MX-3.com

So here's a question for the masses...

I have been running an Optima Red Top since I did my ZE swap coming on 4 years ago because I had to relocate the battery to the rear and I don't want a huge sealed box back there. Monster cranking power and I have left my lights on for hours accidentally and still managed to get it started.

About 15months ago, it went flat and wouldn't hold a charge so I had it replaced on warranty. I figured it was just a freak. However this week, it happened again and because the warranty doesn't start again when you replace the battery on warranty, I have had to buy another $225 battery.

Have any of you who use AGM batteries had issues with them just dying suddenly for no apparent reason? Twice in four years seems excessive a $225 a pop.

It seems to be an issue with the Optimas. I still use them, but I'm hearing more and more about people switching away. I know people that have had that happem to them, and they just get a Canadian Tire battery for the better warranty.

Costco batteries are great an the warrenty is good as well! If you loose your warrenty paper work with crappy tire they won't do s--- for you. Where as Costco they have it on your account that you bought it! Plus they are alittle cheaper!

You don't want them to go dead, if they do-they will usually won't hold a charge again. Personally lead batteries are fine by me and they last just as long imo. I would keep battery on trickle charger when not in use.

wyt use a yellow top, it is the actual deep cycle that can take a charge after going flat and recoup like a marine battery. The red top is mainly been designed for high initial draw for high compression starting not for discharge and recharging. Just have to make sure you pick the right one for what you want, Ive had my yellow top for 5 yrs now and it was 2yrs old when I bought it from the store ($25 core charge only cause it was that old) and Ive discharged it down many a times and it hasnt let me down once.

Web site http://www.optimabatteries.com/us/en/products/redtop/ says, 'The REDTOP will outperform and outlast traditional batteries in demanding cranking/starting applications'. Sounds like false advertising to me. My Motomaster Eliminator has been killed by my alarm many times and after charging it performs like a trooper. 5 years old and still cranking. Granted it's not sealed but hey, plastic battery boxes are cheap. Sorry, I have no info on your battery I just wanted to be a part of a mooneggs post.

Yeah it has to be an AGM battery because it's in the cabin with me and i don't want to die from lead-acid fumes.

I was looking for a yellow top this time but they didn't have one on their shelf. I think the red top froze the other week when it dipped to -40ºC for a couple days and that it never properly recovered after that. I think the first time the battery tanked it was a similar thing.

Maybe I just need a battery warmer.

Good information here... I had been planning to buy a red top myself locally, there is one store that sells them for $145(yellowtop) and $180(redtop), so I had been planning on picking one up.

Now I'm hesitant again...

O'rielly's sells an agm battery for $109, part number is miata.

Hey Charlie, since you keep your battery in the cabin, have you considered a "quick release" battery terminal setup? Where you could just use the optima like you had before then have a quick disconnect terminal or connector so you could bring the battery in on cold nights?

Just a thought in case nothing else pans out for the batteries.

I got a $25 battery warmer. This is likely the last winter my MX-3 will ever see, so I just have to nurse it to spring.

If it's not the cold...I don't know.

The truck has dual Yellow Tops. They're showing a bit of age (the secondary is from the Mx3), but it still starts the truck in -25 (second battery doesn't connect during starting unless I use my self-jumpstart button; just the way I have it). It also probably doesn't help that I'm running thicker oil; got an oil change done while I was in Ontario during my xmas leave, and didn't think to put in thinner for Quebec, so would explain why she has a bit of a hard time on those extremely cold days.

Usually a battery freezes only if the charge is low. Beside being toxic lead acid vapors are also very flammable. Hence unplugging a charger before disconnecting the terminal clips to avoid sparks.

Daninski wrote:Usually a battery freezes only if the charge is low. Beside being toxic lead acid vapors are also very flammable. Hence unplugging a charger before disconnecting the terminal clips to avoid sparks.

Just in general lower temperatures make it difficult for batteries to charge and to retain charges, if it's cold enough it will dissipate the charge and then freeze afterwards or if its really really cold it will freeze regardless.

It usually hits -35 to -40 here at least once for a week or more each year. I'm pretty sure that's what has caused my problems. From now on at -20 I'll plug in the warmer.

I just wanted to see if anyone else had had similar problems with AGM batteries.

Thanks everyone.