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Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / February 2008New battery.
I've reached the point in the life span of my battery when 1. The car will crank enthusiastically and fire right up if driven daily, 2. It cranks a bit slowly and hesitates, may take a couple of trys to get it to fire if the car sits for a day 3. It's marginal, maybe a 50/50 chance it'll start at all if it sits two days and 4. Has to be charged or jumped if it sits 3 or more days. Does anyone think I might need a new battery? Me too. <sigh> I ordered a Westco online, it should be here in 5 - 6 days. RATS! Free shipping but.... I hadda pay sales tax AND they charged me state and city, the warehouse must be in Phoenix? I could have saved a few bucks getting the AutoZone battery but, while they do sell a Miata battery it's apparently no longer an AGM type? Some guy on Ebay has a battery: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2msq8l But it's not an AGM either and I know nothing about them although the price is attractive. Anyway, I done did it and now it's time for everyone to tell me I should have done it differently! <G>  SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org > I ordered a Westco online, it should be here in 5 - 6 days. snip > Anyway, I done did it and now it's time for everyone to tell me I > should have done it differently! <G> They'll say you should have gotten an Optima red top. I mulled over this a few weeks ago and decided I preferred the "plug-n-play" of the Westco. It's just too damn cold (well it was before yesterday) to stand around out there and cut on the battery base and holding rods. SignatureKen Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red Inside the Beltway [Remove the first two digits to reply] > Anyway, I done did it and now it's time for everyone to tell me I > should have done it differently! <G> Not me. I like my Westco. SignatureLanny Chambers St. Louis, MO '94C I had gone with the Auto Zone over a couple of years back. Then last November 2006, had to exchange it under the Duralast's Gold 3 yr. free exchange. Not sure if it is brand unigue, but I have a suspicion that they do not like the cold of winter very much>>LOL. This year went to J.C. Whitney (Online) and bought this charger/maintainer that I have previously posted about, and loving it. Now it can sit and sit and sit, since IMO the Miata is primarily my fun, good weather, head to the beach car. And when I start it up now, that battery turns over like it is run daily, all the time. P.S. teammiata.com is within 25>30 mi. of me, Martinez, Calif, and I could have driven there and bought a Westco. They try to keep at least one on hand. But Auto Zone is less than 1 mi., much more convenient :-). >> Anyway, I done did it and now it's time for everyone to tell me I >> should have done it differently! <G> > > Not me. I like my Westco. Ditto that. I am on my 2nd Westco battery, both have been great. Pat >>> Anyway, I done did it and now it's time for everyone to tell me I should >>> have done it differently! <G> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Pat On my third Westco. The second one didn't last very long, but the local place I bought it replaced it at no cost even though I had no receipt. There is a sticker on the battery that indicates when it was manufactured and that was good enough for them, > On my third Westco. The second one didn't last very long, but the local > place I bought it replaced it at no cost even though I had no receipt. > There is a sticker on the battery that indicates when it was manufactured > and that was good enough for them, Excellent customer service! As far as I know, the first Westco battery that I bought around 6 years ago is still working. It ended up in somebody's Miata, I can't remember who. The one I have came with the car and is about 5 years old and running strong. Pat > I've reached the point in the life span of my battery when > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > Anyway, I done did it and now it's time for everyone to tell me I > should have done it differently! <G> I loved the Westco in my '90 - I may even still have one in the garage or basement that came out of the '90 before she went to the junkyard. But hopefully the 2004 won't need a battery for at least a couple more years! Iva & Vixen 2004 Classic Red No more winkin' Miata > I've reached the point in the life span of my battery when It D*E*A*D! I tried to start it tonight and it gave a brief gasp and .... nothing. No dash lights, no crank, no nothing. The Westco will arrive Friday according to UPS, unfortunately UPS comes by here very late in the day so it'll be Saturday before I get to install it. Meantime I have to see if it'll take enough charge to start and move the car since it's in the way... :-( SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org > I ordered a Westco online, it should be here in 5 - 6 days. Westco will be here tomorrow according to UPS tracking site. I hoped I could get the old battery to charge enough to move the car, when I tried to hook the charger to it I found the ground strap broken between the battery and the clamp that holds the cable to the body, right above the battery. A quick trip to AutoZone, new ground cable and now the car cranks over like a new battery! The battery is a Mazda one, it looks fairly new. I think I just wasted a whole bunch of money.... <sigh> I should have looked before ordering.... SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org > > I ordered a Westco online, it should be here in 5 - 6 days. