[s-cars] Battery not liking the cold weather

[Tom Green]

>
I did not know the Miata had such a small battery--the small Odyssey  
batteries
are a good choice to increase the reserve capacity.

I use the PC1200 series Odyssey in the S6.  It is less than 7" tall,  
and with bolt-on
connections it has a very low profile.  The Optima is just too tall  
for under the seat
installation.  The Optima will also vent gas if deeply discharged  
where the Odyssey
has a gas regeneration cycle, making it optimal for closed  
installations.

As long as the temperature remains above the freezing point of the  
electrolyte, the
battery doesn't mind the cold, It's the engine that complains.   The  
battery doesn't
tolerate the heat, or neglect, but manages to limp along until the  
demands get too
great.

Tom

> -----Original Message-----
> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:34:09 -0500
> From: Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Battery not liking the cold weather
> To: desmo888 at comcast.net
> Cc: "S-Car-List at Audifans.Com" <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Message-ID:
> 	<79698a910901151334t645ebef9k1924e8fddb5dfc19 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I've had bad luck with Interstates in the Beetle. I'm on my third or  
> fourth
> one in two years, all replaced under warranty, fortunately.
>
> I've been running Optima Red Tops without any issue- turns over the  
> car very
> very quickly as well. I had a Red Top in my STi, turned over almost
> instantly- the stock battery required a couple cranks to start. Same  
> thing
> with the Vette- turns over almost instantly with a Red Top.
>
> I'm probably going to get an Odyssey PC545 for the Miata when the  
> battery
> goes- much more cranking power than the little AGM battery that's in  
> there
> now, more reserve in case I do something stupid like leave the parking
> lights on, which kills the Miata in about 4 hrs. I would have gotten  
> an
> Odyssey PC800 for the Vette, but my battery went haywire before I  
> had the
> chance to order an Odyssey, thus necessitating a quick trip to  
> Costco for
> the Optima.
>
> Taka