Airflow Duct To the Battery question

[Kuro3]

Hey, I got a question. I just hooked up my simota sri to my mz3 and that was the first time I have ever really taken apart my stock air intake. Now, in order to do that though, I had to take off this "S" shaped airflow duct that runs from the grill to the battery. I thought about that for a sec and I figured, shouldn't I want to keep that on in order to help keep the battery cool? So, I put it on, but I haven't driven around with it on yet. However, I thought about it again, and it occurred to me that I didn't see the airflow duct in any of the pictures, so I wondered if anyone anyone left it on, and just took it off in order to take the pictures.....damn I need to learn how to ask more concise questions...sheesh


Anyways, here are some pictures of my simota (just for posterity)

[Kuro3]

and btw, the picture ont he left, is the stock air intake with that "s" shaped airflow duct ontop

[tsunami]

mine is off.... i then removed the cover to the battery a couple months later for running stereo wire... yeah it looks all nice and neat all buttoned up but it doesn't really matter, some guys took it off to show off the cf others left it on for that stock look... up to you reallly

[Kuro3]

so it's not a threat to the battery or anything I take it then? Awesome, man. Thanks for hte quick reply. I kinda like the look of it without the airduct anyways. It makes everything look tighter and cleaner

[WetsuitxNinja]

ductless for me as well.

[Zano]

Is there any real point to having the battery intake? I mean seriously...

[silla3]

clear & free, i like to look at my Injen CAI, it's pretty....

[KoRn]

Tisk Tisk. You sir should remove those clips from the battery box asap. Why? Because it puts stress on the wires and they will sever. Causing a cel and rewiring work. This only applies to any aftermarket intake. Still even being stock it might be a good idea as well. I have mine unclipped stock.


Hey, I got a question. I just hooked up my simota sri to my mz3 and that was the first time I have ever really taken apart my stock air intake. Now, in order to do that though, I had to take off this "S" shaped airflow duct that runs from the grill to the battery. I thought about that for a sec and I figured, shouldn't I want to keep that on in order to help keep the battery cool? So, I put it on, but I haven't driven around with it on yet. However, I thought about it again, and it occurred to me that I didn't see the airflow duct in any of the pictures, so I wondered if anyone anyone left it on, and just took it off in order to take the pictures.....damn I need to learn how to ask more concise questions...sheesh


Anyways, here are some pictures of my simota (just for posterity)

[bazooka joe]

you have a cai for your battery? why?

[Kuro3]

Tisk Tisk. You sir should remove those clips from the battery box asap. Why? Because it puts stress on the wires and they will sever. Causing a cel and rewiring work. This only applies to any aftermarket intake. Still even being stock it might be a good idea as well. I have mine unclipped stock.


which clips are you talking about? Those little white zip clip things in front of the battery in the 3rd picture?

[KoRn]

Yup.


which clips are you talking about? Those little white zip clip things in front of the battery in the 3rd picture?

[goldwing2000]

Is there any real point to having the battery intake? I mean seriously...

A cool battery is a happy battery. Increased heat decreases the life of the battery. They didn't put the duct on for good looks.

I left mine on over my AEM CAI.

[Zano]

A cool battery is a happy battery. Increased heat decreases the life of the battery. They didn't put the duct on for good looks.

I left mine on over my AEM CAI.


I like to know how efficient this duct is for cooling it can only be 1-2 degrees at most.

[Nice_Mazda3SP23]

i have reinstalled the cover for the stock look and un-clipping the wire loom is a must the tension on the wires is too great.

[sajack]

The cheap plastic screw on the battery air duct bracket closest to the air duct is nearly impossible to reinstall and tighten. This whole flimsy assembly is going to wind up hanging on my garage wall. I think Mazda designed it just to discourage Mazda3 owners from wanting to change their own air filters.
If they really wanted to protect the battery from heat, they would have put it in the trunk!

[Antonio DiMarco]

The cheap plastic screw on the battery air duct bracket closest to the air duct is nearly impossible to reinstall and tighten. This whole flimsy assembly is going to wind up hanging on my garage wall. I think Mazda designed it just to discourage Mazda3 owners from wanting to change their own air filters.
If they really wanted to protect the battery from heat, they would have put it in the trunk!

I love it when laymen second guess years of R&D. No different than all those Monday morning QBs.

Think about it. Auto manufacturers like Mazda and Toyota rarely spend money if they don't have to. Better yet, look at the latest version of the 3 (including the Mazdaspeed 3) it still has the cover. It's a well known fact that auto manufacturers go through a design in it's second year and remove any non-essential bits to reduce cost. Do you honestly think the bean counters at Mazda (and probably Ford) would allow engineering to purchase any extraneous bits that did not account for something? Even a 1-2 degree drop can help extend the life and long-term reliability of a part- especially if the part is sandwiched in a area that doesn't get a lot of airflow.

Those cheap screws your talking about were probably originally spec'ed to be sturdier but the designers probably had to compromise to keep the cover.

