New MX5 Battery Life
Discussion
A retired mate of mine bought a brand new MX5 in August last year and is now afraid to use it as he can never be certain that it will start. As they are retired they tend to go away for two to three weeks at a time and when they get back the Mazda's battery is always flat.
Luckily they also have a Merc that doesnt suffer the same problem.
The MX5 has only done 2500 miles since new and because of the lack of starting issue they are loath to use it more.
I told them that they should get the car back to the dealers as there must be something wrong with the battery for it to go flat so quickly and so he took it to their supplying dealer. This is what the result was from an email he sent me.
"Have been to the Mazda dealer and guess what - all mx5's have the same problem, or as they put it "Oh yes they all do that - you can park an mx5 for between 10 to 14 days but after that you cannot expect it to start because it has only a small battery". They offered to charge the battery and check the car but were not hopefull of a solution. I am contacting Mazda UK next week to see if they agree with this analysis."
To all 2007/8 Mazda MX5 owners, do you have problems with the battery life ? Do you have to make sure that you never leave the car for more than 10 days?
I would really like to hear if this is a common problem?
Cheers,
Tony
Luckily they also have a Merc that doesnt suffer the same problem.
The MX5 has only done 2500 miles since new and because of the lack of starting issue they are loath to use it more.
I told them that they should get the car back to the dealers as there must be something wrong with the battery for it to go flat so quickly and so he took it to their supplying dealer. This is what the result was from an email he sent me.
"Have been to the Mazda dealer and guess what - all mx5's have the same problem, or as they put it "Oh yes they all do that - you can park an mx5 for between 10 to 14 days but after that you cannot expect it to start because it has only a small battery". They offered to charge the battery and check the car but were not hopefull of a solution. I am contacting Mazda UK next week to see if they agree with this analysis."
To all 2007/8 Mazda MX5 owners, do you have problems with the battery life ? Do you have to make sure that you never leave the car for more than 10 days?
I would really like to hear if this is a common problem?
Cheers,
Tony
That's complete b
ks. My car often sits for a number of weeks and always starts perfectly. The only reason the battery would go flat is if something is draining it. An alarm shouldn't make a battery flat in 2 weeks unless it's been fitted incorrectly.
Either there is a wiring problem in the car somewhere or the battery is faulty.
I suggest that they take it directly to a Mazda dealer and get them to check it out.
ks. My car often sits for a number of weeks and always starts perfectly. The only reason the battery would go flat is if something is draining it. An alarm shouldn't make a battery flat in 2 weeks unless it's been fitted incorrectly.Either there is a wiring problem in the car somewhere or the battery is faulty.
I suggest that they take it directly to a Mazda dealer and get them to check it out.
MX-5 Lazza said:
That's complete bks. My car often sits for a number of weeks and always starts perfectly. The only reason the battery would go flat is if something is draining it. An alarm shouldn't make a battery flat in 2 weeks unless it's been fitted incorrectly.
Either there is a wiring problem in the car somewhere or the battery is faulty.
I suggest that they take it directly to a Mazda dealer and get them to check it out.
My feelings entirely but the Mazda dealer says that all MX5 batteries go flat in 10 to 14 days as its "a small battery"........ks. My car often sits for a number of weeks and always starts perfectly. The only reason the battery would go flat is if something is draining it. An alarm shouldn't make a battery flat in 2 weeks unless it's been fitted incorrectly.Either there is a wiring problem in the car somewhere or the battery is faulty.
I suggest that they take it directly to a Mazda dealer and get them to check it out.
Put it this way, my mate paid over £17k for a brand new car he can't leave for more than 10 days before the battery goes flat. The dealer says this is normal and acceptable.
What does the MX5 posse think?
Cheers,
Tony
Tony,
I can't comment factually, as I don't have a new model - but to be quite frank I'd personally say that what the Dealer says is total cobblers.
A battery should be fine for a few weeks without use, unless, as Lazza states above, something is unnecessarily draining the battery.
I'd get them to get it checked out independently - but an answer of "they all do that" is not an answer. Are they members of the AA? They can help.
K
I can't comment factually, as I don't have a new model - but to be quite frank I'd personally say that what the Dealer says is total cobblers.
A battery should be fine for a few weeks without use, unless, as Lazza states above, something is unnecessarily draining the battery.
I'd get them to get it checked out independently - but an answer of "they all do that" is not an answer. Are they members of the AA? They can help.
K
My car has a small gel battery and an alarm and I can happily leave it for a month without the battery draining noticably. Mk2.5 rather than Mk3 but I know the Mk3 battery is no smaller.
Put it this way - I'm on This forum, MX-5 OC, MX5Nutz, PlanetMX5 etc and I've never seen anyone complain about a Mk3 battery...
Put it this way - I'm on This forum, MX-5 OC, MX5Nutz, PlanetMX5 etc and I've never seen anyone complain about a Mk3 battery...
