Hi everyone!
First question on this forum - Model of MX-5 is: 25th anniversary edition MK3, just got it.
Looking for technical help or recommendations on: battery charger - if it is Lithium-ion I probably need a special charger, right?
Hi everyone!
First question on this forum - Model of MX-5 is: 25th anniversary edition MK3, just got it.
Looking for technical help or recommendations on: battery charger - if it is Lithium-ion I probably need a special charger, right?
I think you’ll find it’s a LION brand battery, not a Li-ion battery. Happy to be proved wrong. Lion is just your standard budget lead acid battery so a standard battery charger or ctek should work just fine on the correct setting.
He he… thanks!
yeah, LION, word-play, cute. Oh dear, guess better safe than sorry eh…
Hope you’re enjoying your new car!
Please get rid of that Lion battery before winter!
Lion batteries are so unreliable that my local branch of Euro Car Parts just swaps them no questions asked if a customer walks in with one.
I had trouble with one when I bought one for a different car as a cheap replacement, and whenever Lion batteries come up in a car conversation the word that is repeated is: Avoid!
This would be a good replacement when they’re back in stock:
The Yuasa Silver YBX5053 is in stock and has a 4 year guarantee, not 3. Only another £8. Or see the Varta Blue B32 (also 4 years) - I habitually order Varta Blue from Tayna for replacing original batteries. Never subsequently replaced them and don’t expect to, rarely keep cars past 12/13 years total.
If you prefer Yuasa, just get the Silver. Charge with a smart charger before installing to give it a good start (ho ho).
I replaced the MX-5 battery at 6 years of age on a precautionary basis - £50 or so is better than waiting for batteries to die at at inconvenient time and place! I’ve noticed they die very suddenly these days - thin plates I think, for performance reasons, and when they crack it’s all over.
Lead-acid batteries can last a long time if not allowed to go flat without being recharged soon after. ‘Calcium’ batteries don’t last long if overcharged, so a smart charger (most of them now) is a very good idea to keep the battery charged if the car is left standing for more than a week or two, and also to avoid overcharging which the old style chargers used to do - I’ve just thrown one out that I must have bought in about 1975!.
I think the silver one is the one I bought, actually. I didn’t realise Tanya did different Yousa batteries for the NC.
Thanks guys, just ordered a YBX5053. No sense in faffing around with cheap batteries - they can leave you stranded wondering what you were thinking with false economies.