Great idea Timbo.

Indeed, I might take the family down to our nation's capital and a make a weekend of it...

 

Hmmm...well, given Masterpieces from Paris only runs to 5 April, which (I guess?) may be of interest to your better half, you might want to start planning!

 

Hmm, we're cactus through March but Good Friday/Saturday might be doable.

Are you around?

 

+1

But only replacing my original battery at 57000k. Left lights on and went into a shop for 10 minutes, came out and clicka-clicka-clicka, lights flashing, but no crank. Since the symptoms exactly matched previously described I just rang the battery replacing people.

Noddy

 

Three years is a good life for a battery.

I change mine every three years regardless........the additional cost of doing this is well and truly offset by the peace of mind it provides.

Dave, buy decent batteries (I buy Century only), and check the date codes stamped on the top of them before purchase. I avoid a battery that's been on a shelf for more than six months....lead acid batteries sulfate due to self discharge.

 

Thanks 'Mez. Sounds like good advice...

 

Century Batteries are the Best in Australia...Full Stop..I sold them 30 years ago and they are still a great battery.

I have emailed Mark Taylor at Century Batteries about their Quick Find Listing, as they only show One battery for the RX-8...WRONG..

Their best and largest battery that will fit with the same Post position is the NS70LX.
It is not cheap, but has one of their highest CCA and reserve capacity.

It is larger than the 03-04 RX-8's but it should fit OK.
From June 2004 and or Series 2 have larger batteries, with the Series 2 09~ RX-8's even larger, the only one available from Century is the NS70LX for the S2...Again should fit fine.

Do not use the one recommended by their Find Site the 50D20L is too small in size and capacity IMO the 55D23L is the bare minimum.

Battery Size is also referred by it's L Capacity
The 50D20L is a 20 L Capacity
The 55D23L is a 23 L Capacity

From Mazda's Genuine Parts Catelog...
Production Date..
Up To 1st June 2004 a 20 L Battery was used (Panasonic).(Century 50D20L)
From 1st June 2004 to 19th February 2008 the 23 L was used.(Century 55D23L)
From 1st June 2008 (Series 2 RX-8) a 26 L was used.(Panasonic).Centuty NS70LX, or NS70L)

****************

On Battery Reliability..

If you get anymore than 5 years out of any battery you are VERY Lucky..
Every Year even a 100% fully charged Battery loses some of it's CCA (Amps).
The older the battery the less AMPS.

Plus RX-8 MUST have a regularly Fill, because of engine heat they will dry out quicker than normal but the heat does not necessarily destroy the battery.

In more cases it is lack of maintenance (water).

 

thanks for that detailed info Ash.

suggest you copy that post into the '10 things' sticky thread.