Kinky said:
A battery should be fine for a few weeks without use, unless, as Lazza states above, something is unnecessarily draining the battery.
K
Or it's not charging properly when the car is run. Had a mini with a high resistance on one of the battery cables. Alternator was fine, so the dials said charging ok. And there was enough leccy to run the car. But it wouldn't restart. We only found it by running with all the electrics on for a while and the insulation on the cable went soft where it was hot.K
Still I dont think a battery should go flat on a "new" car in 10-14 days. If this is typical of the car model then you might argue it's not fit for purpose.
Same problem with Battery going Flat after approx 4 Weeks of not using the Car.
Garage said disconnect Battery if leaving car longer thab 10 days. thats ok IF Car is Locked in the Garage at Home. A no go if Parking at an Airport, No Alarm, and try to disconnect or reconnect the Battery in the Rain and Dark!
Solution:
1: When left in the Garage: I purchased a small Automatic Charger, max o/p 750ma. This is wired to the Battery via an inline Fuse. Drain on battery is only 10ma when not in use. Charger is Mounted to the upright Boot Carpet above the Battery with a Tie Wrap, and plugged into the Mains if the car is left for more than a week. I leave the Boot Open a Jar, rather than jam the Mains Cable! To put the Rear Number Plate Lights out, use a Key or something to simulate the Latch bar on the Boot Lid going into the Latch. To disconnect Mains Lead, open the Lock with the Key, or Button on the Fob, and unplug the Mains. Leave the Lead and Plug coiled up above the Battery.
2: When Parked at the Airport. Use a Solar Panel Charger plugged into the Cigarette Lighter. Problem here MOST of these Sockets are Dead when the Key is removed from the Ignition. Thousands of People must have these things plugged in doing nothing! The Socket will have to be rewired by a qualified Autoelectrician so that it is always Live via a Fuse.
Rem: Radio Code and retune if Power disconnected.
Job done!
Garage said disconnect Battery if leaving car longer thab 10 days. thats ok IF Car is Locked in the Garage at Home. A no go if Parking at an Airport, No Alarm, and try to disconnect or reconnect the Battery in the Rain and Dark!
Solution:
1: When left in the Garage: I purchased a small Automatic Charger, max o/p 750ma. This is wired to the Battery via an inline Fuse. Drain on battery is only 10ma when not in use. Charger is Mounted to the upright Boot Carpet above the Battery with a Tie Wrap, and plugged into the Mains if the car is left for more than a week. I leave the Boot Open a Jar, rather than jam the Mains Cable! To put the Rear Number Plate Lights out, use a Key or something to simulate the Latch bar on the Boot Lid going into the Latch. To disconnect Mains Lead, open the Lock with the Key, or Button on the Fob, and unplug the Mains. Leave the Lead and Plug coiled up above the Battery.
2: When Parked at the Airport. Use a Solar Panel Charger plugged into the Cigarette Lighter. Problem here MOST of these Sockets are Dead when the Key is removed from the Ignition. Thousands of People must have these things plugged in doing nothing! The Socket will have to be rewired by a qualified Autoelectrician so that it is always Live via a Fuse.
Rem: Radio Code and retune if Power disconnected.
Job done!
Edited by faro on Friday 23 December 16:26
I bought a brand new MX-5 two years ago now and work offshore. Mine has been sat for four weeks many, many times and I have never not had it start on the first crank.
But my Mazda dealers have been terrible and I know they would tell me the same utter rubbish if I was to go in there with this problem.
But my Mazda dealers have been terrible and I know they would tell me the same utter rubbish if I was to go in there with this problem.
vrsmxtb said:
On the smae subject I put a brand new Westco battery in mine back in the summer. The cars been laid upon SORN for a couple of months now, is it notmal for the battery to be as dead as a dodo? Or should it at least attempt to turn the starter still? Wondering if I have a drain on it?
As said above, they are small batteries. (westco is 31AH) - A year old westco has gone flat in my mk1 after being stood for a few weeks.. ive measured the standing current drain and its about 0.05amps (probably the alarm and cheap tevion head-unit)So given the above very rough calculation the battery would only be able to sustain that drain for a month. of course probably closer to a couple of weeks before its drained enough that it cant start the car.
After meaning to run my Mk3 55 plate once a week (second car), the battery was dead yesterday (alarm light was flashing fine the day before). It had been sat for 7 weeks in my garage and has the original battery.
Battery charged up within a few hours and all good to go again. Had to re-set the DSC (full left lock, full right lock) and no code issue with the Bose system.
It's going on trickle charge now and will see how it performs. Might be time for a new battery.
Battery charged up within a few hours and all good to go again. Had to re-set the DSC (full left lock, full right lock) and no code issue with the Bose system.
It's going on trickle charge now and will see how it performs. Might be time for a new battery.
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff