Skyactive i-Stop engined cars - ALTERNATIVE BATTERIES.

**ecport** · November 7th, 2019 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Fozzie Bear

I thought I'd start this thread due to my unbelievably difficult task trying to find a suitable alternative battery for the i-Stop engines.

firstly....I live in Palawan, so its practically impossible for me just to drive to a Mazda dealer for any servicing or warranty issues.
So when My battery started to fail and I discovered that my ONLY local battery supplier Motolite could NOT supply a battery for my CX5, I realised I had a BIG problem.

So after hours and hours of trawling through countless forums and websites and then checking with various suppliers, I managed to discover that some Mazda i-Stop owners had had success using a AMARON Pro 90D23L (1SMF) battery, available on Lazada with nationwide delivery!
This was the ONLY option I discovered!

If anyone else has discovered other option which are AVAILABLE IN PHILIPPINES perhaps you can help others by posting them here!

Happy motoring.

Sorry to hear about your logistics challenge. I have a Mazda 6 and recently replaced the Motolite EFB battery which lasted about 20 months. No, don't get another Motolite EFB! I have had 3 of them and they are terrible. One lasted 12 months, replaced under warranty and lasted around 14 months, the 3rd lasted 20 months because I started turning off I-Stop every time I used the car. My new battery is a Yellow Top AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat). Instead of fluid, it has gel inside. I read good reviews on it and I hope it lasts longer. Even if it just adds another year, it would already be cheaper. It costs PHP 2,000 more than the EFB batteries Mazda dealers sell. Mazda dealers have stopped selling Motolite EFBs because of bad feedback and now sell Yuasa instead. Dealers charge PHP 14,500 plus PHP 1,000 for installation. I almost bought an Amaron as I have switched our other non-I-Stop cars from Motolite to Amaron. Purchase the Q85 model Amaron for I-stop engines. Last time I checked it cost approximately PHP 11,500.00. All the best.

**travajante** · November 7th, 2019 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by ecport

Sorry to hear about your logistics challenge. I have a Mazda 6 and recently replaced the Motolite EFB battery which lasted about 20 months. No, don't get another Motolite EFB! I have had 3 of them and they are terrible. One lasted 12 months, replaced under warranty and lasted around 14 months, the 3rd lasted 20 months because I started turning off I-Stop every time I used the car. My new battery is a Yellow Top AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat). Instead of fluid, it has gel inside. I read good reviews on it and I hope it lasts longer. Even if it just adds another year, it would already be cheaper. It costs PHP 2,000 more than the EFB batteries Mazda dealers sell. Mazda dealers have stopped selling Motolite EFBs because of bad feedback and now sell Yuasa instead. Dealers charge PHP 14,500 plus PHP 1,000 for installation. I almost bought an Amaron as I have switched our other non-I-Stop cars from Motolite to Amaron. Purchase the Q85 model Amaron for I-stop engines. Last time I checked it cost approximately PHP 11,500.00. All the best.

Optima YellowTop is another Johnson Controls brand. A very good AGM, a superior option.[emoji106] Hope you can share its size equivalent to Q85s, sir. Try extending its service life even further w/ a CTek...for the archives.
Thanks for sharing, sir.[emoji106]

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**oj88** · November 7th, 2019 06:09 PM

Spend a ton to save a few drops of fuel at a stop?

That's just a rhetorical question. I'm curious if the i-Stop feature can be turned off.

**Archerfish** · November 7th, 2019 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by oj88

Spend a ton to save a few drops of fuel at a stop?

That's just a rhetorical question. I'm curious if the i-Stop feature can be turned off.

Yes, it can be turned off. I don't use it and I only use it when I forget to turn it OFF.

**travajante** · November 7th, 2019 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by oj88

Spend a ton to save a few drops of fuel at a stop?

That's just a rhetorical question. I'm curious if the i-Stop feature can be turned off.

It's a feature to help us be kinder to momma earth, good sir. Were we not taught to be her good stewards growing up?[emoji4]The few drops saved you mentioned? Just some magnified bullcarp sales pitch for those who belong to the "1 born every minute" group.[emoji13]

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**ecport** · November 7th, 2019 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by oj88

Spend a ton to save a few drops of fuel at a stop?

That's just a rhetorical question. I'm curious if the i-Stop feature can be turned off.

If there is a lesson here, don't buy cars with i-Stop! Not worth the hassle. I will never buy a car with this feature again, as long as I drive in Manila. Batteries are expensive and do not last that long, and with our traffic, it's not practical. You don't want your car starting and restarting in bumper to bumper traffic. I wish I could permanently turn it off.

**travajante** · November 7th, 2019 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by ecport

If there is a lesson here, don't buy cars with i-Stop! Not worth the hassle. I will never buy a car with this feature again, as long as I drive in Manila. Batteries are expensive and do not last that long, and with our traffic, it's not practical. You don't want your car starting and restarting in bumper to bumper traffic. I wish I could permanently turn it off.

You can permanently turn it off, sir. Just flip the bonnet latch switch to fool the system into thinking 'open'. The trick is reversible.[emoji4]

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**ecport** · November 8th, 2019 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by travajante

You can permanently turn it off, sir. Just flip the bonnet latch switch to fool the system into thinking 'open'. The trick is reversible.[emoji4]

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I have seen that workaround, but that affects the car's alarm system which won't engage.

**travajante** · November 8th, 2019 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by ecport

I have seen that workaround, but that affects the car's alarm system which won't engage.

A simple way is to keep the AC thermostat at the lowest temp setting. iStop won't likely launch.

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**togmolodon** · November 8th, 2019 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by ecport

If there is a lesson here, don't buy cars with i-Stop! Not worth the hassle. I will never buy a car with this feature again, as long as I drive in Manila. Batteries are expensive and do not last that long, and with our traffic, it's not practical. You don't want your car starting and restarting in bumper to bumper traffic. I wish I could permanently turn it off.

In my experience, I need not turn off i-Stop because this shortened battery life even more. Whenever I make a full stop e.g., stop light or intersection, I don't step on the break too hard so as not to trigger i-Stop. When stuck in traffic, I just turn the wheel and wait for the i-Stop green light indicator to go away, put it in neutral, and pull the hand break, this way I can relax because I need not step on the break the whole time.

YMMV.