Miata Mailing List: April 1993, Message #2
sponsored by



     


   From: (none)
Subject: Re: The Battery
   Date: (none)

> I just bought a 1993 Black Miata (Package C, LSD, MSSS) and I was looking
> through some old messages from this mailing list when I noticed a few
> about the battery.  Apparently this Panasonic battery is a strange beast
> completely different (and more expensive, naturally) than any other battery
> on the face of the planet (or something like that). I was just wondering
> what is so special about it.  I know it's a gel battery or something, but
> what I mean is WHY!? Has it got something to do with weight or corrosion or
> what?

it's lighter, smaller, and i think it's somewhat safer than a
traditional battery (all batteries generic toxic fumes, but i think
this one is better in that regard).  a side benefit is that since it's
mounted in the trunk, it's not exposed to the elements of moisture and
dirt, for whatever that's worth.

there were a lot of complaints about "no good batteries" during the
first year or two, but it appears that most of those claims were related
to people running down the battery, and then recharging it incorrectly
(the recharging procedure is not the same as with a standard battery).
uninformed dealers seemed to be as much to blame for this as anybody.
i believe the owner's manual describes recharging; if not, then it's
definitely in the shop manual (which i recommend owning, even if you don't
intend to do a lot of your own work).  it has also been described in the
Miata Magazine in a past issue.

i have no complaints whatsoever about my battery.
my wife and i both have miatas, the cars have never failed to start
on the first try even in the coldest weather after sitting unused
over a weekend. (mine's a '90, hers is a '91).

my vote is: be aware it's different (in case you ever need to know),
recharge it correctly if you ever run it down, and otherwise, just
forget it's there 'cause it works just fine...