A: Many Miata owners are sunny day drivers. That means their Miata my set for days between use. In as little as two weeks your battery's power level can drop to a level that will be unable to start your Miata. To make matters even worst - the type of battery used in the Miata WILL NOT accept a fast charge. That means even it you get it started with a jump start - there is a good chance that when you arrive at you destination - your battery will not have charged enough to start you engine. You battery isn't ruined - it is just that is needs a long trickle charge of a day or two to fully recover.

Also, by preventing deep discharge, you maximize the life of the battery. One deep discharge costs from 1/4 to 1/3 the life of the battery.

A: PriorityStart! is a computer-controlled electro-mechanical switching device (handles 1000 cranking amps) that constantly monitors the vehicle's electrical systems and battery power level. If, when the vehicle ignition is turned off, it detects a drop in battery voltage to a factory-set level (12 volts), it automatically disconnects the load, stopping the power drain and leaving starting power in the battery. PriorityStart! automatically reconnects the battery (any load greater than 100 microvolts reconnects the battery) when the ignition key is turned to the "on" position and the vehicle can be started. There are no buttons or switches to operate. The entire operation is automatic.

If you accidentally leave on your lights, door ajar, radio or any other electrical accessories on (or even experience a power draining short circuit), PriorityStart! protects you. No more dangerous jumper cable hookups, you simply start your vehicle.

A: NO - A vehicle should be started at least every 10-20 days and the engine run for 15 minutes to offset the battery's natural discharge rate.

A: The PriorityStart! not only protects the owner, their time and safety, but it also protects the security system on the vehicle.  If you experience a dead battery, the security system is inactive.  With PriorityStart!, if the battery discharges to 12 volts it then disconnects the battery.  When the owner or would-be thief opens the door or attempts to start the vehicle, the battery system would be automatically reconnected, thus reconnecting the security system.  They have not only protected their starting ability, but have protected the security system that protects their vehicle and vehicle contents.

A: No. PriorityStart! does not disconnect and reconnect each time the vehicle is started, only when needed to prevent the deep discharge of the battery. Your operation of the vehicle is not affected at all—the only change is that you will not be stranded by a dead battery.

A: No. PriorityStart! incorporates a patented heavy duty contact and gear drive system that disconnects and reconnects the battery only when required. The contact resistance is less than 1 milliohm (one thousandth of an ohm), and, in the closed position, exerts a clamping force greater than 70 linear pounds. The net effect of these features is an electrical connection that is superior to even a normal battery post/cable clamp connection.

A: Team Miata provides custom installation instructions for PriorityStart! to make sure you have a trouble free installation.  Only standard home tools are required. No cutting, drilling or other vehicle modifications are necessary. Simply attach PriorityStart! to the battery using the supplied strap then make three easy connections at the battery:

1. Vehicle positive cable to PriorityStart! 2. PriorityStart! cable to battery positive post. 3. Attach ground wire.

A: Environmental design limits for PriorityStart! are –40F to +185F. The product has been in service in both North America and foreign markets for over one year without a single report of failure from any temperature extreme.

A: Dimensions are: 5" x 3" x 1-1/4" thick. The complete unit, including cable, weighs approximately 1 pound.

A: No, it is totally automatic.

A: Depending on the condition of the battery, it may take 1 to 2 hours. For an interior dome light or other low-current drain, it may take 6 to 8 hours or more.

A: No. PriorityStart! is designed to provide battery protection when the engine is NOT running (ignition switch in the off position). It will not disconnect the battery when the engine is running, even though the battery voltage level drops below the factory-set safe threshold. Circuits within this product recognize an "engine running" condition by detecting electrical "noise" created by fuel injectors, fuel pump, fan motors, etc., and will not disconnect the vehicle battery.

If a vehicle alternator or alternator belt fails, the "engine running" circuitry recognizes the condition and prevents disconnection at the 12 volt threshold, allowing the vehicle to continue on the reserve capacity of the battery. In such a situation you are entirely dependent on the reserve capacity of the battery (perhaps 120 minutes), which will eventually be totally depleted. PriorityStart! will not disconnect the battery as long as the engine is running.

 

A: Even though the engine is not running, if other electrical sources are operating on the vehicle, such as hazard lights, flashing emergency lights, strobes, auxiliary power supplies, PriorityStart! assumes the engine is running and will not disconnect the battery. It does not react to nearby electrical sources, they must be ones on your vehicle.

A: Yes, car alarms can be wired directly to the battery, bypassing PriorityStart! This is true for any device you may want to add. (Note: Doing this will circumvent the battery protection provided by PriorityStart! as far as current drain from these devices is concerned. [Other, normally wired circuits will still be protected.] You may have to pay the consequences with regard to battery starting power.)

A: Vehicle computer systems have ROM memory that resets itself after a few miles. The clock and radio may need resetting. Remember, when it operates PriorityStart! has protected your battery starting power. Without it you would have been unable to start your vehicle and would still have to reset memory devices.

A: Yes, but usually a new battery is not immediately available and "dead batteries" seldom happen when you can plan for it. Also a new battery is still vulnerable to unintentional discharge and thus cannot provide the safety, convenience or starting protection of PriorityStart!

Also, there is much concern about the disposal each year of millions of used batteries which introduce lead and sulfuric acid into the environment. By protecting batteries and extending their useful life, PriorityStart! users make a contribution toward a "greener" earth.

 

A: Yes, a one year manufacturers warranty.

A: Yes, it can be easily transferred.

A: NO! Regular disconnection may indicate your battery is going bad from aging, or your vehicle may have an electrical short, loose alternator belt, or some other problem.

A: No. A battery can still go dead from the effects of aging, or because of previously experienced "deep discharges." If the battery frequently is switched off by PriorityStart!, you may need a replacement.

Additional notes:

Experience to-date on thousands of PriorityStart! units in all types of climates has revealed the following:

Analyzing the call for customer service assistance, we found the most frequent problem is that they have not followed the direction to clean all the cables and battery post at the time of installation. Corrosion, which is a common occurrence on batteries, inhibits an efficient, low-contact-resistance connection. The installation instructions state that once the vehicle has disconnected the load, there must be a waiting period of at least 30 seconds, if they try to reconnect too soon (before the 30 seconds) the device will not connect. This is an extremely unlikely event since rarely would a vehicle operator attempt to start the engine immediately after a low-battery condition was detected and PriorityStart! disconnected the battery. In such a case all that is required is to wait a minute and try again. In operation, PriorityStart! reconnects the battery virtually instantaneously when it senses the ignition switch being turned on or the activation of an interior light (by opening a door).