Mazda Approved Car”, with a year of full warranty, and I paid for an extension for mechanical issue for two years on top of that. Would change the battery for myself or in a different car workshop void the warranty?
-In the case I try to replace it myself, will I lose any electronics setups? I think that happens with most of modern cars.
My own ND does not always have i-stop enabled after starting up.
I was initially concerned about this, but I now leave it to the car to decide when to enable it.
As long as your car starts OK I think you can wait and get the battery checked again next winter.
Excuse the off topic, but I’ve always wanted to go there (Scarborough). I’m way down South.
Sad, but I just went on street view and had a walk around by that LIDL in Scarborough Looks cool
Agree with all the advice above. I have a C-TEK charger if the car isn’t being used that often to keep the battery in good condition. In addition, I have one of these for jump starting if the worst happens, and the good news is that in an ND it fits in the little storage space which is behind the driver’s seat - the one you can access if you move the seat forward and tilt it forward. It definitely works, I’ve started a 3 litre BMW diesel at -7°C with it.
GREPRO Jump Starter Power Pack (up to 6.5L Gas, 4.0L Diesel), 2000A Car Battery Booster Jump Starter and Jump Pack for 12V Vehicles, Motorcycle, Battery Booster with LCD Screen and LED Flashlight
Hello,
I had the same issue and I stop came up on the dash and display on the screen. I have a 2019 RF 2.0 as well and only done about 18500 miles in it. Thinking the car was ok and battery can’t be a problem surely. Called the RAC out and they told me it was wiring and possible bad earth and not the battery. Ended up speaking to Norfolk coordinator Chris who owns a garage in Norwich and also has the knowledge to back up and go against the RAC guy I had
The battery was changed and no issues after running a diagnostic afterwards. Chris told me that the battery would be the issue and should never have doubted him. Spot on and solved the problem. Driving it now for a week after the fix and all’s well again.
Chris is a genius and his garage changed the battery while I waited and got the problem fixed. What a star.
I had similar problem with a completely different brand. Stop/start didn’t work shortly after collection of used car. They charged it, said it was fine. Didn’t work next day. They agreed to replace battery - still working 5 years later. I fear the dealers just try to avoid replacing battery under warranty.
If it’s the original tiny battery, after six years it will have lost a lot of its capacity.
Time for a change.
Think of a fire bucket living outside, filling up over the years with sand blowing on the wind; its water capacity is diminishing.
It can still be emptied quickly, but will there be enough to put out a fire?
Might depend on its use also (lots of short trips?) and whether a charger like a ctek has ever fully charged it? I’m thinking say someone used a ctek every week or two, plus whenever they drove their car it was half decent journeys, and wasn’t 950 years to get a jar of coffee, then 850 yards to buy a pillow type of stuff, it might last a good deal longer?
I see what you’re saying though. My ND1, a summer '18 plate is still on its original battery, touch wood. But once a week (or two, max) I pop it on the ctek and it goes fully charged in an hour or so. Any drives are 15+ miles etc.
I have an Allmeter car battery test meter which works very well.
It only has one minor problem, the leads are a bit short for where my NC and Mazda3 batteries live.
It requires two people; one to read/record the results and another to enable ALL the tests, which include someone inside the car to start it.
So my review gave it only 4* because I’d seen other meters just as good which remember the results and/or have longer leads.
First thing I did when I got the 25AE home, was a condition test on its ten-year-old battery!
It was OK, but I’m now aware it might need a replacement so with the light usage I leave the little Noco on it.
If the 25AE lived outside I’d have put in a new Yuasa.
First thing: Thank you all for your answers. I actually learnt quite a lot with all the new information!
I took the car for a long drive over the weekend and the i-stop was back to work, as some of you mentioned. So it seems like it is safe to keep the battery and most likely have it replaced next March for the next servicing.
My MX5 ND RF is only 10months old. After sitting unused during weekdays, it takes approx at least an hour of driving around town or 10-15miles at motorway speeds before the i-stop start working again. at which point I turn it off
If there are any short journeys to be done, we use the missus’ hybrid thingy car.
Looks cool
