MX5 no life - Dead battery?

OpenToSuggestions · 30 Dec 2012 at 22:01

Hey all.
Mazda has been parked up for a month.
Yesterday I started it to move it a bit to ensure that the handbrake doesn't get stuck on. It started with ease. I also did some bulb removal on the interior and had a few dash lights on. I have taken the centre console out and the clocks are loose as I was checking what bulbs I need as a few are out on both of them.

Today the car is 100% dead and nothing works. No immobiliser flashing, no headlights, no ignition (not even a clicking sound).

There was a short on hazard lights switch which I think took out a few interior bulbs, but after that stuff still worked OK.

All fuses have been checked and are fine.

My cousin says I can borrow his battery charger - Does this sound like the issue?

Vigoro · 31 Dec 2012 at 00:24

What make is the battery?

Brookert · 31 Dec 2012 at 00:29

Normally a battery doesn't go 100% dead, it would still bring some form of life to the lights. Battery connections all good?

4T5 · 31 Dec 2012 at 09:23

First I'd check the battery terminals, On my 5 the battery is tiny & so are the terminals when I got the motor & checked about the battery clamps weren't biting tight to the terminals so I wrapped lead around the terminals to pack them out.
If it's not the battery terminals or a flat battery I'd check the Main fuse in the fuse box under bonnet drivers side.

OpenToSuggestions · 31 Dec 2012 at 09:44

Battery was 100% dead. When jumping my battery did not even spark.
I forgot to check the battery brand but I will probably replace it for a good one at some point. It was replaced in 2010.

Fuzz · 31 Dec 2012 at 09:58

Never mind the brand, charge it/test it and see if that is the issue first before just randomly throwing money at it!

Oh and don't leave the handbrake on when parked up for long periods, use the gears instead!

Fr0dders · 31 Dec 2012 at 10:03

Get yourself a battery charger.

A) to charge it up and see if that sorts it

and

B) the charger will also tell you how many volts it currently holds.

shoes · 2 Jan 2013 at 15:22

+1 for battery terminals, they come loose on my mx5 all the time

Conscript · 2 Jan 2013 at 15:29

Think the batteries tend to be a bit of a weak point on the NC MX5. I had to replace mine last year after it was sat on a driveway for a month in the cold. Mind you, it was the original Yamaha battery I think. Replaced it with a Halfords one and its been fine since.

-westy- · 2 Jan 2013 at 16:47

shoes said:
+1 for battery terminals, they come loose on my mx5 all the time

+1 - I replaced the clamps as soon as I got my latest MX5 as I know they're weak points. Unfortunately the length of wiring isn't that great, so they can be under tension. Doesn't hurt to replace the battery clamps and make sure all the wiring is clean and tidy.