Replacement Battery

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:45 am

I may need a replacement for my NA. The local Ford/Mazda Dealer has quoted me for a Panasonic - $237.12 + GST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone else been down this track recently?? I would prefer to stay with the proper style of battery ie vented to the exterior, but I am also part scottish!
Cheers
Ian

Post by **jif** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:30 am

On 22 August 2011 10:45, Ian <electrical@mx5forum.co.nz (electrical@mx5forum.co.nz)> wrote:

I may need a replacement for my NA. The local Ford/Mazda Dealer has quoted me for a Panasonic - $237.12 + GST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone else been down this track recently?? I would prefer to stay with the proper style of battery ie vented to the exterior, but I am also part scottish!
Cheers
Ian :(

last time I got one (couple of years ago) from John Andrew Ford/MAzda it was $140-ish ... hard to believe its shot up that fast !

[Posted via external email]

Growler · Post by **Growler** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:11 pm

I have just used a normal battery with no issues what so ever.

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:16 pm

Im usingt a SLA battery in mine

mazline · Post by **mazline** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:58 pm

Thought you put a small battery in Ian ?,and bear in mind the battery is sent by road only,No airfreight for these,so we been told.
Our guy in Japan is not even allowed to send good used ones to us in a container,which is a pain in the arse,he's having to leave near new ones there.
Haven't got any one's here at the moment either.
Genuine are beat,last for years,The one in my car was 15yrs old when it gave up the ghost !,Was the original unit going by the date codes on it.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:24 pm

Thanks guys.
Yes, my Panasonic is date stamped 8.9. 1993 which I guess means its coming up 18 yrs since installed!!!!
Brownie, I had some issues with my Yuasa, but now have its replacement, so will probably bite the bullet and visit the auto electrician for it to be installed. (weight saving of 5kg over than the 9kg Panasonic)
Cheers
Ian

Post by **zorruno** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:50 pm

Hi Ian... don't consider it really 'dead' until you have tried a proper charger designed for AGM batteries... you really need to charge at a slightly higher voltage for a long period to get good use out of it if it has recently been depleted. I've seen very old panasonic batteries come right back to life from nothing with a proper charge cycle.

I have one of the below... and recommend it - it has a 14.7V output and you can leave it permanently connected (for people like me who don't get out enough...!).
http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=MB3604
If battery is completely dead, this won't start though, and I use a basic 4A charger for half an hour to kick the battery into life then charge with this one.

broomfish · Post by **broomfish** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 6:59 pm

I have a Century maintenance free sealed battery. no need for the vent then. closest size was a little taller than the OEM one so needed to extend the securing arm slightly

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:41 pm

Thanks again guys...all good info.
I actually have two Projector auto chargers (0.5 amp and 4 amp) which can be left permenantly connected, though my current storage garage has no power dammit! Have regularly used the smallest of these in the past with considerable success, so have the Panasonic on it as we speak and may have revived it!
Also have one of the relatively new Repco 1200amp jump starters which is very handy given my current storage location...
Cheers
Ian

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:37 pm

I also got a larger battery but wasn't sure where to get a taller rod to hold the battery down. Where could I get one as I just extended the gap with a cable tie as a short-term fix...?

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:14 pm

Try Repco or any dedicated battery outlet..

Growler · Post by **Growler** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:24 am

Ian wrote:Try Repco or any dedicated battery outlet..

Or get some threaded rod and fabricate your own...

brownie · Post by **brownie** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:45 pm

Depending on where you live..Any auto dismantler will have one,It's just a slightly longer rod,or as stated Repco/Supercheap or even a bunnings /Mitre10.
I think a couple of parts guys even advertise in the classified section

Ben.Nakagawa · Post by **Ben.Nakagawa** » Sat Aug 27, 2011 8:24 pm

I've got a taller battery tie rod from local used car parts shop for $2, when I recently replaced with Yuasa Century LMF.

broomfish · Post by **broomfish** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:17 pm

I didnt replace the rod, from memory the base where the J hook goes into bolts in and i did something with that. If you would like to know exactly what i can pop the boot an have a looky and let you know

Stevo · Post by **Stevo** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 5:58 am

Or........ attach a D shackle to the battery tray and hook the clamp onto that untill you can get the correct size clamp rods.

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:47 am

I did something similar but used a cable tie to connect them.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:12 pm

you can get the longer hold down rods from supercheap or repco

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:24 am

ford have panasonic batteries on special for under $200 at the moment

debearnz · Post by **debearnz** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:04 am

Has anyone heard of the Shorai Powersports batteries? If you want to save weight, I use a 21A Shorai in my '94 1800 manual, took out the 12kg Panasonic and replaced it with the 1.4kg Shorai. It looks like a joke but I have now removed over 30kg from the car, ditching the air-con unit as well.

Weight reduction = horsepower in a small, light car.

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:17 am

What sort of CCA are you looking on it?

debearnz · Post by **debearnz** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:24 am

Born_disturbed wrote:What sort of CCA are you looking on it?

The 21A is rated at 315CCA which is equivalent to about 470 in a lead-acid battery. Measures 148 x 140 x 86mm

Post by **jif** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:01 am

so these are similar to those Porsche Li-Ion batteries that cost a couple grand ? :]

[Posted via external email]

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:28 am

yeah that was my next question.. what's the cost like..

debearnz · Post by **debearnz** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:39 am

jif wrote:so these are similar to those Porsche Li-Ion batteries that cost a couple grand ? :]

[Posted via external email]

Heck no! These are Lithium Iron, (not Ion), Phosphate, are inherently safe, can be mounted in any position and the 21A retails at $350.00. Life cycle is about four times that of lead acid so a theoretical life of four times but that depends on use and care of course.

Basically a drop-in replacement for your lead acid with no modifications to the car's electrical system required.

Most popular with racer's and those doing track days due to the weight savings. Also they don't die away like lead acid with cranking, they maintain their power right to the end which is longer than anyone has cranked for to date.

Just think of them as a smaller, lighter, safer, more powerful battery usng the modern technology.