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M-m

New battery time...

General chat on all things Mx/Roadster
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Ricolas
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Re: New battery time...

Postby Ricolas » Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:38 am

Hm. Sounds like they make you really work for it. Almost worth going on their mailing list just in case. Although, I get enough spam emails as it is...
Ricolas
UK registered MX5 1991 Mariner Blue pretty much all original!

Beckenham, Kent
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Ricolas
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Re: New battery time...

Postby Ricolas » Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:39 am

Co-incidentally, the new battery seems to have made the car somewhat perkier which is good. I could of course be imagining this.
Ricolas
UK registered MX5 1991 Mariner Blue pretty much all original!

Beckenham, Kent
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IanParsons
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Re: New battery time...

Postby IanParsons » Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:55 am

Perhaps the new battery is not causing the alternator to work so hard, they do absorb quite a bit of power, or perhaps a better spark as the voltage is higher.
1998 NB 1.8i
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Ricolas
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Re: New battery time...

Postby Ricolas » Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:25 pm

That was I was thinking, but I was a little unsure about whether to put it forwards as a theory!
Ricolas
UK registered MX5 1991 Mariner Blue pretty much all original!

Beckenham, Kent
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binarypunk
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Re: New battery time...

Postby binarypunk » Sat Feb 08, 2014 2:02 pm

Oh definitely...mine was the same - a duff battery saps a lot of juice and the alternator drags on the engine.
Jon - UK Mk1 1.6 1993 Classic Red

Check out my MX5 mods and tools:
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Need spares? Go to Autolink!
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rooflessdriver
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Re: New battery time...

Postby rooflessdriver » Sat Feb 08, 2014 7:49 pm

Just to add to the comments about Westco battery. I have 3 dead ones in my garage.
I bought a silver line one from Halfords in Nov and seemed to be good.
However, this afternoon I couldn't get the car out of the garage as it was completely dead, after not driving the car for 6 weeks.

Dropped it off at Halfords and they tested it, saying it's completely drained.
Left it with them on charge over night to see if it holds or they will replace, as it's got a 5yr warranty.
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binarypunk
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Re: New battery time...

Postby binarypunk » Sat Feb 08, 2014 9:05 pm

The problem with batteries on these cars is
a) they have an abnormally high dark current for some reason I can't fathom
b) they don't get used much, so they drain a lot between uses (deep-cycling) which most standard batteries don't like - standard lead-acid like it least (your halfords, or varta, or even 'absorbed glass mat' which is just a lead-acid with a bit of fibreglass in it to stop sloshing
c) it is in the boot, so the designers made it as small as possible...meaning it has less battery capacity than most cars of comparable engine capacity, adding to the deep-cycling problem...and a funny shape and polarity...meaning that for most battery manufacturers it's not economically viable to make so prices are high
Jon - UK Mk1 1.6 1993 Classic Red

Check out my MX5 mods and tools:
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Lazza
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Re: New battery time...

Postby Lazza » Sat Feb 08, 2014 9:32 pm

Mine has been used twice since Christmas, mainly due to a combination of work, weather and the thing not starting.
It still turns over perfectly though and so far I'm very happy with my Bosch battery.
Lazza

2001 Mk2.5 MX5 1.8 Sport
Hard Dog Deuce
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Yolo
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Re: New battery time...

Postby Yolo » Sat Feb 08, 2014 9:48 pm

Been looking at info on batteries here and everywhere else I can find. It's a bit of a minefield and it seems that the Mk 1 needs to be very specific dimensions which are hard to find. The one that died on me was a 014 battery that I have been told belongs in a mini (classic I think) but fitted in the tray perfectly though didn't have any vent holes. The other pain is the polarity being correct most are the other way round.... Guess I am just going to have to stump up for the lion one recommended here.
Before I go for it I saw a couple that would do but won't fit in the tray, is the tray necessary?
Mk 1 Eunos 1.6 Silver
Meister Suspension - Mk2.5 leather seats - IL Motorsport Bushes - 1.8 brake upgrade
Getting there slowly
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4699
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binarypunk
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Re: New battery time...

Postby binarypunk » Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:11 pm

Yolo wrote: is the tray necessary?


Very. The tray and the clamp can be changed quite cheaply to accommodate a different battery (063 is a common choice) but that doesn't help with the polarity. Only the Panasonic, the Westco and the Lion are perfect fits that I've heard of.
Jon - UK Mk1 1.6 1993 Classic Red

Check out my MX5 mods and tools:
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Yolo
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Re: New battery time...

Postby Yolo » Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:39 pm

Jon I am pretty sure you are right. I do have a 049 battery that is the right polarity but mms to deep for the tray and a good inch taller which brings it a bit closer to the body than I would like.... So it's a no go just going to have to stump up me thinks.....
Mk 1 Eunos 1.6 Silver
Meister Suspension - Mk2.5 leather seats - IL Motorsport Bushes - 1.8 brake upgrade
Getting there slowly
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4699
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stevehh
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Re: New battery time...

Postby stevehh » Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:46 pm

I've just fitted the lion battery. It's a perfect fit. Unbolt the original Panasonic and replace, start car. Simple.

Steve
2004 Mx5 Sport
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Yolo
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Re: New battery time...

Postby Yolo » Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:00 am

stevehh wrote:I've just fitted the lion battery. It's a perfect fit. Unbolt the original Panasonic and replace, start car. Simple.

Steve


Was just looking at it online and the terminals also seem to be the wrong way round? Do you just mount it backwards?
Mk 1 Eunos 1.6 Silver
Meister Suspension - Mk2.5 leather seats - IL Motorsport Bushes - 1.8 brake upgrade
Getting there slowly
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4699
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Yolo
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Re: New battery time...

Postby Yolo » Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:23 am

:think: Saw this one at halfords will fit tray and terminals right way round but is higher, any thoughts?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65762#tab1
Mk 1 Eunos 1.6 Silver
Meister Suspension - Mk2.5 leather seats - IL Motorsport Bushes - 1.8 brake upgrade
Getting there slowly
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4699
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binarypunk
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Re: New battery time...

Postby binarypunk » Sun Feb 09, 2014 2:32 am

It will be your current battery that's the wrong way round... :-) As Steve says, the dimensions and polarity are all a perfect match for the original Panasonic battery...

The wrong height means you need a different clamp bolt...and possibly a different clamp too depending if the casing is the right dimensions at the top. However, if someone has already crammed the wrong size battery in there they might already have been changed. Also if, like mine, you have the carpet cover it might not fit properly.
Jon - UK Mk1 1.6 1993 Classic Red

Check out my MX5 mods and tools:
http://www.binarypunk.co.uk
Need spares? Go to Autolink!
http://www.autolinkuk.co.uk/

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