I posted a while back about my battery as it was totally dead after lockdown number 1. I’ve just been searching through on here to see if I can find any info about my latest issue but am resorting to asking instead as I couldn’t find anything.
The car started with a charger pack avk in April and has been mostly fine since. It hasn’t started a couple of times if it has only been used for short drives and no long runs or left over the weekend. Last Winter it was fine, started every day no problem, not sure if I was driving it more as we weren’t experiencing a pandemic at the time. Today it started no problem and I drove to work. After work - totally flat. Now this is very unusual. It has only ever not started when it has been sat for a couple of days at least. I don’t know if the battery needs replacing but am worried it is a bigger issue as it went from fine to not fine between morning and afternoon. Any thoughts gratefully received.
Thanks
Depends on how far you traveled to work, suggest you take it to a local garage and get them to test if it’s charging at the battery and at the alternator. You need a good hours drive or 30 mile run to charge up a battery if it’s really low and then used regularly. I’ve just bought a new battery as during the first lockdown it didn’t get used much. Then after lockdown I took it out for an hours run regularly but the battery still went flat after standing for two days. Now I’ve fitted a isolating switch and turn it off if stood for a long time so no power is drawn from the battery.
Looking back at your last battery woes I suggest at least a battery check, do you know how old the battery is?
If it’s the original then maybe it’s telling you it’s past it’s best. A minimum would be get it tested, check the connections are clean and tight.
If it’s original and let’s say not kept topped up or the car not seen regular use winter will see it off, new battery time.
Yuasa do a decent battery for the NC, around £60-£70 coupled with a maintenance charger especially if it’s seeing little use in the winter months.
The first time it went flat you will have destroyed it, most likely low CCA a lot of batteries that go flat won’t recover the CCA upto it’s original value, like above get it checked not just its voltage.
I recently had a similar problem with my other half’s suzuki swift. 2013 car so I naturally thought the battery had gone bad. I hesitated on buying one as the battery appeared to charge ok and didn’t lose charge when stood in the cold over a three day period. I loosened and tightened up the earth connections to the inner wing and that cured it.
I would check connections and battery voltage before condemning the old battery.
Thanks for your replies everyone. My phone battery died aswell tonight so I’m only just getting to your replies! Will try to address all of your comments as one.
I will get it the car checked out ASAP. Tempted to just phone the AA if it won’t start again, rather than the hubster rescuing me. They could maybe then explore what’s going on. This is taking me right back to our first car days - a red diesel Ford Orion. He never started in the cold and there was many a conversation about the alternator and the battery. I did wonder if the first lockdown may have killed it off my little car battery completely.
Is there a specific type of battery used originally? A way of knowing if it’s the original?
My journey to work isn’t long - only 5 minutes - and the car is never left more than a weekend usually. Only had problems since lockdown.
Car is parked on the road ’ I get garage envy looking on here - so limited for trickle chargers etc.
Thanks again you lovely helpful people. I’ll report back.
Get it checked out first if you need a new battery then order this…
They also have an eBay shop.
If calling the AA they may suggest to have what they supply, they’ll fetch one and fit it for you. My neighbour did this last year and was miffed when I told I could have ordered the same battery for much less, he was in no rush, like he needed ASAP.
If your old battery has Panasonic on it there’s a good chance it’s the original that came with the car, just pop the battery cover off to check. Whilst there check connections or as you say let the AA check it over.
5 minutes with lights and wipers on isn’t enough to charge the battery.
It needs to be checked out and if OK, taken for a bit of a run once a week or so, maybe take the scenic route home.
Being flat for any length of time does a battery no good at all.
Also, if the battery can be topped up, do top it up, with distilled water.
I had similar issues. Killed a battery after one-year (it was the Yuasa recommended above) through discharging too much and not being able to drive it enough to charge it properly. The alternator was fine (had it checked by the AA) and only detected minimal dark current.
It’s an EFB battery so designed for deeper discharging and recovery than a traditional battery. I also bought a solar trickle charger (AA one). The battery is still going after a year and has shown no signs of degradation like the previous one did.
Similar thing happened to me after I charged up the battery on my motorcycle after a long period not using it and it not being charged, it started ok so later on I started it again fine and went for a 12 mile ride stopped for 20 mins wouldn’t start again nothing! got a jump start rode home and got the battery tested, dead as a dodo! It seems they can have one last gasp.
Batteries die very suddenly. Lead-acid ones really don’t like being fully discharged, or regularly discharged below 50% capacity. In typical use they never really get below 75% which is how they can last for years.
I don’t think it’s been cold enough yet, but if left flat at this time of year they can freeze which will finish it off anyway.
If I hadn’t seen the charging warning light on when I last used it, I’d start with a new battery.
A £10 multimeter will tell you if the charging voltage is OK, once you’ve got it running.
Maybe I missed it, or the clue is on your user name, but if you don’t have a stop start car, you don’t need a fancy (expensive) battery. Start Stop places far more strain on a battery than a regular car - so if yours is an 08, get the known name brand that fits. Should be around £50 or so. - Check Eurocarparts - their discount codes change every few days and you sometimes get really good prices on batteries.
The clue in the name being the 08? Stop start car?? Sorry if I’m asking an obvious question! As in a stop start button?? Mine has a bog standard key which I much prefer over a button - if that’s what you mean! Haven’t done anything with it yet as we took delivery of our a new big car at the weekend and have been focusing all our attentions on that instead. Bad MX-5 owner! Will get to it as the sun is out today and I would really like to take her for a drive, knowing that if I stop I can actually get going again.
Car fitted with an electronically controlled automatic engine stop and start feature designed to stop the engine, save fuel and reduce emissions, when stopping at lights, queueing, whatever.
I am not sure when this was first fitted to the MX5, but it was long after the 2008 model - which I am guessing you have?
On stop start cars, the battery obviously has a lot more high current draws and then also needs to rapid charge ready for the next stop. Therefore batteries in those cars need ‘fancier’ batteries.
Oh yeah. Duh. Our big car has one. Most of our other cars have had too. Yeah mine is an 08 plate hard top and just does what it should do with no fancy pantsy business. Although it does have the most amazing heated leather seats.
Will try to address all of your comments as one.
Haven’t done anything with it yet as we took delivery of our a new big car at the weekend and have been focusing all our attentions on that instead. Bad MX-5 owner! Will get to it as the sun is out today and I would really like to take her for a drive, knowing that if I stop I can actually get going again.