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Original battery is a gel battery you cannot get these in UK so you have some options; Mazda wet battery kit = 110 I fitted a sealed wet battery (AC Delco) ... which is listed for the MX5 ... I think it is the Astra battery (065 might be the right code). See your local auto parts place for the battery size or I could find out.... I have then had to make up a new top bar, extend the threaded side piece by 12 mm, redrill the L shaped part that the thread bar hooks into, and remove the tray and side brace etc. My old battery was being drained by my alarm so I wanted the bigger capacity. The carpet battery cover just about fits but it has a slight tilt ... Eunos ones are totally felt carpet not the rigid glass-fibre UK type...which I have to fit at some point (grey carpet is so much more practical than scabby pure black!). Watch out that you have the insulation patch still on the inside of the rear wing as this stops a loose battery denting the side of your car ... don't ask how I know (but then I do not have that car anymore... and hence I have a spare battery fitting kit if I ever revert to small batteries). (11/99) |
| This is the Westco battery - it's actually Glass Fibre Mat Technology - despite what Moss say (GFM is better than Gel - less wet!). Westco have just introduced a version with the terminals the right way round for a '5 - don't know if Moss have got these yet - probably they'll need to shift old stock first. This is definitely the best and safest battery to get for a '5 (11/99) |
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The carpet battery cover just about fits but it has a slight tilt ... Eunos ones are totally felt carpet not the rigid glass-fibre UK type...which I have to fit at some point . . . We had to fit a new battery a few weeks back after the original one went dead. The local Halfords didn't have one so we went to the nearest Mazda dealer and were told that the original size ones were no longer available. The new one came with all the fitting gubbins (£100 all in), and went in without any bother. However, the rigid carpet cover no longer fits properly. Does anyone know if there is replacement cover available that connects with the existing poppers on the boot floor? (11/99) |
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My 1990 MX-5's original battery failed in 1994 when a different
replacement was fitted: This all cost 107.20 fitted at the time The battery then failed again in 1997 and was replaced with the same part no.(though mysteriously 3 cheaper by then) This battery fits in the original place with the original cover clipping down as intended. Any more info would mean I'd have to take it out and have a detailed look... (11/99) |
| It looks from your experience like the deletion of the original size battery is a recent event. Our new one is quite a bit bigger and although it sits in the same place and the various clamps, bolts and trays all fit in existing holes in the body, the cover just won't go back in place - all the poppers are out of line. It's not a major problem but it is annoying. I assume that the new size battery is the standard one for the Mk2. (11/99) |
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Our new one is quite a bit bigger and although it sits in the same place and the various clamps, bolts and trays all fit in existing holes in the body, the cover just won't go back in place - all the poppers are out of line. The cover is marked with a "cut here" dotted line to fix this problem! (11/99) |
| If you go to your local Mazda main dealer and quote part number B61R - 18 - 520C, they can order the original Panasonic gel-type battery from Belgium. This certainly applied until recently. (2/00) |
| Has anyone else here got the Halfords MX5 battery, the normal wet cell affair that costs about forty quid? If so did it fit your car? When I bought it I new it looked too tall, but followed what it said in the guide. How can Halfords sell a battery that clearly doesn't fit the MX5 properly...? I had to fabricate a bodged bolt extending thingy from scrap stainless, as the OEM battery bolt was way to short. What would happen if someone even less mechanical than myself (is that possible ;O ?) (1/01) |
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Has anyone else here got the Halfords MX5 battery, the normal wet cell affair that costs about forty quid? Yep - thats the one I bought the other week If so did it fit your car? When I bought it I new it looked too tall, but followed what it said in the guide. It is taller than the Panasonic - so the existing retainer doesn't fit, but fits in the recess without any problems. I bought a battery retaining kit from Halfords which replaced the Mazda one. it had to be cut short and the hook re-shaped but the Halfords guy did that for me there and then. What would happen if someone even less mechanical than myself (is that possible ;O ?) I hope they would offer the same kind of help as I got. They were happy to help when I told them that the retaining bar was to short but I tried to fit it while I was parked outside - so I was in the right place - so to speak. (1/01) |
| I have a wet but sealed battery. I had to extend the clamp bolt, change the top clamp and reverse the battery trapping frame. I too thought this was a bit sharp of Halfords etc... (1/01) |
| Battery types |
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~ Exide - less than £30 (but not recommended) ~ DETA (Germany) 12V 36Ah 300A - £31.48 (identical in appearance to the unlabelled "original" Mazda battery) ~ DETA (Germany) 544 65 - 063 - 12V 44Ah 350A - £35.98 ~ ??? 12V 48Ah 500A - approx £45 ~ Original Panasonic - approx £75 (I think before 10%OC discount I went for the 12V 44Ah option - for an extra £3.50 you get a battery with significantly more capacity - and a carrying handle! It didn't seem worthwhile paying £10 more for the 48Ah version. (4/03) |