Battery Dead Again!!!

Perhaps he's just leaving the running lights on. That's what gets me
sometimes on rainy days. Do the newer Miata's have the auto-lights off
feature?

JJ

On Tue, 2 Nov 2004 22:31:00 -0500, "Southoceandrive"
> wrote:

>
>"Gary" > wrote in message
>news:F1Xhd.6469$o52.3207@trndny03...
>> 1990 Miata with WestCo battery:
>>
>> I seem to forget to turn my lights off and run down the battery too often.
>> I'd say it happens about twice a month. I have a portable battery jumper
>in
>> my house and its no problem starting the car when I forget to turn off the
>> lights at home. But it really hurts when I forget away from home. I may
>have
>> to keep the portable battery unit on the passenger's side floor. I'm
>afraid
>> to put it in the trunk, because you know what will happen. A dented trunk,
>> from within.
>>
>> To be properly warned, I bought one of those light minders from Miata
>> Marketing. Its a buzzer and has two wires that attach to a couple fuses
>> inside the car. Unfortunately, the ends of the wires have clips which go
>> under two specific fuses, but its too thick to insert them into the fuse
>> holder without forcing them in and damaging the fuse holder. Yes, I used
>the
>> right clips (there were 3 depending on year and model). The bottom line: I
>> had to cut the clips off and wrap the bare wire around the fuse leads and
>> insert them in. That worked for a while, but the vibrations cause it to no
>> longer make a good contact and the warning buzzer no longer works. I plan
>to
>> solder the wires onto the fuse leads, but what if that fails?
>>
>> My other idea is to get one of those Priority One units which cuts off the
>> battery when in reaches a threshold. Then if I leave the lights on, I can
>> open the trunk and press a button to allow the battery to work enough to
>> crank the engine. However, the friggin thing is almost as much as buying a
>> new WestCo battery.
>>
>> Other than telling me to not ever leave the lights on again, is there any
>> advice or tips or products?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Gary
>>
>>
>There is a subtle 'light on' warning signal that is standard on many
>Miatas -- THE BIG FREAKIN' BARN DOORS FLANKING THE HOOD. If you train
>yourself to detect this slight change in body shape, it may alleviate your
>problem.
>

I tried soldering to the legs of both fuses and its still tough to insert.
Maybe its the thickness of the wire pressing up along the side of fuse. I am
going to try and drill down from the top and solder into the top of fuse.


