Hi guys. My rx8 broke down on the highway, steam pouring out from under the hood. Turned out the fan drive was bad and it was all replaced at the dealership after being towed. But I think i killed my battery because I left the radio on while stuck on the shoulder and the engine off.. I didn't pay attention and was frantically trying to get a call out to my dad or friend to bring me coolant, since I thought that was the problem.

Dealership fixed the fan problem and then called me telling me the battery isnt holding a charge and needs jump starting (although it started just fine when i went to pick it up and didnt need to jump it). They wanted me to pay them $150 to replace it, including labor. Screw that.. So I need help picking out an aftermarket battery.

I did some research here and it looks like the new rx8 batteries are 640 CCA. I do have an aftermarket audio system i put in almost days after i got the car years ago and i am drawing a decent amount between two amps, 75W RMS x 4 for the door speakers and i think, though don't recall exactly, about 150-200W RMS amp for the sub. I also left the stock bose amp to power the center speaker in the dash, since the stock navigation system uses only the center channel to announce directions.

Do you guys think I should get a deep cycle battery? Sometimes I do pick up family members and end up sitting in the car for a little while listening to the radio.. And do you guys have any ideas on a good brand? I dont want to burn a hole in my wallet on an OPTIMA yellow top.

Thanks!

 

Burn a hole in your wallet or burn up your battery more than once? Hmmmm............it's a toss up!

I'd go with the Optima yellow top, but let's see what others say.

 

You should be fine with an optima red top even though it's not deep cycle - yeah it's a little expensive.. but you can get the poles reversed so you don't have to extend your connectors (like you do with the yellowtop) and your stereo shouldn't kill your battery for a LONG time unless your really pounding it

 

i had 3 amps in my previous car, 2 rockford fosgate punch 160s to power 2 mids and tweeters, and a set of 3 ways. and 200w version to power an 8" bazooka tube.

i had to replace the battery just about every year. but according to my mechanic, the amps werent really drawing that much power.

 

I don't use the radio much at all at high volumes. The subwoofer is barely even on. I mostly listen to classic rock, not that rap crap.

 

Is Optima the ONLY brand of deep cycle batteries? Can you maybe suggest a couple brands? I don't need the 'best'.

 

btw, im interested in the optima batteries. which one should i order for for the rx8?

 

Which red top should i go with ya think?

 

it looks like the new battery mazda is putting into the rx8's is the interstate mtp-35 rebranded as mazda. I think i'll just go pick up one of those. The red tops worry me a bit because I've been doing some reading and while some people swear by them, other people have experienced continous failures and even some dealers don't recommend them. I dunno...

 

karma maybe?

beers

 

My brother has a Red Top , been using it for more than 1/2 year no problems.

I gotta say Optima Sells good batteries. As soon as you start your car you can tell theres a differents. The only drawback is the weight, but I guess quality stuff comes with a price.

I might get one for my 8, but Mazda replaced my battery last year and I think its still pretty good, plus I have no aftermarket Audio systems (soon will have NAV HU) so I think im still good.

 

Make sure the new battery is not larger than the old, and you pay attention to the info in this installation tip:

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...42-04-1429.pdf

Besides that, you should get a maintenance-free battery. And when you're shopping, keep away from Merchant's Tire.

Ken

 

picked up an interstate mtp-35.. was damn hard to find.. everyone carries only the mt-35.. called about 15 - 20 places.. but i finally got it. Installation was pretty simple.. fits perfectly. Definitely a lot more powerful.. engine starts much faster.

 

U better make sure when you install, leave the vent hole at the bottom open. Like ken-x8 said, read the pdf.

 

Diehard Platinum......

 

How much did it cost?

Ken

 

i would go with an oddessy batt. there dry cell batts. and they last a long time, ive heard nothing but good new about them, and there size is nice and slim unless you get the other model. witch are kinda bigger.

:AA:

 

Not to hijack- but if one has a pretty much stock electrical system, what benefit is there to getting a higher quality battery, other than just reliability? Are there performance gains to be had?

 

That's pretty much it: reliability and longevity. If you live in a colder climate, the conventional wisdom is to put in as large a battery as will fit, just for the extra margin. On the other hand, for a performance car like the RX-8 weight might matter. I've seen threads here discussing some pretty small batteries with that in mind.

Maintenance-free, rather than conventional, is a plus.

Those new six-pack style batteries look pretty cool, and I presume use the latest technology. Personally, I would not get one of those for two reasons. One is that I'm a cheapskate, and would hate to spend the money. The second is that on the RX-8 the battery is hidden inside its box, so you wouldn't get to see it anyway. Save the bling money for visible bling.

Ken

 

Thanks man

 

Just to add info, I replaced my 2004 stock battery yesterday with an Interstate 24F. It's a little too tall and I have to either make some new hangers for the battery hold down or extend these, and the battery cover won't go on anymore. The good thing is a world of difference in starting, it sounds like it is spinning over twice as fast as the stock. The other downside is this battery weighs probably around twice as much as stock, so if weight is a concern this is not for you. If you want a reliable daily driver you can leave the radio on, this fits the bill.