Hi, I can’t see the post I tried last night - so here goes again!
My battery has recently died on me (not used the car for several weeks - and now only taking charge very slowly).
I’ve enquired about a new ‘genuine MAZDA’ replacement - and it costs £125! Apparently there is a venting system on top of each cell to ensure no vapours enter the car.
Has anyone had experience with buying an ‘aftermarket’ battery and whether this has caused any problems? Any views as to whether it’s best to stick with genuine MAZDA batteries (and pay over the odds) or go with a standard aftermarket version?
My original Panasonic battery, gave me 15 years of good service, I killed it by using the wrong charging method. It’s replacement was another Panasonic, yes you pay about twice the price, maybe a little bit more but I reckon you get four or five times the life. All this is irrelevant if you only intend keeping the car for a few years and then move on/upgrade. I’ve had my Mk1 Roadster for over 8 years now and have every intention of using it until my licence can’t be renewed anymore
I got a replacement battery from Mazda about ten years ago when they were fitting larger capacity wet batteries (with proper venting tubes) as standard, to replace the Panasonic AGM batteries. Still going strong. Touchwood.
I have allways had until 7 days ago a Trickle Battery Charger. Unfortunately I never new when the battery was fully charged or not and was I overcharging it. As my car, although it is taxed and insured for the whole year, does not get as many runs out in winter as it does in the Sping, Summer and Autumn the battery is not getting charged by using the car. As a result of the security alarm being set all the time it is not in use I have had times when the car would not start due to a discharged battery. So ten days ago I decided to buy a CTEK XS 3600 battery charger, that if the makers “blurb” is to be believed, is very good. You can if you wish fix the leads permanently to the battery and just connect the charger to the socket on the other end and plug it into the mains electric and it will charge the battery up and it tells you when it is fully charged. You can leave it all connected up for as long as you like as the charger won’t overcharge the battery. I think it is a great idea, the only drawback is they are a bit pricey but in my opinion well worth it. Check out the website below. Highlight the whole address and right click on it then click “Go to web address” from the menu. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CTEK-MULTI-XS3600-12v-Battery-Charger-Car-Motorbike_W0QQitemZ160301446916QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item160301446916&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Cant recommend the mx5 parts Westco battery. Bought a new one two years ago exactly and its failing to hold its charge. Will becontacting mx5 parts to see if they will replace.
I have just changed mine. It was fitted with a standard lead/acid battery when I bought it just over 2 years ago. It had no vent tube fitted but does not seem to have harmed the car. I did toy with the idea of a Wesco dry battery but phoned my local motor factor and asked them to supply a battery for an MX-5. When they delivered it I was pleased to see that it had an elbow fitting in the side of the battery for the fitting of a vent tube (similar to motorbike batteries). As there is a vent adaptor in the boot of my Roadster for the original battery I assume it was simple to link the two with a bit of hose.
The battery code number was a 005, and cost £44.00
