MX5 battery

Author
Discussion

mad4amanda

2,410 posts

163 months

Monday 10th December 2012
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I tried a westco gel one from Mx5 parts it lasted 2 days after the warrenty expired and that was using a battery conditioner as reccomended wouldnt buy another.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Monday 10th December 2012
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My last 2 Westco batteries died after just a couple of years so I've gone off them. I replaced mine a few weeks ago with one of these Bosch batteries.

yellowbentines

5,295 posts

206 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
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MX-5 Lazza said:
My last 2 Westco batteries died after just a couple of years so I've gone off them. I replaced mine a few weeks ago with one of these Bosch batteries.
Looks like they're not gel type, do you just connect up the vent tubes and job's a good 'un?

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
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Not gel but are maintenance free sealed batteries. I was going to hook up the vents but the battery doesn't have any vents!

It does have a slightly bigger footprint than the Panasonic/Westco so the battery ray has to go. I'm on the lookout for a replacement tray. I managed to fit mine using the stock mounting bracket (with a slight modification) too.



I'm not bothered about the arguments about acid batteries causing corrosion. Gel batteries are just as bad. My car has had the original Panasonic replaced with 2 Westcos, always with the vent tubes hooked up but when I took the last Westco out I removed the battery tray and under it was loads of white powder and the paint had been taken up by the acid. No rust yet so I'll give it a good clean up & painting when I get a chance.

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Tuesday 11th December 10:13

NeoVR

434 posts

170 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
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Im with Lazza on this one - beginning to think the WestCo's are overrated. ive had two and they only seem to last a couple of years.
The most recent one was still "ok" although was getting lazy to turn the car over in the colder weather.
Replaced with the Bosch one (which although its physically bigger, its still lighter than the westco) and all is well. plus the Bosch has a 5 year warranty!

Plus code "battery15" gives an additional 15% discount from eurocarparts - so their most expensive battery is still almost half the price of a WestCo with double the warranty.

Edited by NeoVR on Tuesday 11th December 13:13

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
NeoVR said:
Plus code "battery15" gives an additional 15% discount from eurocarparts
You tell me that now! bangheadhehe

98elise

Original Poster:

26,364 posts

160 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
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MX-5 Lazza said:
My last 2 Westco batteries died after just a couple of years so I've gone off them. I replaced mine a few weeks ago with one of these Bosch batteries.
I've got a spare 63 bosch in my shed, for my elise. I'll see if I can get it to fit smile

Simbu

1,783 posts

173 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
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Timley discussion.. my mk2 is in need of a new battery! Are there any online guides to the battery tray mod to allow that Bosch battery to fit?

mad4amanda

2,410 posts

163 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
yep thats what I put in my Mk1

NeoVR

434 posts

170 months

Wednesday 12th December 2012
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Simbu said:
Timley discussion.. my mk2 is in need of a new battery! Are there any online guides to the battery tray mod to allow that Bosch battery to fit?
I have simply removed the tray and stuck a old towel under the battery to lift it a bit - the clamp then sits nicely in the battery handle.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Thursday 13th December 2012
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NeoVR said:
Simbu said:
Timley discussion.. my mk2 is in need of a new battery! Are there any online guides to the battery tray mod to allow that Bosch battery to fit?
I have simply removed the tray and stuck a old towel under the battery to lift it a bit - the clamp then sits nicely in the battery handle.
Mine is sitting on an old sponge smile
I had to chop 1/2" off the clamp to make it fit the handle on mine but that's easy.

98elise

Original Poster:

26,364 posts

160 months

Tuesday 25th December 2012
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Just thought I'd give an update.

The supplier has said I need to return the battery to them, and they will attempt to charge it. Reading the negative feedback on their own site about the battery, it seems to be a common problem. The battery discharges in days, but the supplier will just recharge.

With that in mind I've now bought an optimate to re-charge it, but it needs to charge for a number of days. I'm going to monitor the battery off the car, as someone else posted negative feedback that it was under 12v after a few days sat on a bench, let alone on a car.

Before it goes back on the car I'm going the measure the cars resitive load, and once in place I'll measure the current draw. If they both look ok then I'll leave it in place. If it discharges again then I'll return it as not fit for purpose.

The old battery was much better than this! I'd have been better off buying an optimate instead of a new battery.


Max M4X WW

4,788 posts

181 months

Wednesday 26th December 2012
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devnull said:
Definitely recommend a replacement OEM panasonic or the WestCo from MX5 parts. The batteries need to be the sealed gel type or something like this happens...

How do you tell what sort of battery is fitted? I have an MX5 arriving soon and don't want this happening!

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Wednesday 26th December 2012
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Max M4X WW said:
devnull said:
Definitely recommend a replacement OEM panasonic or the WestCo from MX5 parts. The batteries need to be the sealed gel type or something like this happens...

How do you tell what sort of battery is fitted? I have an MX5 arriving soon and don't want this happening!
Like I said before, my car has only ever had gel batteries in it up to now (Panasonic & Westco) but when I removed the last battery and tray there was still a load of white powder and peeled paint under the battery anyway so I wouldn't worry about it.

Wilburo

391 posts

196 months

Monday 25th March 2013
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Interesting thread, chaps. I'm now in the market for a new battery as my current one (a Lion calcium battery) won't start the car even after a good CTEK charge.

I only use the car every few weeks, so it sounds like the WestCo is not the battery for me. So, I'll phone around and get a few prices for the Panasonic tomorrow, but has anyone had any luck fitting a good Bosch in the mk1?

Thanks in advance!

eltax91

9,842 posts

205 months

Tuesday 26th March 2013
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I saw a comment here saying its not recommended to use a conditioner on a certain battery type? Is that true? I have had my new toy sat in the garage on my ctek charger without even thinking?!

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Tuesday 26th March 2013
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Wilburo said:
Interesting thread, chaps. I'm now in the market for a new battery as my current one (a Lion calcium battery) won't start the car even after a good CTEK charge.

I only use the car every few weeks, so it sounds like the WestCo is not the battery for me. So, I'll phone around and get a few prices for the Panasonic tomorrow, but has anyone had any luck fitting a good Bosch in the mk1?

Thanks in advance!
Mk1/2/2.5 are all the same with regards to the battery. Mk2/5 is a little more picky than Mk1 with battery choice as it has to fit in the battery well. I'm very happy with my Bosch so far (I won't be able to give it a full approval until it's a few years old of course).

renaultgeek

473 posts

147 months

Tuesday 26th March 2013
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you can vent the bosch batteries by using connectors for aquarium air tubing at each end of the cover, there are female vents(holes). the air hos connectors will allow these to connect to the vent pipes.

ukianj

40 posts

176 months

Tuesday 26th March 2013
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My Westco has just failed me for the first time in 3 years, the cold I expect. I shan't be replacing it though - never seemed to hold a charge for more than a couple of weeks. Best battery I had was one of the black sealed ones from Halfords. Lasted me 6 years, admittedly the car was driven almost every day, but nonetheless. It was too tall for the MX5 battery clamp though so I had to fashion my own to hold it in place. I'll be going back for another though if the Westco doesn't take a charge.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Tuesday 26th March 2013
quotequote all
renaultgeek said:
you can vent the bosch batteries by using connectors for aquarium air tubing at each end of the cover, there are female vents(holes). the air hos connectors will allow these to connect to the vent pipes.
My Bosch is sealed. There are no vents at all.