MX-5 Miata Forum - Time to replace the battery? (2024)

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- - Time to replace the battery?(https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=753587)


AlanBDahl18th March 2022 15:11

Time to replace the battery?

The last couple of months I've not driven my '17 ND GT RF and the battery has gone flat. I can charge it but I'm wondering if it's replacement time? I don't drive the car much in the winter so except for the occasional trip to the store on the rare nice day it mostly sits outside under the car cover. In 5 years I've managed to put just 5000 miles on it (the car was inherited when my mother passed away and I have a NA I drive much more often) so it's not like the battery gets charged much.

If it is replacement time is there any reason to go with the Mazda battery? It's an Interstate so I expect I can get it elsewhere for less.


wooo18th March 2022 15:21

Why not keep it on a battery maintainer, at least intermittently?


FlyingWrench18th March 2022 16:17

A full discharge is hard on lead acid batteries, for an older battery especially, but we don't really get to know when a battery will die, its up to you if you want to get every drop of life out of that battery or pre-emptively replace it.

With Toyota the dealer battery is not the same battery installed at a Japanese factory, the combined chemical / electrical hazard and extreme weight is just not worth shipping overseas when car batteries are rather fungible, its unfortunate as the Panasonic batteries that used to come with New Toyota's from Japan were good for 10 years if cared for, I suspect Mazda is the same, where a US "Mazda" battery is just a rebadeged domestic battery, Interstate sounds about right.


Bill W18th March 2022 16:48

11.9 VDC your battery is dead, 12.5 VDC your battery is low.


Bimmer18th March 2022 19:50

Five years? Yes, it's time...

There are better (lighter) options than OEM.


sg4418th March 2022 22:39

In addition to the good info you receive here, this is a good related thread.

Battery dead after 3 years?
https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthrea...hlight=Battery



sg4422nd March 2022 07:54

Does anyone happen to know the weight of the OEM battery in the ND?


wooo22nd March 2022 09:17

Gooogle says 51R = ~29 lbs.

Which is about what I would have guessed from lifting one.


sg4423rd March 2022 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooo(Post 10480193)

Gooogle says 51R = ~29 lbs.

Which is about what I would have guessed from lifting one.

Thanks, wooo! :thumbs:


OVRKLL23rd March 2022 22:48

Here you go, Anti-gravity...a little more $$$, but it can do what normal batteries cannot do and it's lighter. Last between 10-12yrs.

https://www.miataspeed.com/collections/popular/nd


Mad Swede25th March 2022 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by OVRKLL(Post 10481490)

Here you go, Anti-gravity...a little more $$$, but it can do what normal batteries cannot do and it's lighter. Last between 10-12yrs.

https://www.miataspeed.com/collections/popular/nd

A LOT more $$. :eek:

3 1/2 years on my original Mazda battery (replace at the time of pickup as the real original was dead). Still working fine.


R&L's MX525th March 2022 16:37

Original battery still going strong on my 16, but I'll be replacing it this spring.

Think I'll just head down to Nappa and try one of theirs.


Steve60326th March 2022 08:15

Replaced the battery in our 2016 last year and it was what I typically see in a failed battery, good one day and dead the next. Same with the battery in our Wrangler. Both original batteries replaced with some version of a NAPA battery.


wechee26th March 2022 09:25

I still have the original battery in my 2016 LE. No problems yet, but I'm considering changing it out proactively this year. I plan on using the Napa Premium battery which I have used numerous times over the years. They are very reliable and made by East Penn Deka in the USA. Rated as one of the best and I have never had one fail even after 6 or 7 years with regular maintenance.


Mad Swede26th March 2022 09:38

When I had to change out the Sienna battery while on vacation I went to NAPA. I will have to check the "model". Hopefully all of them are good. The OEM one was 6 or 7 years old when it went.


wechee26th March 2022 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Swede(Post 10483359)

When I had to change out the Sienna battery while on vacation I went to NAPA. I will have to check the "model". Hopefully all of them are good. The OEM one was 6 or 7 years old when it went.

I believe that all NAPA batteries are East Penn Deka. They are all good. Price and model usually determines the warranty period and amp. ratings of the battery.


Kilgore30th March 2022 14:29

Original on my '16 as well, but noticing slightly longer cranks. On the tester it read 12.2v at rest (and after a drive) and dropped to 8v when starting, so time for a new one.


R&L's MX55th April 2022 16:42

I noticed ACDelco batteries on sale at Menards for our cars for around $100, probably as good as anything else.


MK4ND5th April 2022 16:55

OP: If/when you do get a new battery, given how much you use the car (as stated in your post), it might be a good idea to get a charger, such as a CTEC MXs 5.0 or the like. I'm at 3 2/3 years on the original battery, 13.7K miles, and I guess it's (the battery) been in the car for longer than that when you think of build/shipping/dealership etc. Over the winter, when the car isn't used much (say 8-10 journeys of 25-30 miles in 4-5 months), about once a week or so (maybe a bit less), I put the charger on the car, which takes about 2 hours to reach the green light max. The car lives outside under a half cover (the one which covers the soft top). Of course if you've got a garage you can leave it perma plugged in on trickle when you ain't using the car. In my case this has worked for me and takes away the stress of the battery and having to drive it the car just to charge it up. I only got the charger this last winter and I wish I'd have gotten it earlier in ownership.


R&L's MX510th April 2022 10:07

Finally got around to changing out my six year old original battery. Although it was still working fine, I figured it was living on borrowed time. Change out was a breeze.

I went with an ACDelco at Menards with a 36 month replacement warranty for less than $100. I was reluctant because it had a cold cranking amps of 460, but when I pulled out the original Panasonic, it only had a CCA of 325. Living in MN, most of the batteries I have ever purchased had CCA in the 500 to 600 range for the daily drivers.

We'll see how this inexpensive little battery performs.


Dennis Nicholls10th April 2022 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by R&L's MX5(Post 10495760)

when I pulled out the original Panasonic, it only had a CCA of 325.

The NDs come with an OEM Panasonic battery? I remember the Panasonics from the NAs.


R&L's MX510th April 2022 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Nicholls(Post 10496110)

The NDs come with an OEM Panasonic battery? I remember the Panasonics from the NAs.

That's what my 2016 came with new from the dealer.


yankeemarko110th April 2022 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Nicholls(Post 10496110)

The NDs come with an OEM Panasonic battery? I remember the Panasonics from the NAs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by R&L's MX5(Post 10496115)

That's what my 2016 came with new from the dealer.

My 2018 has the same battery. 325 CCA.


caranddriver10th April 2022 20:39

My car was on the original Panasonic battery after 5 years. I replaced with 51R Interstate from Costco. It was the best deal out there. Interstate used to make Kirkland branded batteries but they have just given up on Costco branding. The warranty isn't quite as good as it used to be but is the same as competition with lower pricing.

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MX-5 Miata Forum -  Time to replace the battery? (2024)

FAQs

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Battery lifespan can vary due to a number of factors, but experts tell us that Mazda MX-5 Miata batteries typically last 3-5 years.

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According to motorbiscuit.com, the Mazda Miata is predicted to last around 200,000 miles. Some have even made it past this point with little issue. Of course, you and other factors play a role in the years your Mazda Miata will get on the road.

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