Four Batteries in 40,262 Miles (2020 CX-5)

[Pitter]

I just got my 2020 Signature back from the Mazda shop where it had the 65,000 kilometer (40,400 mile) maintenance. To my amazement it needed yet another battery (they showed the current battery specs so I assume legit). This is the fourth battery! (The last three have been Willard). Whats more the mechanic didn't indicate having found any unusual drain. I'm astonished. This car is driven in Colombia, South America in temperatures that range from sixty degrees to ninety degrees, Never freezing! The only condition the car is subjected to that could be considered exceptional is being driven on rough unpaved road about 5 kilometers or a little over 3 miles daily. Hard to oin short battery life on that though I would think. Another issue is a small bit of oil seepage from the valve cover but the service manager told me not an urgent repair.

I do keep the headlights set to auto so the driving lights are always on when the car is in motion.

 

[dunhillmc]

They have each been covered under warranty, correct?

 

[chickdr]

Seems quite unusual. I recall something about a module for the rear hatch which could kill a battery on cars in your age range. Did you have that done at some point?

 

[GFrosty]

... driven on rough unpaved road about 5 kilometers or a little over 3 miles daily ... I do keep the headlights set to auto so the driving lights are always on when the car is in motion.

Hm.

I wonder whether daily driving no more than 3 miles daily is contributing. Guessing, but perhaps that little mileage isn't enough for the charging-up of the battery.

 

[elementCX5]

I have an aftermarket amp and sub in my cars and live where Temps are 100⁰F+ for half the year and my batteries usually last 3 years. (My 2015 civic will at least.) My 23 CX-5 has 15k miles and just over a year old and battery is still strong.

My thoughts are:
1- Repeated short trips are killing your battery. Although 27 miles per day average(40,000 miles÷1460days (4 years). Or 44.5kms per day. should be enough to charge the battery you would think. Unless your driving is consistent of a few miles here a few miles there. That probably isn't great for the battery.

2-There is a parasitic draw somewhere. Maybe a module or relay is not turning off or a device is plugged in to an outlet and it's draining the battery all the time. Like the other user said look for a TSB on this. I'm sure you know but some plugs/outlets in the car don't turn off. Maybe leaving a cable plugged in here is enough to kill the battery after a year, even if not charging/powering anything.

3- Make sure your replacement battery is the same battery type. In my civic, the only time a battery didn't last more than a year, was when I tried an AGM battery. I later learned the charging system will NOT top these batteries off like they are supposed to be and will only charge the batteries as if they are a regular lead acid battery, making the lifespan shorter. Not sure if Mazda's without i-stop are programmed to recognize the AGM battery or not. Also there seems to be people claiming AGM is always an upgrade. (Idk, I'm not a mechanic) Personally I'll stick with what type of battery the vehicle came with.

When your mechanic tested the car did they keep it overnight? Testing the battery after charge and the next morning for volts and amps? My guess is either short trips or something isn't shutting off like it's supposed to but not pulling a lot of current.

 

[N7turbo]

AGM and "deep cycle" are not the same thing.

I had the same problem with an Optima Red Top battery in my Trans Am. It didn't last like regular batteries would.

 

[elementCX5]

AGM and "deep cycle" are not the same thing.

I had the same problem with an Optima Red Top battery in my Trans Am. It didn't last like regular batteries would.

Always thought they were. I'm just thinking of AGM batteries like optima yellowtop / Bosch Platnum. I'll edit my post then. Thx like I said I'm not an expert

 

[Pitter]

No not covered on warranty. I apologize, I should have been more clear. My daily drive is around 37 miles about half country and half city. That includes the 3 miles on rough road so charging shouldn't be an issue. Thanks to all for helpful comments and suggestions.

 

[Pitter]

I might add that after being stuck way out in the boonies when the first battery died and having to wait hours for a tow truck I now keep a fully charged Fanttik charger in the car.

 

[skid00skid0]

being driven on rough unpaved road

Vibration will destroy batteries. You MIGHT try using a deep-cycle battery (inexpensive), which has thicker plates. Or an Optima type 'coiled cells' battery (expensive).

