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Flat Battery

Old Jun 2, 2025 | 11:52 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Callisto
Panasonic is carried at many dealerships parts departments (NOT ALL) also sold retail in many authorized retailers and often changed by dealerships from them going bad sitting in the lot prior to a sale and not recorded or required to be recorded by Mazda crop from the dealership. This is also why on this forum alone we often see members reporting not having the original battery when they look. A dealership is NOT required to replace a battery with the factory original brand only the minimum require specification of a battery. Knowing the exact service life of a battery can help diagnosis issues as well as give some hints to possible future problems. We replace over 500+ batteries a year and I often hear and read on forums claims of unusual not normal longevity of battery service and when we look at the serial numbers we find a different story.

You are absolutely correct in that the average owner of a vehcle never checks or has checked their battery every season change or until they like you have an issue?

Btw unless you took the serial numbers from your battery (why would you) you really don't know if it was the original factory installed battery. And this subject has come up a few times on this forum.
Would the serial number actually tell you anything? I still have the original Panasonic I took out of mine a couple of months ago. I bought my 21 as soon as it hit the lot in 5/21. They had not even put it through the PDI yet, so I am sure it had the battery the factory put in - unless it was changed in port on arrival.
 
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 02:08 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by chickdr19
Would the serial number actually tell you anything? I still have the original Panasonic I took out of mine a couple of months ago. I bought my 21 as soon as it hit the lot in 5/21. They had not even put it through the PDI yet, so I am sure it had the battery the factory put in - unless it was changed in port on arrival.
Serial numbers on batteries will show several things the main one is the date it was actually manufactured.
Arrival destination of new vehicle like ports or inspection holding facilities do not change batteries EVER! Only dealerships!

I should also add that most continue to use a battery that is slowly losing its rated power and rated load rating because the engine starts for them and ergo, they think that the battery is fine or never give it any thought until there is a start problem or something does not work correctly that is supplied power from the system.
You can find the information online how to decode most all batteries. But sometimes you first need to find out who the original manufacture is. Not all is so easy as the sticker on the battery seems when knowing that name brand battery you are using or have in your vehicle's.
 

Last edited by Callisto; Jun 2, 2025 at 02:14 PM.
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 04:54 PM
  #13  
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I rarely change a battery before it fails and I would guess most others do this as well. I only switched my batteries recently because I found a great deal on replacements and both of mine were 4-5yrs old.
 
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 11:28 PM
  #14  
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I can only say not sure you get your thoughts about that? Most shops won’t even start to Diagnostic work on anything power support if the battery does not first pass it specification specifically a battery load test.

Funny how the normal owner rates the use meter of parts. Spark plugs , tires, vital fluids , brake pads , and BATTERIES. To name the top mentioned on forums and also happens to be the top items that are the most serviced for problems or cause of problems in any vehicle over 10 years old .

 
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 09:33 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by Callisto
I can only say not sure you get your thoughts about that? Most shops won’t even start to Diagnostic work on anything power support if the battery does not first pass it specification specifically a battery load test.

Funny how the normal owner rates the use meter of parts. Spark plugs , tires, vital fluids , brake pads , and BATTERIES. To name the top mentioned on forums and also happens to be the top items that are the most serviced for problems or cause of problems in any vehicle over 10 years old .
I think what you said was, why would I have decided to change my battery based on age? The reason is it seems most batteries last about 4-5 yrs in my experience. Especially with the electonic laden nature of modern cars. My Frontier is an ancient design even though it's a 2020 model so it is still quite basic but the CX-5 has a lot of electronics (especially my higher trim model) so with so many folks posting about failed batteries (some like lobstah saying their original battery lasted barely a year) I figured paying only $125 for a new battery after almost 4yrs on my original battery was a smart preventative move.
 