"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message
...
> "Gary" > wrote:
>
> >I'll let you know if soldering the leads on actually works. Why did they
> >make the fuse clips so thick, because it would have worked had they
> >engineered the light minder for all Miatas' fuse boxes.
>
> Actually, I think they just got a generic kit, probably not really
> intended for mini-fuses.
>
> >I like Larry's FAQ about converting the buzzer to a light minder.
>
> He likes to be called Lanny, but Larry is OK.
>
> >Anyone know how many pennies Mazda engineers shaved off the cost of a
Miata
> >by not implementing a warning alert if you leave your lights on when the
> >ignition is off?
>
> Well, since the US government requires a seat belt annoyer, they
> assumed that people entering a *sports car*, fresh to do some real
> driving, and exiting it tiredly, would end up converting a seat
> belt annoyer in a lights-on warner, allowing the cost of the
> second buzzer to be saved.
>
> Mazda was trying to produce a sports car for young people still
> able to drive it, rather than for old people able to afford it.
> Any added cost multiplies because the amount of the cars you
> sell decreases with increasing price, meaning the same development
> cost must be supported by fewer cars. It quickly adds up.
>
> Leon
>
> >"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message
> .. .
> >> "Southoceandrive" > wrote:
> >>
> >> >
> >> >"Gary" > wrote in message
> >> >news:F1Xhd.6469$o52.3207@trndny03...
> >> >> 1990 Miata with WestCo battery:
> >> >>
> >> >> I seem to forget to turn my lights off and run down the battery too
> >often.
> >> >> I'd say it happens about twice a month. I have a portable battery
> >jumper
> >> >in
> >> >> my house and its no problem starting the car when I forget to turn
off
> >the
> >> >> lights at home. But it really hurts when I forget away from home. I
may
> >> >have
> >> >> to keep the portable battery unit on the passenger's side floor. I'm
> >> >afraid
> >> >> to put it in the trunk, because you know what will happen. A dented
> >trunk,
> >> >> from within.
> >> >>
> >> >> To be properly warned, I bought one of those light minders from
Miata
> >> >> Marketing. Its a buzzer and has two wires that attach to a couple
fuses
> >> >> inside the car. Unfortunately, the ends of the wires have clips
which
> >go
> >> >> under two specific fuses, but its too thick to insert them into the
> >fuse
> >> >> holder without forcing them in and damaging the fuse holder. Yes, I
> >used
> >> >the
> >> >> right clips (there were 3 depending on year and model). The bottom
> >line: I
> >> >> had to cut the clips off and wrap the bare wire around the fuse
leads
> >and
> >> >> insert them in. That worked for a while, but the vibrations cause it
to
> >no
> >> >> longer make a good contact and the warning buzzer no longer works. I
> >plan
> >> >to
> >> >> solder the wires onto the fuse leads, but what if that fails?
> >> >>
> >> >> My other idea is to get one of those Priority One units which cuts
off
> >the
> >> >> battery when in reaches a threshold. Then if I leave the lights on,
I
> >can
> >> >> open the trunk and press a button to allow the battery to work
enough
> >to
> >> >> crank the engine. However, the friggin thing is almost as much as
> >buying a
> >> >> new WestCo battery.
> >> >>
> >> >> Other than telling me to not ever leave the lights on again, is
there
> >any
> >> >> advice or tips or products?
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks,
> >> >>
> >> >> Gary
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >There is a subtle 'light on' warning signal that is standard on many
> >> >Miatas -- THE BIG FREAKIN' BARN DOORS FLANKING THE HOOD. If you train
> >> >yourself to detect this slight change in body shape, it may alleviate
> >your
> >> >problem.
> >>
> >> That can be quite effective if you mainly drive your car on sunny
> >> top-down Sunday afternoons, with maybe an occasional 5 minutes
> >> in the rain or twilight. Those who *really* drive their Miatas,
> >> however, tend to often see absolutely nothing strange in the
> >> two headlights they have been looking at many times, including
> >> the past many hours in rain or darkness, when they have stopped
> >> the car.
> >>
> >> I am sure *some* people who really drive their Miatas will recognize
> >> the problem anyway. I just cannot check that claim. I know that
> >> my light buzzer stopped the problem. My fuse tap does not fit
> >> that well with the fuse in the fuse box either, but I have not have
> >> it fall out in the seven years or so I used it.
> >>
> >> Leon
> >>
> >> --
> >> Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
> >> http://www.dommelen.net/miata
> >> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)
> >
>
> --
> Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
> http://www.dommelen.net/miata
> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

"Gary" > wrote:

>I tried soldering to the legs of both fuses and its still tough to insert.
>Maybe its the thickness of the wire pressing up along the side of fuse. I am
>going to try and drill down from the top and solder into the top of fuse.

How about taking the fuse box off and trying to tap into the
wires going to it?