 

[Freedom55]

Never heard of Willard batteries. Could it be a low quality battery causing short life?

 

[chickdr]

Vibration will destroy batteries. You MIGHT try using a deep-cycle battery (inexpensive), which has thicker plates. Or an Optima type 'coiled cells' battery (expensive).

Never heard this before. Maybe this is the issue.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Vibration will destroy batteries. You MIGHT try using a deep-cycle battery (inexpensive), which has thicker plates. Or an Optima type 'coiled cells' battery (expensive).

Interesting. Hadn't heard of that before.

Very odd OP. I'm barely to my 3rd battery this year after 11 years and 135,000 miles. Either they keep giving you crappy batteries or there is some condition within your driving that's killing them faster than it should.

 

[yrwei52]

I believe OP is comparing his battery to batteries used in his previous vehicles. Driving conditions, habits are the same, but why only the batteries on Mazda CX-5 are short-lived. 4 batteries in 40,262 miles and less than 5 years is outrageous to me no matter what kind of drive conditions and habits are.

Since OP got stranded once at a rural area due to a dead battery, carry a fully charged Fanttik charger in the car is an excellent idea when he has this situation happening again.

I guess if the Mazda dealer showed the battery failed the current test and needed another battery, OP can question them why the less-than-a-year-old battery failed again? And if OP has no trouble to start the engine, and engage the EPB, he can decline the battery replacement offer and wait and see. OP now carries a fully charged Fanttik charger in car all the time, hence he isn’t afraid of battery dying. At least that’s what I’d do just to find out if the Willard battery truly needs to be replaced.

BTW Willard automotive battery is a quality battery for sale worldwide but not in the US.

 

[Busch]

Here are my dos pesos:
1) Have you installed any after-market devices like a Theft Alarm or Remote Starter?
2) Has your insurer made you install a monitoring device? These usually get plugged into the Diagnostic Port?
3) Do you have a cigarette lighter plugged into a 12v port? If so, can it be accidentally pushed in? I had a car with one in an old car with a front bench seat. It would get pushed in with a knee and wouldn’t pop out when it was hot…and I didn’t even smoke.
4) Is it possible that a light is staying on? I had a car with a light in the trunk/boot that went off as the lid was closing but came back on when it was filly closed. I had to have someone lock me in to see that. Now a days you can put your mobile phone camera near a light and see what happens.
5) Have any of the wiring harness cases burned a hole in them by touching the hot engine or exhaust metal?
6) Rodents have been known to eat through the tasty soy based wire insulation. This can expose bare wires and cause intermittent shorts. Do you see hay or grass sticking out of any crevasses under the car?
7) Lastly, your luck is pretty bad. You may have to invest in a four-leaf clover farm.

 

[ceric]

I have four Mazdas in CA now.
The batteries last about 4 yrs on average.. Mostly 2-15-mile trips.

 

[Pitter]

Again, appreciate the helpful analysis from everyone. Yes there is absolutely something wrong requiring all these replacements I need to strong arm the service manager to get some kind of explanation. As yrsei52 mentioned above I've had a number of vehicles over the last twenty two years (5) driven under the exact same road and none have required exceptional battery replacement. I love my Signature but it has been astoundingly expensive to repair and maintain. Prior vehicles include Suzuki Vitara 4x4 (used), no significant repairs, Mazda B 2600 4x4 Cab & Chasis, ditto, Mitsubishi Montero 4x4 (short ownership due to divorce) Nissan Frontier 4x4, new transmission within two months of purchase, under warrenty of course, then no further significant repairs and Renault Duster 4x4, required early rear shock replacement, no further significant repairs. Hmmm...maybe that 4x4 designation is a clue.

 

[yrwei52]

⋯ Hmmm...maybe that 4x4 designation is a clue.

Yes, most definitely ⋯

 

[Freedom55]

You could use an inexpensive battery maintainer/tender as often as you can to prolong battery life until your problem is hopefully resolved. If your battery went dead several times then its life expectancy is greatly reduced.

 

[Freedom55]

There is a TSB about ventilated seats staying on. Check the attachment on first post below. Good luck amigo!

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