2009 Honda Fit getting a 1999 Miata battery

[sciphi]

Pictures of the new battery in our Fit. The new battery is a U1RT battery that fits in a 1999 Miata. The old battery was an impossible to locate Group 151R. The new battery was basically identical except for being 1/2" shorter. Oh, and available locally for much cheaper than the old Group 151R battery.

Old vs. new:

Stock battery box:

Modified battery box:

All installed.

Despite how it looks, the battery is not touching either the airbox or headlight.

 

[SuperDave456]

As long as it has similar cold cranking amps you should be good.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
As long as it has similar cold cranking amps you should be good.


It has 30 more CCA than the OEM battery. It should be just fine.

 

[mrsilv04]

Isn't a U1 the spec for most larger Lawn and Garden equipment?

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Isn't a U1 the spec for most larger Lawn and Garden equipment?


I don't know. I know this one is intended for use in a Miata. It came with the kit to deflect acid in the event of a over-charge or spill.

Either way, the fanciest electronic thing in the car is the radio. Given the similar CCA specs to the original, it ought to be fine powering a car that does not use a lot of juice anyway.

 

[Mr Nice]

Why did Honda put such an odd ball type of battery in the Fit ???

They should of used a Civic or Accord battery.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Isn't a U1 the spec for most larger Lawn and Garden equipment?


Miatas aren't lawn and garden equipment? They're a legitimate sports car. Ya it is a screwball size, keep a bunch in stock. They also mount them in the right rear quarter-panel.

 

[eljefino]

Sometimes with economy cars a lighter battery gets it into a lighter weight class which matters for the EPA somehow even if it doesn't in real life.

My hyundai accent had a battery comparable to two bibles stacked together, and had a "bolt plus wedge" retainer in the tray. Put a ford escort standard size battery in, and, who'd have thought, there was room on the tray, and another hole tapped and threaded that worked perfectly!

 

[cchase]

My GTO uses a group 85 battery which no one has even heard of, most places just show up with "no fit". I did not like what I had heard of Optima batteries and it was going to be $160 from GM for the battery.

Luckily I discovered that a Group 35 is the same thing, just 1/2" taller which fits fine...

 

[bowlofturtle]

too late now but you could of added a spacer to the bottom of the battery box equal to the difference. So no trimming was needed.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: bowlofturtle
too late now but you could of added a spacer to the bottom of the battery box equal to the difference. So no trimming was needed.


I thought about that, then saw I didn't have a good one for the battery itself. I had one for the hold-down, so it got spaced instead. 6 of one way, half a dozen of the other...

 

[doitmyself]

What was the function of the battery holder tabs you cut off and why did you have to remove them if there was only 1/2 inch difference in battery height.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Isn't a U1 the spec for most larger Lawn and Garden equipment?


Yep. Sears has a 340CCA U1 lawn and garden battery for $50. Could probably use it in a Miata or a Fit, but you'll need to get some terminal adapters.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
What was the function of the battery holder tabs you cut off and why did you have to remove them if there was only 1/2 inch difference in battery height.


Those tabs were a guide for the battery hold-down assembler at the factory. And to prevent folks like me from dropping in a smaller battery. They were precisely tall enough to impede getting the hold-down fastened with the smaller battery.

I always joked that the Fit's battery was no larger than a lawnmower's. Now it has what is essentially a repurposed lawnmower battery!

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Why did Honda put such an odd ball type of battery in the Fit ???


Maybe they're common in Japan, in kei cars or something.

Nice work, sciphi. Hopefully other Fit owners see this thread and benefit from it.

 

[IndyIan]

Kind of odd the stock battery died already? Maybe high underhood temps got it? The Neon actually has a cold air hose to draw air into the battery box and out the top, kind of like a chimney.
I guess the original batteries are a place for the manufacturer to save money these days... Our old 1992 Sentra had the original battery die in 2001.

 

[mhadden]

Nice job, sciphi! I just saw your post over at FitFreaks regarding this. It's a shame that it's such a PITA to find the 151R's...

 

[sciphi]

Thanks! It wasn't that much work, and we can now drop in another Miata battery when this one dies.

The 151R's in the Fits are reported to live a short life. I'm not sure why they do, but they do...

 

[Stanimal]

Our 2nd 151R battery for the 09 (bought in 12/08) Fit Sport is starting to show signs of weakness. IMO, less than 3 years per battery is pretty bad. Might be due to the undersized battery. Although it doesn't help that we start it an average of 7-8 time per day taking the kids to schools and extracurricular activities.

Will see if I could find a AGM battery in size 151R or U1RT. Hopefully, that'll last 2+ times longer than the OEM standard lead acid 151R batteries.

This is the only issue we've had with our Fit.

 

[sciphi]

If it's a OEM Honda battery, they're just high-priced junk. The Miata battery in our Fit is 3 years old and doing okay. That's longer than we got out of the OEM battery.