Leon

>"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message
.. .
>> "Gary" > wrote:
>>
>> >I'll let you know if soldering the leads on actually works. Why did they
>> >make the fuse clips so thick, because it would have worked had they
>> >engineered the light minder for all Miatas' fuse boxes.
>>
>> Actually, I think they just got a generic kit, probably not really
>> intended for mini-fuses.
>>
>> >I like Larry's FAQ about converting the buzzer to a light minder.
>>
>> He likes to be called Lanny, but Larry is OK.
>>
>> >Anyone know how many pennies Mazda engineers shaved off the cost of a
>Miata
>> >by not implementing a warning alert if you leave your lights on when the
>> >ignition is off?
>>
>> Well, since the US government requires a seat belt annoyer, they
>> assumed that people entering a *sports car*, fresh to do some real
>> driving, and exiting it tiredly, would end up converting a seat
>> belt annoyer in a lights-on warner, allowing the cost of the
>> second buzzer to be saved.
>>
>> Mazda was trying to produce a sports car for young people still
>> able to drive it, rather than for old people able to afford it.
>> Any added cost multiplies because the amount of the cars you
>> sell decreases with increasing price, meaning the same development
>> cost must be supported by fewer cars. It quickly adds up.
>>
>> Leon
>>
>> >"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>> >> "Southoceandrive" > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >"Gary" > wrote in message
>> >> >news:F1Xhd.6469$o52.3207@trndny03...
>> >> >> 1990 Miata with WestCo battery:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I seem to forget to turn my lights off and run down the battery too
>> >often.
>> >> >> I'd say it happens about twice a month. I have a portable battery
>> >jumper
>> >> >in
>> >> >> my house and its no problem starting the car when I forget to turn
>off
>> >the
>> >> >> lights at home. But it really hurts when I forget away from home. I
>may
>> >> >have
>> >> >> to keep the portable battery unit on the passenger's side floor. I'm
>> >> >afraid
>> >> >> to put it in the trunk, because you know what will happen. A dented
>> >trunk,
>> >> >> from within.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> To be properly warned, I bought one of those light minders from
>Miata
>> >> >> Marketing. Its a buzzer and has two wires that attach to a couple
>fuses
>> >> >> inside the car. Unfortunately, the ends of the wires have clips
>which
>> >go
>> >> >> under two specific fuses, but its too thick to insert them into the
>> >fuse
>> >> >> holder without forcing them in and damaging the fuse holder. Yes, I
>> >used
>> >> >the
>> >> >> right clips (there were 3 depending on year and model). The bottom
>> >line: I
>> >> >> had to cut the clips off and wrap the bare wire around the fuse
>leads
>> >and
>> >> >> insert them in. That worked for a while, but the vibrations cause it
>to
>> >no
>> >> >> longer make a good contact and the warning buzzer no longer works. I
>> >plan
>> >> >to
>> >> >> solder the wires onto the fuse leads, but what if that fails?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> My other idea is to get one of those Priority One units which cuts
>off
>> >the
>> >> >> battery when in reaches a threshold. Then if I leave the lights on,
>I
>> >can
>> >> >> open the trunk and press a button to allow the battery to work
>enough
>> >to
>> >> >> crank the engine. However, the friggin thing is almost as much as
>> >buying a
>> >> >> new WestCo battery.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Other than telling me to not ever leave the lights on again, is
>there
>> >any
>> >> >> advice or tips or products?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thanks,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Gary
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >There is a subtle 'light on' warning signal that is standard on many
>> >> >Miatas -- THE BIG FREAKIN' BARN DOORS FLANKING THE HOOD. If you train
>> >> >yourself to detect this slight change in body shape, it may alleviate
>> >your
>> >> >problem.
>> >>
>> >> That can be quite effective if you mainly drive your car on sunny
>> >> top-down Sunday afternoons, with maybe an occasional 5 minutes
>> >> in the rain or twilight. Those who *really* drive their Miatas,
>> >> however, tend to often see absolutely nothing strange in the
>> >> two headlights they have been looking at many times, including
>> >> the past many hours in rain or darkness, when they have stopped
>> >> the car.
>> >>
>> >> I am sure *some* people who really drive their Miatas will recognize
>> >> the problem anyway. I just cannot check that claim. I know that
>> >> my light buzzer stopped the problem. My fuse tap does not fit
>> >> that well with the fuse in the fuse box either, but I have not have
>> >> it fall out in the seven years or so I used it.
>> >>
>> >> Leon
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
>> >> http://www.dommelen.net/miata
>> >> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)
>> >
>>
>> --
>> Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
>> http://www.dommelen.net/miata
>> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)
>

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)