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups > The Usenet Improvement Project:http://improve-usenet.org Where is this grd strap?? I assume without looking on the negative clamp side??? Maybe you might get one of those charger/maintainers, like the one I got at J.C. Whitney (Specifically for the Miata), and keep that new battery maintained until the day you need it. Was only 29.95 or 29.99, with shipping came to around $38.99. Just see my post about "Charger/Maintainer," for specifics. > Where is this grd strap?? I assume without looking on the negative > clamp side??? Right. > Maybe you might get one of those charger/maintainers, like the one > I got at J.C. Whitney (Specifically for the Miata), and keep that > new battery maintained until the day you need it. Was only 29.95 > or 29.99, with shipping came to around $38.99. I have one, that doesn't help a car that's driven almost every day. SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org > > Where is this grd strap?? I assume without looking on the negative > > clamp side??? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups > The Usenet Improvement Project:http://improve-usenet.org No I mean keeping your new Westco battery, soon arriving on the maintainer, on your work bench, wherever. So that in the future when you need it, it will be ready :-). > No I mean keeping your new Westco battery, soon arriving on the > maintainer, on your work bench, wherever. So that in the future > when you need it, it will be ready :-). Not a bad idea but I'm going to install it right away. I suspect the old battery is good for who knows how much longer but I'd prefer a new battery and one that doesn't require venting to the outside. I wish now I hadn't spent the money but I did so I'm going to take advantage or the benefits of the new battery and maybe keep the old one on the charger as an emergency backup. It's small size will allow me to use it as an emergency battery for my other vehicles if one of them should suddenly die, it will fit in almost anything and has enough power to start almost anything... SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org > > No I mean keeping your new Westco battery, soon arriving on the > > maintainer, on your work bench, wherever. So that in the future [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups > The Usenet Improvement Project:http://improve-usenet.org Why doesn't the Westco require venting to the outside? I thought that that was necessary being in the trunk, and fumes being able to maybe get into the passenger area. I would really be leary of that. In article <5e703b0d-2bb8-482e-8735-1fc44a6646aa@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, > Why doesn't the Westco require venting to the outside? Because it's a sealed AGM (absorbed glass mat) design, not the typical automotive lead-acid type. WestCo claims it produces so little hydrogen gas that venting is not necessary. In fact, there are nipples for attaching the Miata's existing vent tubes, but they dead-end inside the battery case and don't really vent anything. SignatureLanny Chambers St. Louis, MO '94C > In article > <5e703b0d-2bb8-482e-8735-1fc44a664...@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > St. Louis, MO > '94C Wasn't the original Miata OEM battery (Made by Panasonic, I believe, mine a 2000) an AGM??? If so, it came ventgd. In article <1eaa3b8f-cad9-46c3-8f38-8267ce44b2ef@m34g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, > Wasn't the original Miata OEM battery (Made by Panasonic, I believe, > mine a 2000) an AGM??? If so, it came ventgd. Yes. I can't say whether they were vented; when I bought my car used, it already had a replacement lead-acid battery. Presumably, some AAA knuckle dragger had ruined the factory AGM attempting a fast charge. A simple light minder would've saved thousands of Panasonic AGMs from needless ruin. All it takes is leaving the parking lights on while at work, then getting "help" from someone not familiar with AGM technology. SignatureLanny Chambers St. Louis, MO '94C > In article > <1eaa3b8f-cad9-46c3-8f38-8267ce44b...