RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

I took my car in to have the dealer check it out for hard cold weather starts a while ago.

The car has always started, but the colder it is, the slower it is to turn over.

Anyways, I was hoping they would upgrade me to the new battery (interstate) and the new starter, as it's a TSB.

They didn't; but they did say come back if I continued to have problems and that they would.

Now that it's really cold, the 8 is slower to turn over - definitely slower.

Anyways, if I take it back and they still refuse to upgrade my battery and/or starter, what is the best non-OEM battery to ensure rapid cold weather starting?

Thanks.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

my family's had good experience with Die Hard Gold, however Autozone's Duralast brand is also highly rated

key is get the highest cold cranking amp (CCA) you can get for the battery type for the 8 (type 35 i believe)

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

and they are suppose to replace the starter under warranty per TSB if owner complains about 'hard to start' condition under cold weather. go to another dealer?

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

and before anybody says it, i think Optima batteries are a waste for money if you're not running massive sound systems in your 8.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

really,

look at the specs..

i would say a red top if you are not running a silly sound system. if you are a yellow top..

but what do i know..

beers

elysium19

iTrader: (1)

just bought a red top, $150 shipped (that may not be rock bottom, but it's decent I believe). Working well.....but...it's a battery, what more can you say about it....

Shinka_MJR

Swoop said what i was going to...

Red Top optima's are just fine for the majority of us. The yellow tops are the oens you want to use for car's with the 1.21 gigawatt sound systems.

Die Hard's work great, ran them in my cars up until i got my 8 (simply havent replaced my 8's batt yet) and i put a Duralast in my wife's car, she's had no problems at all with it.

Razz1

That's for 2004 and 205

He may be out of warrenty.

Main thing is to get a battery with higher CC cold cranking amps.


Brand is subjective unless someone can post a legimate test.

TheWulf

iTrader: (4)

RotoRocket: does this mean you'll be changing your sig?

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

I just picked up a 7 year warranty NAPA battery for about $60 with a friendly discount...

Raptor75

All batteries are produced by a hand full of manufactures then re branded. The best way to find a good battery is look at tests of their performance as can be found in Consumer Reports for example. What a battery states usually not what you will get. Everything else you will hear is just opinions which could be accurate or not.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Guys, I'm under warranty for another 12 months.

I think the TSB replacement battery is an Interstate - the OEM was a Panasonic.

If I don't get the dealer to upgrade my starter and throw in a new battery, I will ask to speak with a customer service rep at Mazda NA.

My dealer has been great so far, so I don't think it will be necessary.

04RX8man

DieHard Platinum is the best battery on the market....have tons of CCA (arond 900) but they are about 190 bucks but if not the DieHard Gold is very good too ussally arond 110 or so

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

wow the ad bars on this forum is smart! I see Optima RED TOP battery ads in it now lol

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

and yes i still think Optima batteries are a waste of money... until their prices fall to same level as the 'standard' batteries

swoope

iTrader: (5)

have an 04. the panasonic battery lasted a year.

never got the starter replaced because i never have had a problem with starting..

got the replacement battery yes it was an interstate.. well it lasted 2.5 years..

optima now.. i am going to give it a go..

beers

Raptor75

The replacement starter may help with the life of the battery, you may be spending 2 to 3 times as much spinning the engine to get it to start with the old start then you would with the new one. I'm 3 years with the new set up and it is still turning strong even in Chicago winters.

Georgia8er

I put the highest rated Interstate 24F battery in. Yes, a 24F will fit in the battery tray.

jeffe19007

Don't forget about the reversed posts when you buy.

I like Optima Red tops as they seemed to be the last battery I had to buy for several cars.

But... the 8 had had its alternator die, and before I got to the dealer ship I had a couple of complete discharges. That seemed to kill the Red top. It was replaced under warranty, but Batteries + had to attempt to charge before testing it and that took a good 24 hours.

So -- Red tops are nice, but don't drain them dry!

ken-x8

Does that leave enough fresh air space around the battery, per the service bulletin?

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...19-05-1504.pdf

Ken

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

My 8 failed to start tonight in a parking deck after sitting in 4 degree weather (-23 wind chill) for 5 hours.

Turned the key and a slow whir-whir-whir sound. I didn't want to flood it, so I quit. The interior lights and radio and electrical components were working.

I had to get a jump start from some guy in an Explorer, and it turned over.

Time to take it to the dealer tomorrow AM and bitch until they give me the upgraded starter and battery per the TSB.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

you can add 1 problem to your eight. haha.

i want that 9lb racing battery. :D

Jon_99_RX-8

If you belong to Costco, you can get a replacement Interstate battery for like $53.

G3tR3DDY2GR3DDY

iTrader: (8)

get the oddysey pc680 i love it

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Update: My dealer (a newly opened one) is fantastic. They kept the car overnight, left it outside, and tried to start it this morning and had some trouble.

They are replacing the starter motor and battery per the TSB under warranty.

The fact they did what they did shows their good faith at trying (and succeeding) at duplicating the problem.

I could not be happier with a dealership experience.