Mazda CX3 Can Battery Readings Vary This Much?

LJusstyce on 21/02/2024 - 10:00
Last edited 21/02/2024 - 11:43 by 1 other user

Hi all, I have a six month old 2023 Mazda CX3.

I was told at the dealership on Friday when I put my car in for its 10,000km service my battery faulted and was reading at 130 CCA. When they actually serviced it on Monday the readings on my print out said my battery was rated at 520 CCA and it read at 443 CCA. On Tuesday night hubby tested it with the top of the line battery tester and it read at 650 CCA.

Is it possible to have this much variability?

Now there is a whole backstory as to what happened at the dealership service so just trying to first of all see of these battery readings can be this variable.

Thanks all.

Automotive Car Car Battery Mazda Rechargeable Battery

Comments

  • payless69 on 21/02/2024 - 10:15

    Wow !
    Your hubby is a champ.

    The battery on my Toyota Lexcen lasted 2 months and a few days.

    Get him to yell at the dealer, ACCC meant them to last unless purchased from Gerry.

    • Jusstyce on 21/02/2024 - 10:28

      Wow 2 months is terrible.

      After the service they told me nothing was wrong with my battery so I honestly have no idea what is going on with the car

  • racer1234 on 21/02/2024 - 10:22
    +1

    If the battery was tested dead flat and then fully charged you can get widely varying readings. The 130CCA would fit with this. The 443 and 650 could well be just different tester accuracy. In reality neither is probably correct they are just estimates based on trying to measure internal impedance and best used as a guide to the health.
    I would say from this the battery was flat initially and seems to be fairly healthy now.

    • Jusstyce on 21/02/2024 - 10:27

      Thankyou for the input, it makes sense. I was Just curious as I don’t actually think there was anything wrong with the battery to start with. I think the dealership forgot to service my car and then lied about it not starting ( long story ) but they told me the car wouldn’t start and when I arrived at the dealership a very short time later the car was not where I left it so obviously had started ) a whole heap of things didn’t add up with their story .

      • racer1234 on 21/02/2024 - 10:36

        If something like an interior light or some dodgy phone charger flattened the battery over the weekend from when you dropped it off to when they went to move it, story could be true. The dealership would have used a jump pack to start the car so that explains how it was moved.

        • Jusstyce on 21/02/2024 - 10:39

          I dropped it off at 8 am Friday and they called me at 4 pm Friday to say it was flat and a key or immobiliser issue and that the car wouldn’t start, when I arrived a short time later they said it was either of those or the battery. All very wish washy. But nothing was left on all day and car drove 40 mins to the dealership that Morning completely fine.
          I didn’t think of the jump,start though . They kept it all weekend and told me car was fine Monday and they serviced it and no issues, very weird for a car only 6 months old.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 21/02/2024 - 10:22
    +2

    @pegaxs
    Had the car had a good run over the weekend?
    Perhaps the initial reading was done with a damaged lead or had a poor connection?

    • Jusstyce on 21/02/2024 - 10:24

      It was locked up at the dealership all weekend so not driven.

      • geekcohen on 21/02/2024 - 11:08

        That wouldn't have helped which is why the reading might've been low.

    • pegaxs on 21/02/2024 - 11:00
      -1

      CCA will change with SOC. So it's possible that it was first tested at a low state of charge and then after a good drive around, it came back to being a good battery. A surface charge will give a reading of high volts, but low CCA. You really need to charge soak the battery to get a proper amp draw reading.

      Once of the first things we try with "bad" batteries is sticking them on our "top of the line" battery charger. It is fairly high amperage and does a whole discharge, de-sulphate cycle and other funky shit as it charges. Most batteries that come out of this with a full charge are usually back to almost brand new.

  • Mechz on 21/02/2024 - 10:32

    If you buy a battery from an auto parts shop you get 2 years minimum warranty if not 3 or 4 depending on the brand.

    Check what it says on the side of the battery and hold the dealer to replacement if they think it's no good.

    • jv on 21/02/2024 - 10:39

      "Hi all, I have a 6 month old 2023 mazda CX3."

      • Mechz on 21/02/2024 - 10:42
        +1

        That's my point, dealers usually try and claim the battery is a "consumable" which is a lie.

        • jv on 21/02/2024 - 10:51
          +2

          battery is a "consumable"

          Not within 6 months. ACCC would have no problem following that up…

          • payless69 on 21/02/2024 - 12:14
            -1

            @jv: That henhouse has just taken the ANZ bribe and merged Suncorp!

  • geekcohen on 21/02/2024 - 11:08
    +1

    10,000kms in 6 months is about 380kms a week or 55kms a day. It might not be enough and depending on the configuration of the car, it could be "smart charging" and only charging when the ECU thinks it is time for a charge.

    I know my 2021 Ford Ranger has that, I turned it off due to Dual Battery System, so it is always charging. Just something to keep in mind with the newer cars.

    Also, do you have the engine "stop start" on? That probably wouldn't help either if driving an average of 55kms a day and its stopping + starting the engine throughout traffic etc. The car's electrical is running on the battery and then "starting" the engine again is drawing more current down.

    • Danstar on 21/02/2024 - 12:20

      Also, do you have the engine "stop start" on?

      Yes, Mazda's have this feature that is always on and needs to be manually turned off every time you start the car. Saves a few dollars in petrol, but makes a battery last less than 2 years

      • geekcohen on 21/02/2024 - 12:28

        Yes, Mazda's have this feature that is always on and needs to be manually turned off every time you start the car

        That's super stupid!

  • kerfuffle on 21/02/2024 - 11:30
    +3

    Obligatory Whirlpool thread

    How many forums did you sign up to today to ask this question?

    Edit: Also Reddit but they don't have enough karma to post/can't stay on-topic

    • geekcohen on 21/02/2024 - 11:33

      All over it!

    • geekcohen on 21/02/2024 - 11:37

      Its funny as to see the thinking/responses of different people on different forums as well.

    • Baysew on 21/02/2024 - 11:48
      +1

      How many forums did you sign up to today to ask this question?

      What we are saying is welcome to OzBargain and don't trouble yourself with other websites.

    • blitz on 21/02/2024 - 17:59

      Book 'em, Danno

  • CurlCurl on 21/02/2024 - 13:28

    This pearler on Whirlpool from Ben M and no, I'm not a member.

    The only time a battery needs to be changed is when your car no longer starts.

    • geekcohen on 21/02/2024 - 13:34

      Oh what wonderful words.

  • Malik Nasser on 21/02/2024 - 19:05

    The initial low reading could have been a technician fault, if they failed to properly connect the battery analyser to the battery. Improper connection to the battery would not allow high current to flow, hence the low reading. Further testing seems to indicate this could have been the issue.
    If you want to test the battery properly, you need to load test it with the proper machine.

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