NB8 Replacement Battery

[GC8]

My car has a 125mm deep Panasonic battery and most aftermarket fitment lists seem to propose the 063 as a replacement, which is about two inches deeper.

What do people use as an alternative to more expensive OEM type batteries and is it a straightforward swap, or does some hardware need adapting?

[Richyvrlimited]

An appropriate aftermarket battery will likely be more expensive as all that you can get are lighter/more powerful upgraded 'race' batteries.

You can't substitute the OEM battery for a standard Lead Acid version, you'll runt the car from the inside out.

Lead Acid batteries vent corrosive fumes, with the battery in the boot there's no-where for these to go so you use a gel battery instead.

[Benny Saltstein]

I'm replacing the lead acid battery in my Mk1 for a Westco gel type after finding a nasty patch of corrosion in there.

[LukeBird]

I have the Westco (from MX-5 parts) in mine as well.

[GC8]

Westco or certain doom then? As an aside: I have a 21yr old 944 which has a wet battery in the boot without a hint of corrosion.

[Richyvrlimited]

GC8 said:

Westco or certain doom then? As an aside: I have a 21yr old 944 which has a wet battery in the boot without a hint of corrosion.

944 =/= MX5.

[GC8]

The issue is venting, isnt it?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I don't think the gel batteries are fitted because of corrosion. I think it's to do with passenger safety due to the fact that the MX5 boot is open to the passenger cabin. I think regulations say that if the battery is in the cabin it has to be a sealed battery and not lead/acid.

I think...

On a side note, my old 1971 P6 Rover had a lead/acid battery in the boot. It did suffer from bodywork rust but the boot was completely rust free as they almost always are on those cars despite having a lead/acid battery in there for 40 years. As long as they are properly vented a lead/acid battery will not cause any corrosion issues.

[GC8]

I didnt realise that the boot was open: Im still an MX-5 novice though. The battery is in the near side rear wheelarch in a series two 944, which is only separated from the cabin by a carpet.

The Panasonic battery has a label on which seems to suggest that an 063 will fit, but will require some parts available from Mazda (and also that the OEM battery isnt 'marketably available' but the foreign English isnt too clear).

[Munter]

I stuck a halfords one in mine about 4/5 years ago. Replacing another lead acid one the previous owner had in there. No obvious problems so far with any corrosion or anything.

Of course I could just be lucky. A sample of one has no value etc.

[Benny Saltstein]

GC8 said:

The issue is venting, isnt it?

Yes, on the gel batteries like the West Co you've got two little rubber tubes leading to a T-piece which in turn plugs into a drain hole in the boot floor which vents to the outside.

[GC8]

On closer inspection the 'hardware' appears to be a Panasonic sized plastic tray and the securing bracket, which has a fixed width. Neither are insurmountable problems.

I havent ever struggled to find a battery with a venting tube connection, although my OEM battery seems to be in reasonable condition.

[pete]

Ours has the Halfords lead acid battery, with the stock vent tubes connected to both battery vents. No corrosion at all.

Pete