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 10:47 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by chickdr19
I think what you said was, why would I have decided to change my battery based on age? The reason is it seems most batteries last about 4-5 yrs in my experience. Especially with the electonic laden nature of modern cars. My Frontier is an ancient design even though it's a 2020 model so it is still quite basic but the CX-5 has a lot of electronics (especially my higher trim model) so with so many folks posting about failed batteries (some like lobstah saying their original battery lasted barely a year) I figured paying only $125 for a new battery after almost 4yrs on my original battery was a smart preventative move.
No that's not what I said.
And NO most batteries do not last 4-5 years. Sorry dude not sure where you get your information from but its not accurate. Unless you reword it and state that owners will use there batteries even when they are going bad until they no longer can start their vehcle or there is a problem caused by a failing battery.
I am not going to argue things that can be found that I say empirically if you look. Or if you actually have worked for at least a year full time in a an automotive service shop.
The key that you do not understand the electrical system is that you think onboard electronic tax a battery???? This points out that you don't remember the fundamentals of an automobile electrical system specifically the charging system. You do realize that once the engine has started it is the generator not the battery that supplies the electrical power. So, in once responses the battery is always charged correctly thus extending it service life.

However I will say that you are better owner then most and your choice to replace your battery when you did was a good choice.

On a side note I went through a battery every 12-15 months until I upgraded my generator and some cable leads from the battery. These were OPTIMA batteries. But the cause of their failure was directly related to my stereo system. Now since the upgrades including re-mapping the ECU charging rates I am now on my 3rd year with the same OPTIOMA battery. Checking it as a matter of fact this morning with 3 Battery load testers one was an old analog load tester the battery has not declined from the OPTIMA speciation not even .01 charged volts and load specifications.

The POWER BASTRAD generator was at the time just under 250, The Optima 2 years ago was 175, and the new upgraded cables were about 50 bucks with the connector? Was this all worth it and would I recommend other to do the same..... not unless you have a very upgraded stereo system or planning to run a defenses system equal to Air Force one. rolmao.
 
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 01:28 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Callisto
No that's not what I said.
And NO most batteries do not last 4-5 years. Sorry dude not sure where you get your information from but its not accurate. Unless you reword it and state that owners will use there batteries even when they are going bad until they no longer can start their vehcle or there is a problem caused by a failing battery.
I am not going to argue things that can be found that I say empirically if you look. Or if you actually have worked for at least a year full time in a an automotive service shop.
The key that you do not understand the electrical system is that you think onboard electronic tax a battery???? This points out that you don't remember the fundamentals of an automobile electrical system specifically the charging system. You do realize that once the engine has started it is the generator not the battery that supplies the electrical power. So, in once responses the battery is always charged correctly thus extending it service life.

However I will say that you are better owner then most and your choice to replace your battery when you did was a good choice.

On a side note I went through a battery every 12-15 months until I upgraded my generator and some cable leads from the battery. These were OPTIMA batteries. But the cause of their failure was directly related to my stereo system. Now since the upgrades including re-mapping the ECU charging rates I am now on my 3rd year with the same OPTIOMA battery. Checking it as a matter of fact this morning with 3 Battery load testers one was an old analog load tester the battery has not declined from the OPTIMA speciation not even .01 charged volts and load specifications.

The POWER BASTRAD generator was at the time just under 250, The Optima 2 years ago was 175, and the new upgraded cables were about 50 bucks with the connector? Was this all worth it and would I recommend other to do the same..... not unless you have a very upgraded stereo system or planning to run a defenses system equal to Air Force one. rolmao.
So your argument is batteries last longer, or shorter than 4-5 yrs on average? I can say in my BMW, which I have had since 2009, and does not get driven a lot, but is on a quality NOCO charger/maintainer all the time, my batteries have failed almost exactly at 5yrs each time (regardless of type AGM or standard LA). I had a 2011 Tacoma with zero electronics and the original battery lasted 8yrs. As I said, many on the forums (and yes, I know this isn't a statistical number) have posted about batteries failing very early in their cars life (1-3yrs) so it SEEMS Mazda may not put the best quality battery in the CX-5. For this reason alone it seemed prudent to go ahead and replace the battery. Could I have gotten more out of it? I am sure I could have, but I would rather replace it every 4-5yrs than try to guess when it will fail. I have a Piaggio BV350 scooter which eats batteries. They seem to last about 1-2 yrs. I just get a new one every 2yrs so as not to worry about it.
 
