Hi all, Long time since my last post.

How long is the original RX-8 battery lasting? My car is getting harder to start and I'm not sure if it is the battery or engine issues starting.

Thanks in advance.

 

can vary depending on a LOT of factors...most auto stores will run a free diagnostic and tell you if it's shot, good, or in need of a drip charge. it's free and shouldn't take too long.

i just replaced my original battery after 6 years, sub-70k, and it completely went dead on me, like...driving around for an hour after a jump did nothing for it. i don't recommend letting it get to that poing

 

The best way to know your battery is compromised is to check it with voltmeter before and after starting (if it's just starting slow).

If you catch it below 12.6 volts (full charge) like 12.3, and it starts, and the voltmeter now says 13.5 or above, you know that it's charging, but not taking a deep charge.

You can sometimes charge the battery, and it'll show 13.0 or so (surface charge), and then try to start. If it won't start, then test the voltage again. If under 12.6 it's the battery, or in 2tone's case not taking charge time for new one.

My original battery lasted 3.5 years with a couple of run downs, so I just take to Walmart so I can get fresh battery adjustment later; I think they might have the easiest to get to batteries in US.

 

Remember to check your car's "birthdate" not it's first sold date. Mazda could of put that battery a year before you actually bought the car. So 3.5 years might be actually a 4.5 year old battery.

From my experience, a battery usually goes around 5 years. If you can get more than that your money ahead. Sometimes you get less, just depends.

 

Batteries must be getting better.

I was using and selling a lot of batteries in the 80's, and it seemed that 3 or 4 years and they were done.

Funny thing about them is that extreme summer heat over 100 deg f stimulats the batteries to keep reacting, and then, when the first cold day comes that finds the ones with diminished capacity; battery companies test in Arizona.

I just got 8 years outta my Dodge Dakota battery, but I only had 66k miles on it also; believe it or not miles count some,too, because of the total time being charged and heated up.

 

Good quality batteries last about 5 years, after that it's a crap shoot

 

i got 6 years out of the original battery in my 05 RX-8. i replaced it a week ago with an optima red top and i hop to get at least 6 years out of that. tghe original battery in my 8 was made by panasonic.

 

Why did you replace? Was it going weak or did you feel it was time?

 

it was weak. if it sat for more than three days it would be dead. if i was driving it every day it would be fine. the optima red top makes it spin and start so much faster. feels like a new car when starting.