Battery compartment

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
2

Hi Folks.

My first job for my MX5 project is to weld in a new battery compartment as mine has completely dissolved away (Just side walls left)

However I have no idea how it should look. I have a Mk2.5 2003 car- does anyone have some pictures of the compartment which gives an idea of depth and size and also how the battery is then fixed firmly?

I would like the end result to look original if I can so would like to use the stock battery fixment

tips from anyone who has done this work before would be welcome

 

James

3

This is all it is

ie. no actual compartment, a flat piece of the floor, bounded by a bolt down bracket and a plastic tray.

4

Mk2 drops down I think I have some pictures 

5

Mk2 drops down I think I have some pictures 

https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst96812_Mystery-pipe-in-battery-compartment.aspx

6

MK2 battery held differently to a MK1.

There is a recessed box compartment. Unlike the MK1 where the battery sits on the boot floor, the MK2 battery is securely held in its box so usually no problems. Bad luck that the battery seems to have fractured and caused your damage.

Will be hard to do a good repair but the best I can suggest is to cut a box from another MK2 car and weld it in to yours. I would probably cut the existing sides away and weld the entire box in place.         

7

I hadn’t thought of cutting one out of an old mx5. I’ve got some .9mm steel but it’s not a simple shape so that might be a better plan. Just need to know where I can find breaking mx5s in West Berkshire

8

 

Probably not a fracture, just the use of an unvented battery does this

9

Reading around the forums I hear that a blocked drain or poor boot seal can end up filling the battery compartment with water too. With the exhaust running under all this it is a perfect corrosion hot spot!
Thanks everyone. Helpful stuff
James