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by chickdr19
So your argument is batteries last longer, or shorter than 4-5 yrs on average? .
There is no argument you don't have your facts correct nor do you have any experience level to support what your are writing. You only have your testimony of your own vehicles that are all defend manufactures that are different from the norm .
And you are not even posting credible technical information only that the batteries lasted your claimed use no9t there start during that survival period.
In other words if members on a forum want to read and think this is good information to consider then they will be the ones that will suffer and learn from that choice. I give recommendation EVERY WEEK to customers I check there battery for FREE and advise they change it. They always say like you why would I change it when there is nothing wrong happening, it starts every day with no problems. Then I often hear in a short time period those same people saying to me I should have taken your advise. This is what is called EXPENCE in SERVICING acquired over the years .

OMG go work in a service shop even part time for 6 months and then return and past what you learn about battery replacements, longevity of the average battery and the service-related problems caused by what customer thought was a good battery. Pleeeez

This continued conversation at this point is all yours as long as you don't keep responding to me. All a member has to do is use the search feature and find hundreds of failed battery responses and they don't support your unusually longer than average nationwide battery life on so many different platforms.

For members and quests consider this:
Battery will start to decline with 3 factors not reasonably controllable to the owner but always present. Time, Heat, vibration!
 
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 03:27 PM
  #19  
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I get it Cali. Not trying to convince you, or anyone else on the forum, I know anything special about the life of a car battery. Not arguing with you - which I why I asked your opinion about battery life. Just telling MY experience with how long they have lasted in various cars. Some days you are very congenial and others it seems you got out of the wrong side of the bed....

As I have said many times in the past, this is a car FORUM, which means it's a place for people(of all types) to discuss cars. We are not all ASE techs as you are. That is for another place (or via PM) if you want to do in depth technical discussions on car repair. We keep it pretty superficial here most of the time (as it should be).
 

Last edited by chickdr19; Jun 3, 2025 at 03:31 PM.
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by chickdr19
I get it Cali. Not trying to convince you, or anyone else on the forum, I know anything special about the life of a car battery. Not arguing with you - which I why I asked your opinion about battery life. Just telling MY experience with how long they have lasted in various cars. Some days you are very congenial and others it seems you got out of the wrong side of the bed....

As I have said many times in the past, this is a car FORUM, which means it's a place for people (of all types) to discuss cars. We are not all ASE techs as you are. That is for another place (or via PM) if you want to do in depth technical discussions on car repair. We keep it pretty superficial here most of the time (as it should be).
Naw, I try to stay even headed but I have to have a smile and be pleasant even when I am trying help ITRW here at work. Posting on the forum is actually my break in-between the having to deal with people coming to the shop for a problem and then telling me how to service their car? You have no idea. The internet has everyone going there and printing up what they found and want me to follow those findings. And then if after we or I do a diagnostic and find the issue if it does in the rare chance was what they guessed to be right from the WWW they don't think they should have to pay for that 1st hour of diagnostic work? So as not to lose a customer I negotiate 50-100% of that first hour if we can do the service to correct the issue. That works sometimes and then other times they think we are ripping them off. And then if we do what they ask and it's not the issue they found on the internet they say they shouldn't have to pay and that we should have known better and looked for the real issue not what they thought was the issue. LOL
Currently the temperatures in my city have been the last few days into the 105-112F. AC systems are not working as customers expect, and we have replaced since last Monday 8 batteries. All were at least by their retail date code less then 3 years old. With two exceptions that one was actually 5 years old. That Ford was towed into the shop no start. LOL

So I apologize for getting a bit rough with you. You do take care of or have service shop keep up on service on and before the scheduling and at least keep your vehicles clean and or cleaned.
Hey I am little different then he average Tech, I will on a daily basis do free work for customers, mostly because I feel bad for them if they are a 1 owner vehicle. And that their problems are often simple easy to do in a few minutes. It builds trust and a good customer return history.
But sometimes I get an ear full from some that comes into the shop after visiting other shops and gets mad that we give about the same information and they think we are all a group acting together to rip off unsuspecting customers. LOL I just smile tell them what I think about what is needed and tell them I am here to answer an question anytime for them.


BTW I do more PM's on this and other forums then most members on the various forum platforms I participate on. Most of the reasons why so many PMs is that they don't want to read all the clouded (so to information responses from members. It is actually easier for me to help resolve issues rather than correct or challenges some DIY and other semi qualified people responses. LOL


 
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