MGB: OT - And you think getting parts for an MG is tricky?

This is ridiculous. I'm posting because I know a lot of you guys out there have Mazda Miatas.

We have a 2000 Miata MX-5. The battery has finally worn out. It was a great battery - located in the trunk. Apparently the factory used, and uses a sealed glass fibre battery made by Panasonic. BUT - they don't sell anything but a conventional replacement battery.

No problem - Westco in the US imports the Panasonic battery. $85 or thereabouts. BUT - it doesn't seem to be available anywhere in Canada.

Does anyone know of a Canadian supplier for a Miata sealed battery? I can get it off of Ebay, but shipping from the US is as much as the battery.

ingoldsb Wrote:

Quote: "
This is ridiculous. I'm posting because I know a lot of you guys out there have Mazda Miatas.
We have a 2000 Miata MX-5. The battery has finally worn out. It was a great battery - located in the trunk. Apparently the factory used, and uses a sealed glass fibre battery made by Panasonic. BUT - they don't sell anything but a conventional replacement battery.
No problem - Westco in the US imports the Panasonic battery. $85 or thereabouts. BUT - it doesn't seem to be available anywhere in Canada.
Does anyone know of a Canadian supplier for a Miata sealed battery? I can get it off of Ebay, but shipping from the US is as much as the battery.
"

How about Moss Motors? I don't know if they can ship any cheaper. The Westco is a great battery, I have one iin my B

Terry...Amazing, only in Canada Eh.

There must be 300 Miatas in Kelowna, BC judging by the ones rolling south as we were rolling in several years ago. Try getting in touch with Len Drake from there. NO, he won't laugh at you as he is a multimark Man from Corvette thru whatever ends in a high up the alphabet letter.

Terry,

What happens if you try to use a conventional battery? I've never heard of the special Miata unit.

I believe OPTIMA sells a gel cell for the Miata, I am hoping so....I need one for my Bugeye project where space is tight, I read about one a few months ago on a Miata forum, let us know of you find one, I will google around a bit tomorrow and let you know

Nice work Brian!

Quote: "
What happens if you try to use a conventional battery? I've never heard of the special Miata unit.
[/quote]

1) The Miata battery is a *really* weird size. Other than the proper battery, nothing other than a motorcycle battery would be likely to fit
2) The battery needs to either be sealed (i.e. gel cell or the glass fibre type) or it needs to have vent holes that go to a hose that leads the gases out of the trunk.

But - NAPA has one! Actually, they have 22 in stock. So I'm going to visit my friendly NAPA dealer tonight and I'll be back in business.

[quote]
I believe OPTIMA sells a gel cell for the Miata, I am hoping so....I need one for my Bugeye project where space is tight,
"

I couldn't see one on the Optima website - but that doesn't prove it doesn't exist. Also, just because Optima makes it, doesn't mean that anyone brings it to Canada. ;(

Finally, one of the group members (I won't embarrass him by naming him) sent me a PM that he was coming to Canada for a hunting trip and offered to bring me a battery. I really think that this BBS has the nicest people anywhere on the Internet.

You guys are great!

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