Del Val Miata Club

          Serving Miata Owners in the Delaware Valley Region Since 1990

Need Help Picking & Sourcing a New Battery for '99 NB (first time replacing the battery)

  • April 04, 2026 4:08 PM
    Quote
    Message # 13617073
    Anonymous

    Hi Group,

    As I've told some of you, I received my 1999 NB (base model) after my dad passed a few years ago. I have to replace the battery, and I've never done this before. I could really use some advice/help.

    I've spent a fair amount of time on the internet--searching & asking AI--and I've called Mazda dealerships and battery vendors in the Middlesex County area. There does seem to be strong consensus that the battery size needs to be 46A24L. However, there doesn't seem to be consensus on whether the battery should be an AGM or not.

    Can anyone tell me:

    1) Does my next battery for my '99 NB need to be an AGM?

    2) If it does need to be an AGM, does anyone have any preferred brands & models? A previous battery thread mentioned the Deka 8AMU1R but for a 2015 Miata. I've seen this battery recommended for my '99 NB along with the following:

    • Super Start Platinum AGM Top Post
    • Duracell Ultra Car Battery U1RT
    • Full Throttle FT438-U1R (not so sure about this one)

    Has anyone had positive experiences with these or other brands & models?

    3) Has anyone used a battery with more than 320CCAs in an '99 NB? If so, what was the battery, and do you recommend it? 

    4) Lastly, if you have any brands & models you recommend, can you tell me where you've purchased them from? A good '99 NB AGM battery seems pretty hard to find.

    Any help is much appreciated and will happily be reciprocated with lunch/coffee at one of our outings!

    Best,

    Scott

    sdahlie@gmail.com


    Last modified: April 04, 2026 4:09 PM | Anonymous
  • April 08, 2026 8:09 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 13618624 on 13617073
    Neil Tusing
    Anonymous wrote:

    Hi Group,

    As I've told some of you, I received my 1999 NB (base model) after my dad passed a few years ago. I have to replace the battery, and I've never done this before. I could really use some advice/help.

    I've spent a fair amount of time on the internet--searching & asking AI--and I've called Mazda dealerships and battery vendors in the Middlesex County area. There does seem to be strong consensus that the battery size needs to be 46A24L. However, there doesn't seem to be consensus on whether the battery should be an AGM or not.

    Can anyone tell me:

    1) Does my next battery for my '99 NB need to be an AGM?

    2) If it does need to be an AGM, does anyone have any preferred brands & models? A previous battery thread mentioned the Deka 8AMU1R but for a 2015 Miata. I've seen this battery recommended for my '99 NB along with the following:

    • Super Start Platinum AGM Top Post
    • Duracell Ultra Car Battery U1RT
    • Full Throttle FT438-U1R (not so sure about this one)

    Has anyone had positive experiences with these or other brands & models?

    3) Has anyone used a battery with more than 320CCAs in an '99 NB? If so, what was the battery, and do you recommend it? 

    4) Lastly, if you have any brands & models you recommend, can you tell me where you've purchased them from? A good '99 NB AGM battery seems pretty hard to find.

    Any help is much appreciated and will happily be reciprocated with lunch/coffee at one of our outings!

    Best,

    Scott

    sdahlie@gmail.com


    If you haven't gotten enough replies here, try the Miata Forum (forum.miata.net).  This has much wider coverage than the local forums.
  • April 09, 2026 2:30 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 13618894 on 13617073
    Neil Tusing

    I found a site that might be helpful.  They offer a good reason for sticking with the AGM.  Look here.

    https://www.drifted.com/miata-battery/#which
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