I’ve just had to buy a replacement battery, as my old one leaked all over the boot (ruining a large collection of my clothes in the process!) I got whatever battery Halfords gave me as I was in urgent need of a car that worked the next day, but am now beginning to think I made a mistake, as since I’ve fitted it, I’ve had all sorts of electrical problems (fuses blowing, windows, heater and wipers not working at random times, idle speed erratic, sometimes causing stalls) and was wondering if using a naff battery was the cause. I noticed that Halfords do 2 ratings of battery, a regular one (that I got) and a “High Power” one. Should I have got this one to go with my Eunos High Power Engine? Have I not got the power?
Thanks Geoff, I assumed it was something to do with the power supply but couldn’t be sure what caused it. I assume you posted pictures of horror stories, I couldn’t see them because for some reason they don’t show up on my work computer (will try again when I get home though). Am seriously considering getting a WestCo battery, but it a quick scan of the forums suggests that they’re not without their horror stories either. Guess no solution is 100% flawless!
nacoombs, is yours an MX5 or a Eunos? I’m not sure if that makes any difference (no doubt someone will put me right soon!) but when I got a new engine put in mine, I was advised to get a high power engine, I was just wondering if it was a similar situation with batteries.
Will try cleaning the connectors, and if that doesn’t work, my old friend Mr Credit Card!
Halfords batteries are made by Yuasa, one of the largest manufacturers of btteries worldwide. They are not “El Cheapo”. Without seeing the pictures linked (I cannot); I assume they show a rotten battery tray or similar, the problem is when people try and stuff a battery not intended for a MX5, don’t bother venting it, don’t bother with a battery tray, and don’t bother even claming it. They’re idiots, deserving of all they get. Use either a gel mat Panasonic battery, or, if you must, a wet cell battery, with the correct fitting kit from Mazda.
The term “Halfrauds” is a little insulting really; when I go down to my local motor factors, all he stocks is cheap tools, guaranteed to go ping at the first sign. Most Halfords tools, on the other hand, have a lifetime warranty, and a decent price. A certain MX5 specialist swears by their tools, having given up Britool etc ages ago because of their worthless warranties. Their oil is fine as well. Bulbs; usually Phillips or Osram, so nothing wrong with those. Good prices on tents even. I’d quite happily endorse Halfords.
Just going on my personal experiences of a few years ago, ill informed staff and a pile of cheap junk in the store. The only exception that I remeber is a decent range of tools. There were also local horror stories about the free fitting of radios by untrained staff [told to me directly by those who suffered]…Try the shop in Thetford, it’s a joke—
Ah, mine is an MX5. Thanks Geoff, felt a bit chastised for buying a halfords battery! Their staff may on the whole be useless (they sold me a numberplate without a gap in the middle, which I believe is illegal), but I do trust their products.
If you do think the battery is at fault, surely you could take it back and get a refund? Worth a try, at least.
Just to keep the Halfrauds argument running a little longer…
A long time ago I owned a Sierra. At that time Halfords were running their own servicing deals. I booked by 3 year old car in to be serviced and waited for the call to say that it was done. I was called in the late afternoon and arrived to pick up my car. (Preston Branch). The car hade done 157 miles more than when I left it and was now pulling violently to the nearside. upon inspection there was kink on the n/s rim. I brought this up with the manager and he said that the car had arrived in that state. I took the battle to the head office and was also given the brush off. From that day on, I have only shopped in that store when I have had to do so. I can’t comment on the tool quality, but what I would say is that in my mind they are the Ratners of the automotive world.
I don’t think the battery is at fault, I think that for whatever reason it’s not delivering enough power to the electrical systems, and my natural assumption was that it was because the battery didn’t have enough juice. If I’ve brought the wrong battery they’ll just laugh at me.
For the record, I have no problem with Halfords, had no problems when they fitted my new stereo. That said, I wouldn’t trust them with anything more complicated than that!
And I suppose the independant motor factors offer a superior free radio fitting service. Those owners wanting a radio fitted should expect to pay for skill, but instead, want a bargain radio, including, somehow, professional grade fitting. If they suffered, its because of the moths in their wallet.
Decent tools, decent wheel/tyre packages, decent batteries, decent range of workshop books, decent oil (for the price) etc etc, but the down side is a bad free radio fitting service. The only cheap junk I can recall is the pile of air fresheners and, mysteriously, household bulbs in the pound clearance bin.
Meanwhile, my local independant motor factors does a superb range of Egyptian car radios., and a rack of pearly wot nots with no pricing …
If the boot was wrecked by leaking acid, go around and clean all the earths up. Second comments on terminal connections as well, though loose connectors generally lead to a flattening battery.
The stock Panasonic battery has a rating of 440CCA. Westco is 475CCA. The replacement wet cell battery Mazda used to offer was, I think, 375CCA. The battery listed by Halfords for the MX5 is 330CCA. The specs are all on the website. If the ampage (starup ampage, CCA) is around the above numbers, you should be ok.
Monkeys in a uniform, they know nothing about cars or bikes ,training springs to mind,the tools etc are good but if you have used them and found a member of staff that knows what there talking about, boy are you lucky,at the end of the day it is just a shop???
The fault with your batt ,have you tried disconnecting it and reconnecting it after a min or so,this may solve it,but it does sound like the connections are not tight???
I cleaned the boot pretty thoroughly with Bicarb of Soda, but will try cleaning up the leads with some stuff that my dad has that’s supposed to increase conductivity.
I think the Ampage for the battery I have is around the 330CCA, so if disconnecting it and reconnecting it (tightly!) doesn’t work I’ll be breaking out the credit card and ordering a high Ampage battery direct from Mazda, not taking any chances this time!
My Roadster has a Sealed Lead Acid battery of Japanese origin (imported in 2006). As far as I can tell, it uses the original Mazda vent pipe “stethoscope” and clamp bracketry. The inside of the boot is one of the few areas of the car that has not been resprayed and there is no evidence of acid spillage or corrosion in the area around the battery tray.
The battery appears to be manufactured by GS Battery which I am assuming means GS Yuasa Battery Ltd.
An Update: I got the Westco battery (That has a “Cranking amp” rating of 475) and that still hasn’t solved the problems, window fuse still blows every time I push the button, and wipers/heaters still only work sporadically (although without blowing the fuse.) Any ideas what could be causing this?
I had a fall out with our local Halfords store quite a few years ago. I bought a car battery from them (£80), but when fitting it to my car I noticed it was leaking so I went striaght back to the store with it. Just as I walked through the double doors I spotted a shop assistant, told him the problem who then said could I go out side with it because it was leaking acid and he would get the manager. I waited for 10 mins for the manager to arrive, only for him to look at it and say to me that I’d dropped it causing the leak, I told him I hadn’t dropped it and it was leaking when I bought it from his store. Anyway to cut a long story short I contacted Halfords head office who said they wanted the battery back for inspection and they would look into it. I returned the battery to Halfords and a couple of weekes latter I got a call from head office saying that the battery had been dropped and the casing was damaged, but becuase it had left the store from which it was purchased they would only refund 50% of the value as they could note prove it was me who damaged it and I couldn’t prove it was them. So I ened up with £40 back for a battery I hadn’t used. What happened to the saying the ‘customer is always right’. It took me around 5 years to return to Halfords and I will never buy a car battery from Halfrauds again[:@]
—