Miata Mailing List: December 1996, Message #20
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   From: (none)

Subject: Re: Replacement battery

   Date: (none)



Robert Saville stated:



<< I think you will find that modern wet auto batteries do not gas as they

did years ago. The curent chemistry & sealed construction which makes them

maintance free also gets rid of gassing.

 

 Robert Saville

 savilrg@juno.com

 Red 91 & Red 61 (TR-3) >>



What did they do, put TUMS in the battery?  The chemistry of a wet lead acid

battery is the same as it was 50 years ago, and hydrogen gas and sulfuric

acid gas will still be a byproduct.  The gas has to go somewhere, and the

where is into the engine compartment.  Look under the hood of even "NEW" cars

and you will still find Mr. Corrosion around the battery terminals and any

unprotected metal nearby.  A "Sealed" battery is not sealed, they still have

vents for the gas to escape.  Check the battery tray of most 1990 cars with

wet batterys and then check the battery tray of most Miatas and there will be

quite a difference.  I have not seen ANY Miata with corrosion around the

battery.  



It is FALSE ECONOMY to put a wet battery in place of the gel cell.  I

replaced my original battery after 3 years when it would not take a charge.

 I have since learned the proper procedure, and the battery was most likely

still good.  There are many 6 and 7 year batteries still going strong.  Even

at 3 years, which is a good life for most wet batteries, replacement of the

gel cell at ~$100 is $33 per year.  CHEAP!!  That is the same as buying a new

Voodoo knob!  Compare that with the repair cost of corrosion in the trunk

area that was not designed for a wet battery.  Check the trunk area of a

Sunbeam Tiger.  These have trunk mounted wet batteries, most have had to weld

in new battery boxes as the old ones have corroded and sometimes the battery

falls through.



The SAFETY factor is another issue I believe Mark Booth has already

addressed.  I think the Panasonic gel cell is one of the BEST things about

the Miata.  You never have to check the battery, never have to clean the

terminals, never have to replace the cables that have corroded through.  I

just hope the technology continues to develop to higher capacity batteries.



All in all, putting a wet battery in the Miata is a big mistake.  The money

you SAVE will be spent in reparing that mistake down the line, if you are

around to do so.

_____________________________________

Anthony J. Wilde aka NevadaBob@miata.net

Classic Red '90 (Red Dwarf)

Team Voodoo

San Diego Miata Club

MCA #10567

M-Club #60

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