What battery for an NA

[matlee]

Pretty much as the title says. I need a new battery and before spending my spondoolies i thought id consult with the PH massive in regards to any recommendations, or does it not matter and just buy the cheapest one?

[Reechard]

Lots of people suggest a really expensive one on mx5parts. However cant remember the name right now.

My eunos has a halfords 063 type in so should be able to pick one up fairly cheaply. Which i need to do as its dead.

[matlee]

There are Bosch ones on ebay for £40 with free p+p. Was going to go for one of these but i bought a Bosch drill a while back and it wasnt the most reliable thing ive ever bought. Maybe their batteries are better

[anonymous-user]

As far as I know you should be using a vented battery?

The one mentioned above is this one:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/westco-battery-mk1225-p-...

I read a thread the other day on a Scottish MX5 forum where a guy had been using a non vented battery, and the condensation had build up and caused rot right through the floor...

[matlee]

Nyphur said:

As far as I know you should be using a vented battery?

The one mentioned above is this one:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/westco-battery-mk1225-p-...

I read a thread the other day on a Scottish MX5 forum where a guy had been using a non vented battery, and the condensation had build up and caused rot right through the floor...

Im glad i posted this topic now as a vented battery is a new one to me but i guess you learn something new everyday!

The battery will be quite open to the elements, its in a kit car behind the driver's seat, so will this still need to be a vented battery?

[MX-5 Lazza]

matlee said:

The battery will be quite open to the elements, its in a kit car behind the driver's seat, so will this still need to be a vented battery?

In that case just get whatever cheap battery you can find that fits. You don't have to worry about battery drain from alarms/radio etc and it's not in a rust-prone boot area.

For others, this has been discussed a few times recently: Recent PH battery threads

[Riknos]

I know this doesn't apply to the OP now, as it's in a kit car, but for anyone else reading this: I've had first had experience of having a car with a non-ventilated battery in the boot. The battery clamp, and associated bolts had rusted through and come off, causing the battery to move around in the boot (Before my ownership, may I add). Said battery had slide into the side of the boot, causing a dent to stick outwards, which then later rusted too. The lack of vents also caused the boot floor to corrode into a thick pile of dust. Most of the floor under the carpet had a cm thick coating of dust on it - so be warned!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Until recently my car had only had the original Panasonic and a couple of Westco batteries. After removing the Westco and the battery tray I founds a load of the same powder under there in the battery well and a lot of the paint had been stripped so don't go thinking gel batteries are any better than lead/acid batteries in that regard. And yes, the vent tubes had always been fitted.

When the last Westco died (and they do seem to die quite regularly - they have a short warranty for a good reason) I replaced it with a Phillips that does not have any vents and is completely sealed.

[yellowbentines]

If you have a garage do what I do - buy a decent non-gel/non vented battery (I don't even have a tray under it, just some thick rubber carpet underlay to stop it sliding around), when parking the car up in the garage at night leave the boot wide open to vent. I've done this for 3 years and have no corrosion

[MX-5 Lazza]

My car has an alarm so can't leave the boot open.

[Marvindodgers]

yellowbentines said:

If you have a garage do what I do - buy a decent non-gel/non vented battery (I don't even have a tray under it, just some thick rubber carpet underlay to stop it sliding around), when parking the car up in the garage at night leave the boot wide open to vent. I've done this for 3 years and have no corrosion

I do the same. Bosch battery on some rubber matting, boot open in the garage when the trickle charger is attached - job's a carrot. (just remember to switch off the inner lights or disconnect the boot light switch)
Can't help with the alarm issue other than the fact that car alarms are a complete waste of time in my experience.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Marvindodgers said:

Can't help with the alarm issue other than the fact that car alarms are a complete waste of time in my experience.

It's a factory fitted alarm. I've never had one fitted myself.