Jack Rabbit
Banned
- :
- 18 Mazda CX5 AW
CX-5 Battery Installation:
My suggestion- Get the battery you want and have your local mechanic put it in or just buy your battery from a store that offers free installation.
Otherwise read on.
The OEM battery only lasted 42 months.
Mazda has turned what should be a 5 minute battery swap into a major 1/2 hour operation plus extra drive time to return the core.
On my other vehicles(Ford/Toyota) I'd go to Napa, get a battery off the shelf, plop it in barehanded while in the parking lot and return the core all within 5-10 minutes.
Not so with my Mazda. Walmart was out of Everstarts so drove to Home Depot and got an Exide 35 with 640 CCA. Popped the hood, loosened the brackets & cables and then couldn't get the damn battery out. You cant pull the battery straight up and out because it's wedged in there and the frames is in the way of pulling it up. I didnt have gloves and last thing you want to do is tip the battery at night in store parking lot and not be able to see if acid is leaking out.
So it becomes a next day operation.
First : in case things go wrong,
1.) make sure your windows are closed and the doors unlocked.
2.) Keep the keyfob on top of the cowl near windshield so the door doesnt autolock. Everytime I tried to walk to hood with keys in pocket, the CX-5 would lock.
3.) Wear gloves and long sleeve shirt.
4. ) Loosen brackets and pull off
5.) Disconnect Negative cable.
6.) Disconnect Positives cable.
7.) Pull out the battery insulator sleeve cover. Place it on top of engine so you will see it and not forget to put it back on. It's a pain to disconnect everything and redo.
8.) Make sure you have gloves on.
* Did you put your gloves on?
9.) Spend 10 minutes seeing if there is anything else you can remove to get the battery out easier. Nope there isn't without it taking alot more time.
10.) Carefully tilt battery almost completely sideways on the long end in order to get hand underneath and pull out while watching for battery acid to leak. This is no small tilt job. Do this quickly, get it out and set it down.
Sealed lead acids can still leak. Make sure acid isn't eating your clothes.
11.) Even though your new battery comes with a handle, it does no good when you cant set it straight down onto the plate. Again, you will need to tip it to get it in. It's a miracle neither one leaked. Or did it? Again check for leaks. Neutralize any spills/leaks with heavy baking soda solution.
12.) DO NOT forget the insulation sleeve.
13.) spray/lube with silicone grease or vaseline.
14.) Connects positive.
15.) Connects Negative
16)Make sure vehicle starts
17.) Tighten hold-down brackets down.
18.) Grab your tools
19.) Close hood
20.) Grab your keyfob off the cowl so you dont drive down the road with it.
21.) Make sure your trunk/liftgate works.
22.) Reset any radio stations, seat settings, windows, etc.
23.) Drive another 15 to 30 minutes(depending on store distance) to return the core and then another 15-30 minutes back home. Add the gas bill to your total battery cost.
24.) Major PITA
My suggestion- Get the battery you want and have your local mechanic put it in or just buy your battery from a store that offers free installation.
Otherwise read on.
The OEM battery only lasted 42 months.
Mazda has turned what should be a 5 minute battery swap into a major 1/2 hour operation plus extra drive time to return the core.
On my other vehicles(Ford/Toyota) I'd go to Napa, get a battery off the shelf, plop it in barehanded while in the parking lot and return the core all within 5-10 minutes.
Not so with my Mazda. Walmart was out of Everstarts so drove to Home Depot and got an Exide 35 with 640 CCA. Popped the hood, loosened the brackets & cables and then couldn't get the damn battery out. You cant pull the battery straight up and out because it's wedged in there and the frames is in the way of pulling it up. I didnt have gloves and last thing you want to do is tip the battery at night in store parking lot and not be able to see if acid is leaking out.
So it becomes a next day operation.
First : in case things go wrong,
1.) make sure your windows are closed and the doors unlocked.
2.) Keep the keyfob on top of the cowl near windshield so the door doesnt autolock. Everytime I tried to walk to hood with keys in pocket, the CX-5 would lock.
3.) Wear gloves and long sleeve shirt.
4. ) Loosen brackets and pull off
5.) Disconnect Negative cable.
6.) Disconnect Positives cable.
7.) Pull out the battery insulator sleeve cover. Place it on top of engine so you will see it and not forget to put it back on. It's a pain to disconnect everything and redo.
8.) Make sure you have gloves on.
* Did you put your gloves on?
9.) Spend 10 minutes seeing if there is anything else you can remove to get the battery out easier. Nope there isn't without it taking alot more time.
10.) Carefully tilt battery almost completely sideways on the long end in order to get hand underneath and pull out while watching for battery acid to leak. This is no small tilt job. Do this quickly, get it out and set it down.
Sealed lead acids can still leak. Make sure acid isn't eating your clothes.
11.) Even though your new battery comes with a handle, it does no good when you cant set it straight down onto the plate. Again, you will need to tip it to get it in. It's a miracle neither one leaked. Or did it? Again check for leaks. Neutralize any spills/leaks with heavy baking soda solution.
12.) DO NOT forget the insulation sleeve.
13.) spray/lube with silicone grease or vaseline.
14.) Connects positive.
15.) Connects Negative
16)Make sure vehicle starts
17.) Tighten hold-down brackets down.
18.) Grab your tools
19.) Close hood
20.) Grab your keyfob off the cowl so you dont drive down the road with it.
21.) Make sure your trunk/liftgate works.
22.) Reset any radio stations, seat settings, windows, etc.
23.) Drive another 15 to 30 minutes(depending on store distance) to return the core and then another 15-30 minutes back home. Add the gas bill to your total battery cost.
24.) Major PITA
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