Yeah the trunk is a great place. (boom08) Then you'd be paying extra money to build a firewall between it and the rear seat passenger compartment.

[JRH1]

"Years of R+D?"

I think it's more of a response to the trend among manufacturers to dress up engine bays in plastic covers to make it look tidy-er.
Pressured by that trend, they boxed up the engine and the battery, covering up all of the wires and stuff.
Certainly, the battery air duct was added just as a precaution to prevent heat/gas buildup in the battery box. If the battery didn't have an unnecessary lid, it wouldn't need that air duct.

[bbrich57]

The cheap plastic screw on the battery air duct bracket closest to the air duct is nearly impossible to reinstall and tighten...
...I think Mazda designed it just to discourage Mazda3 owners from wanting to change their own air filters.
Exactly why I did remove that part of the assembly. But, I still kept the duct itself. It wedges in there just fine, and I've had no problems with it in the battery box on one end, and through it's designated spot in the rad support on the other.
To remove it now all I have to do is unclip the battery cover and pop it out.
BTW: I agree w/Antonio's statement that car company's don't spend money unless they have to, and that Mazda wouldn't have wasted money on this duct unless they felt it was necessary. I say that because to my knowledge, unlike other devices manufacturerer's are required (regulated) to install, there is no law that requires this duct.

[Antonio DiMarco]

"Years of R+D?"

I think it's more of a response to the trend among manufacturers to dress up engine bays in plastic covers to make it look tidy-er.
Pressured by that trend, they boxed up the engine and the battery, covering up all of the wires and stuff.
Certainly, the battery air duct was added just as a precaution to prevent heat/gas buildup in the battery box. If the battery didn't have an unnecessary lid, it wouldn't need that air duct.

Yes, years of R&D. Some of you guys don't seem to trust engineers. Remember it's not the engineers who cut corners but the bean counters who are looking to make higher profits. Engineering, especially at a company like Mazda is first class. Conversely, any eningeer will also tell you that it's more challenging and creative to engineer to a price point than price no object.

And the lid is not unecessary. German manufacturers covered up the battery long before the Japanese. The cover also protects the engine compartment from acid spray in the event of a battery exploding. And don't think it doesn't happen. The battery in my brother-in-laws Audi A6 overcharged and exploded. If it wasn't for the cover the acid would have sprayed everywhere.(boom08)

I will conceed that I like the covered look. Older cars required easy access to the distributor and such. Newer cars less so- plus I don't have time to do my own service. The covers make the car feel upscale. I'll agree with you that the covers are in some ways a means of dressing things up. But they also serve a function- otherwise they wouldn't be there.

[bbrich57]

I think it's more of a response to the trend among manufacturers to dress up engine bays in plastic covers to make it look tidy-er.
Pressured by that trend, they boxed up the engine and the battery, covering up all of the wires and stuff.


Now the plastic engine cover was the second thing I took off after purchasing the car, never to be seen again while I own it. And you may be right about that part. The first were the rear seat headrests because they limited my rearward vision and I just couldn't have that. Besides, I carry rear passengers about once every three years. I felt I could take that chance.
I first saw an engine cover like that on a Mercedes V-8 that my former Brother-in-law had in the early '80's. I didn't understand the concept then, and still don't to this day. After all isn't that, in part, what the hood is for?

(crazy)

[sajack]

I`ve owned several cars with the battery in the trunk and still think it is the way to go. My Miata`s battery stays a lot cooler than my Mazda3`s battery.
Placing the battery in the trunk also frees up lots of space under the hood.
I got wringing wet yesterday just checking the air filter on my Mazda3, mainly because of the Fisher Price fasteners on the battery air duct.
It must be a Ford better idea.

[Kuro3]

I just took the airflow duct off after having it on with my sri for a while, and I noticed that the heat from the sri was starting to wear a little bit on the duct, kinda melting it just a little bit in this one spot. I have therefore declared that I will no longer have the duct there. It's either the duct or the sri. Easy choice

[bbrich57]

I got wringing wet yesterday just checking the air filter on my Mazda3, mainly because of the Fisher Price fasteners on the battery air duct.
It must be a Ford better idea.

Get rid of the triangular mount piece w/the "Fisher-Price" hardware. (funny, btw.) As I have found out, you don't need that. And it makes access to the air filter and headlights much easier and faster.
As for Ford's "better Idea," I agree.

[sajack]

Get rid of the triangular mount piece w/the "Fisher-Price" hardware. (funny, btw.) As I have found out, you don't need that. And it makes access to the air filter and headlights much easier and faster.
As for Ford's "better Idea," I agree.


Thanks, I`ll try that. It`s okay with me as long as it doesn`t rattle.

[bbrich57]

For what it's worth, I haven't experienced that problem.

[ZoomVT]

this is interesting.
i agree with Marco, engineer dont do shit just for giggles ,everything has a purpose. Sadly, i had not thought about it and i have been ruinnign the last few montsh without it. i'' try to put it back on this weekend, since i think it looks fine. i do think that my simota didnt let me do it though as it didnt fit on top of it.