Panasonic battery?
Discussion
OK, so due to work, laziness, horrible weather and a small problem with the driver's door lock (now resolved) I haven't used my MX5 for a few weeks. When I tried to start it the other day, and then again today, the battery was flat as a pancake... oops.
So, no bother: I figured it wouldn't do any harm to buy a new one. Walked over to my local orange high street shop of car stuff, picked up the battery it said in the book.
Except my car seems to have a Panasonic battery like this:
I've read that these are gel-type batteries: not sure what difference it makes.
Can I jump start it and try to get it to charge itself (the alternator's OK as far as I know)?
Is it worth getting a trickle charger to try and resurrect it (It's probably original and therefore 15 years old)?
Or should I just install the Hal Fudds one (though it's a different shape...)?
(Yes, it's pretty moist in my boot at the moment
)
So, no bother: I figured it wouldn't do any harm to buy a new one. Walked over to my local orange high street shop of car stuff, picked up the battery it said in the book.
Except my car seems to have a Panasonic battery like this:
I've read that these are gel-type batteries: not sure what difference it makes.
Can I jump start it and try to get it to charge itself (the alternator's OK as far as I know)?
Is it worth getting a trickle charger to try and resurrect it (It's probably original and therefore 15 years old)?
Or should I just install the Hal Fudds one (though it's a different shape...)?
(Yes, it's pretty moist in my boot at the moment
)Just thought I'd update this... figured I'd give it a jump and see what happened (I had some jumpleads lying around that I'd never used).
Started after a few coughs and some clouds of condensation being puffed out of the exhaust and after five minutes it ran happily enough that I took it for a spin and it was as good as... well, as good as a car that had been sat under a tree for the best part of a month.
Now cleaned and with its boot dried out... It's great again
Started after a few coughs and some clouds of condensation being puffed out of the exhaust and after five minutes it ran happily enough that I took it for a spin and it was as good as... well, as good as a car that had been sat under a tree for the best part of a month.
Now cleaned and with its boot dried out... It's great again
Only problem with the westco ones is how long they last , mine has only lasted 2 years 7 months (2 year warrenty) compared to the panasonic ( supplied from new and available from dealer) lasting 15 years . When car was not in use an optimate 4 charger was used as reccomended.
If you find you need a replacement go Panasonic from dealer its worth it in the long run.
If you find you need a replacement go Panasonic from dealer its worth it in the long run.
e that doesn't get plugged in when not in use. After a couple of weeks it sometimes turns over slowly but doesn't it always comes back to life.Mine has a Bosch Silver battery fitted at the moment, which appears virtually new.
My previous 944 Turbo had a 'normal' battery fitted in the 'cubby hole' behind the rear wheel arch in the boot and that wasn't vented and had no corrosion issues, so i don't quite understand all of the paranoia about using a non-gel battery on these cars?!
There is no vent on the Bosch battery and there appears to be no corrosion in the mounting area??!
Am I missing something?
My previous 944 Turbo had a 'normal' battery fitted in the 'cubby hole' behind the rear wheel arch in the boot and that wasn't vented and had no corrosion issues, so i don't quite understand all of the paranoia about using a non-gel battery on these cars?!
There is no vent on the Bosch battery and there appears to be no corrosion in the mounting area??!
Am I missing something?
Edited by appletonn on Monday 11th April 11:41
appletonn said:
Mine has a Bosch Silver battery fitted at the moment, which appears virtually new.
My previous 944 Turbo had a 'normal' battery fitted in the 'cubby hole' behind the rear wheel arch in the boot and that wasn't vented and had no corrosion issues, so i don't quite understand all of the paranoia about using a non-gel battery on these cars?!
There is no vent on the Bosch battery and there appears to be no corrosion in the mounting area??!
Am I missing something?
The rust probably....My previous 944 Turbo had a 'normal' battery fitted in the 'cubby hole' behind the rear wheel arch in the boot and that wasn't vented and had no corrosion issues, so i don't quite understand all of the paranoia about using a non-gel battery on these cars?!
There is no vent on the Bosch battery and there appears to be no corrosion in the mounting area??!
Am I missing something?
Edited by appletonn on Monday 11th April 11:41
Mine had a normal battery as did the old mans, both cars had very rusty boots.
Seeing as your battery looks 'virtually new' I'd suspect it's not been in there long which is why you don't see any rust....yet!
Richyvrlimited said:
The rust probably....
Mine had a normal battery as did the old mans, both cars had very rusty boots.
Seeing as your battery looks 'virtually new' I'd suspect it's not been in there long which is why you don't see any rust....yet!
OK, perhaps you're right, but if the Bosch battery is the sealed type of Lead Acid one, why should it cause any more corrosion than the sealed gel type??!!Mine had a normal battery as did the old mans, both cars had very rusty boots.
Seeing as your battery looks 'virtually new' I'd suspect it's not been in there long which is why you don't see any rust....yet!
Excuse me for being thick!
Could it be the lack of ventilation (in a confined space like the boot) causes lead acid batteries to leak which then rots out the floor surrounding the battery holder?
The original Panasonic gel batteries have ventilation tubes.
Best way to maintain a gel battery in an MX5 is to trickle charge it if not used for over a week. LIDL occasionally sell a re-shelled CTEK trickle charger for about £15.
The original Panasonic gel batteries have ventilation tubes.
Best way to maintain a gel battery in an MX5 is to trickle charge it if not used for over a week. LIDL occasionally sell a re-shelled CTEK trickle charger for about £15.
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