@m34g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > St. Louis, MO > '94C I guess that I was lucky. Shortly after getting our 2000 Miata, we went to the Mammoth Lake Jazz Fest. And where we were staying, you were supposed to park in the space assigned to your room. Well, when we got there someone was in our covered space. So I kept an eye out for the IDIOT to finally move, and when they had, I moved my car to the proper spot. Planning on leaving it there. Everything was within walking or the free shuttle distance. Anyway, after moving my car, I had taken a brochure or something to look at, it this under the inn, covered parking area. Four days later, when we were ready to leave, I discovered that I had left the over head light on the entire four days. Needless to say>>>>>ONE DEAD BATTERY. So dead, in fact, that the helpful guy next to me, even leaving his car running, while he went to finish packing, did not help. I finally called the local Allstate Motor Club guy, probably also the AAA guy. And he got me going straight away. I had to leave my car running while we gassed up, couldn't take a chance of being dead again. Then headed home, Back across Yosemite and home. Battery lasted its' life time. I replaced it after 5 yrs. not wanting to push that little toy battery>LOL. But after sitting days, especially during winter, you could definitely tell the difference of start ups, etc. One time after driving to a friends for lunch, maybe 40>50 miles away, upon leaving, he asked, "Have you had that battery checked?" I said, "Nah, that is normal for this car/battery." Glad I have it hooked up to my charger/maintainer now. Each time, like driving out a store with a brand spanking new one. Now even though summer was just a few months back, my memory can not recall how well it started after a week or nearly two of just being parked, whether or not I will leave the maintainer connected year round or not, I haven't decided. Sure was well were the $38.00 cost (WITH shipping, under $30.00 for the charger itself). When the service/parts guy at the dealer ship once told me that with that car/battery, you need to run it at least once a week, he was not kidding :-). To all of you that use your Miata every single day, as your commute vehicle, probably will never be a problem. But being retired with three vehicles to keep running, it's another matter :-). In article <f732e00a-cc7c-4ea9-aec3-e9b1f74c2e3a@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, > I guess that I was lucky. Shortly after getting our 2000 Miata... IIRC, the NB came with a normal lead-acid battery, not an AGM. SignatureLanny Chambers St. Louis, MO '94C >> I ordered a Westco online, it should be here in 5 - 6 days. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I think I just wasted a whole bunch of money.... <sigh> I should > have looked before ordering.... Weird.... I've slain some gremlins with the new Westco battery. My driver's side window is no longer slow, I've not had the headlights refuse to pop up and a few other very minor things are no longer happening since I installed the new battery. OK, I know it's not the battery, it had to have been the partially broken ground strap no allowing full power to window motors, headlight motors, etc. Oh, golly gee whiz how I wish I'd looked carefully at that ground strap and maybe I would have noticed it was frayed????? Or maybe not, it broke right where it passes throught the body ground strap right about the negative terminal and next to the power antenna, it's pretty well tucked away out of the light. SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org If it makes anyone feel better--(or worse) I had to spring for a new AGM battery for my 99 this afternoon. Symptoms Slow turn over before start, unless the old AGM was on a trickle charger overnight. Secondary symptoms Running voltage two tenths higher than normal. (Battery internal resisitance a bit high) Battery voltage dropped too far during start load testing. Automatic testor, don't know the exact drop for failure. The local battery shop carries AGM batteries for the Miatas, so $57 later (prorated old AGM) back to normal. The new battery is actually a slightly better fit than the old one or a Wesco. I had to put a small block under the screw down end of the bracket to make it fit the Wesco properly, and we removed it to fit the new battery. Vent tubes are in the same position as the old battery. > >> I ordered a Westco online, it should be here in 5 - 6 days. > > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > the negative terminal and next to the power antenna, it's pretty well > tucked away out of the light. I purchased my '99 Miata used in 2001. A month ago my battery died. 7 years is good! I use the car daily so took the old battery out and purchased a replacement from Autozone. After reading the other battery related messages, this might not have been the best purchase. But I'll live with it. The original battery had the vent tubes venting inside the battery compartment. The Autozone tech said the this was OK and venting to the outside was not necessary. Anyhow, my question to you is about the vent tubes. Is it OK to vent the '99 Miata battery inside the battery compartment or should it be vented to the outside? If it sould be vented outside, is there a picture on how the venting looks. Thanks, - Pat > I purchased my '99 Miata used in 2001. A month ago my battery died. 7 years > is good! [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Thanks, > - Pat The entire point in to vent it, is to the outside. That AutoZone person has no idea what they are taling about, since you do not want these fumes seeping into the passenger area, probably easily reachable from the trunk. I also bought an Auto Zone battery, which you'll find really will noticeably slow down in the cold winter months, which is why i now keep it on my charger/maintainer, which you can read about in my Charger/Maintainer thread. Anyway, my 2000 has the outside vent hook up integrated as part of the right side rear reflector, hooking on to that vent outlet. When I bought my AutoZone Battery, I do recall the vent holes being in a slightly different place necessitating my having to go back inside and getting a slightly longer tube. I uninstalled the old and installed the new right outside their store. The Miata is so easy, it only took me minutes. Next time, hopefully several yrs. away, I'll probably go with a Westco, since teammiata.com is very near to me. But I was also told that First Interstate makes a Miata battery, which I have never checked out. So maybe a First Interstate battery dealer may be of some help. Of all places, you'd think that dang Sears would have offered them by now. But no such luck, asa far as I know. The dealer's proces are outrageous as usual. > The original battery had the vent tubes venting inside the battery > compartment. > > The Autozone tech said the this was OK and venting to the outside > was not necessary. I disagree. > Anyhow, my question to you is about the vent tubes. > Is it OK to vent the '99 Miata battery inside the battery > compartment or should it be vented to the outside? No, yes. > If it sould be vented outside, is there a picture on how the > venting looks. I don't know of one. The vent tubes connect together and then the single tube exits through a fitting in the trunk just in front of the right tail light. Lift up the carpet and see if it's not there. SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org Ok - that's what I thought. I have the vent tubes going off the battery, but I don't have the T connector and tube to vent to the external venting tube. Should I be able to pick this up any any auto supply store or must I go to a Mazda dealer? - Pat >> The original battery had the vent tubes venting inside the battery >> compartment. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > single tube exits through a fitting in the trunk just in front of the > right tail light. Lift up the carpet and see if it's not there. > I have the vent tubes going off the battery, but I don't have the T > connector and tube to vent to the external venting tube. > Should I be able to pick this up any any auto supply store or must I go to a > Mazda dealer? The auto parts store will have an assortment of connectors and tubing. You should get out for around a dollar. SignatureLanny Chambers St. Louis, MO '94C > > I have the vent tubes going off the battery, but I don't have the T > > connector and tube to vent to the external venting tube. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > St. Louis, MO > '94C Yeah, but he might need to go to the dealer for the part that gets it outside the body. Like I said, my 2000 has the vent tube going to a spot that is part of my right rear reflector, not the tail light. Finally was able to get the tube ($0.19) & Tee ($0.99) at Elloitt's Hardware. I tried Autozone auto, O'Reilly auto & Home depot. None had tubing of the right size. Amazing, - Pat >> I have the vent tubes going off the battery, but I don't have the T >> connector and tube to vent to the external venting tube. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > The auto parts store will have an assortment of connectors and tubing. > You should get out for around a dollar. OK, the new Westco is in and is fine. The old Mazda battery was apparently fine also, the problem turned out to be a bad ground cable. So what to do with the old battery? Sunday a friend came over driving his Suzuki Sidekick, when he tried to leave, his battery was completely dead so..... A Miata battery fits nicely into a Sidekick and the "What to do with the old battery?" question has been answered. Result: Everyone is happy and I earned a brownie point for having a good used battery that was the right size and the right price, free! SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org > Result: Everyone is happy and I earned a brownie point for having a > good used battery that was the right size and the right price, free! <clap clap clap clap> You just earned a free pass on your next typo. :-) SignatureLanny Chambers St. Louis, MO '94C >> Result: Everyone is happy and I earned a brownie point for having >> a good used battery that was the right size and the right price, >> free! > > <clap clap clap clap> You just earned a free pass on your next > typo. :-) I dunt mak tipoes. SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org |
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