Hi I’m living in Spain where my R reg 1997 MK1 MX5 1.9 lives (re-registered onto Spanish plates). The car has been left for several weeks and the battery is now flat, to be honest I have never changed it since buying the car back in 2002, so it does need replacing.
The battery is located in the boot, I can only assume its the gel type. What is the best replacement and does anybody know if I can get one either shipped over to Spain or purchase over here?
This is pretty urgent as i am going back to Spain next week and need the car when over there.
just buy an 063 normal battery for a corsa it will be fine !
The gel batteries are either way too expensive (panasonic ) or dont last much more than the warrenty (westco) . You will be able to source one locally they fit corsas saxos pugs etc cost in the uk £30 or less
Use of a “wet” battery is not recommended, the charateristics of my rear suspension are such that it joggled my wet battery about enough to cause some acid to exit passed the filler plugs, not nice. My battery supplier only had one type of sealed battery in stock when I returned to him and that was a traction battery for an invalid chair, but needs must when the devil drives, so I fitted that. That was 4 or 5 years ago and its still doing fine, sorry cannot remember the type, and anyway its not really a recommended fitting either, and I did have to modify the terminals, and the clamp, but for a “dry” battery it was cheap about £40 (trade) as I remember.
I have read somewhere that using a wet battery will cause corrosion in the boot as the suspension jumps the battery too much and the acid spills out into the boot area. As the roads I use in Spain are very basic I don’t really want to take the chance. I have seen the Westco battery advertised on the MX5 Parts website but need to get it over to Spain by 14 June.
Also the car does stay stationary for several week at a time so would it be best to take it out of the car when not in use?
I don’t think it has anything to do with the suspension jiggling the battery about, more that running a battery low on water, or overcharging causes acidic fumes to be released into an unventilated space. It could of course be caused by not having the battery secured properly, then fluid will spill out. Here’s a pic of what “could” happen
As to storage, if you have access to a power point, then get a Ctek or similar charger, these can be left attached all the time the car isn’t in use. Otherwise, maybe install a battery isolating switch.
If you intend to keep the car a new Panasonic battery is the best move, my original lasted 11/12 years. I wouldn’t put any sort of wet or unvented battery n my '5
Wet batteries are not recommended because of the distinct possiblilty of spillage and corrosion as well as dangerous, flammable fumes inside the car. Having said that the majority of MX5s I come across have them fitted and they seem to work fine as long as the battery is properly clamped down and you are not track racing :-) Like anything else, if it is fitted properly and checked regularly, it will likely be your easiest/cheapest choice. Bought a wet 063 off ebay, delivered with a 4 year guarantee for £34. Fitted to girlfriends, lowered Eunos and no problems - just check the clamps are tight on a regular basis and look for wetness/white dust in the boot, indicating a leak.
Many threads on MX5 batteries but by far the best is the original panasonic gel sort, bought with an owners club discount from a dealer. Either that or the much cheap wet sort(063 type). Westco put out more power than the panasonic and also gel type but way too many comments on burn bright but short life and expensive now - I wouldn’t fit a Westco.
Many thanks to all. I am a bit worried about the wet battery as I am often driving the car on dirt tracks with lots of pot holes, so need to be very careful about how its secured. Problem is I am in the UK at present but the car is in Spain, and I cannot remember how the battery is secured in the boot. I can’t even remember the last time I actually looked at the battery.
I will definitely get the charger and leave it in Spain
been running mine for 6 months took it out this week to check absolutely no corrosion or white deposits . most modern batteries dont have fill points anymor mine you can tip upside down and it does not leak . I got it from euro car parts.
I removed the plastic tray and used a bit of rubber car mat to put under the battery instead then put a swan neck in the u bolt to clear the side of the battery and folfed the right angle clamp over the top mount flat in a vice and birmingham screwdrivered it down. It fits perfectly very secure and it gets driven daily on track.
