Best Replacement Battery?
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Just wanted to provide some info regarding my experience with the Shorai LFX36L3-BS12 battery. I recently installed a new HKS supercharger kit which requires either relocating the stock battery or moving to one that is smaller in size in order to accommodate a rotated fuse box. After much research I decided to move forward with the Shorai, even though I was aware of a user here on S2ki reporting that his Shorai melted. In the case of his incident it appears to be caused by jump starting the battery. Therefore my logic is... buy the Shorai charger, keep it on the tender when not in use, don't jump start the car and I should be alright. After all there are quite a few S2K's in the community that are running the battery just fine.
Fast forward 4 weeks after the install, I make a stop at my local target for a 10 min supply run only to come out to the S2k not responding to my key fob. After multiple failed attempts to unlock the car doors using the Honda key fob I noticed a very strong odor emanating from the front of my car. I can only describe the smell as something similar to a fried motherboard but 1000 times stronger. So I popped the hood and to my surprise a huge plume of smoke came out from under the hood and I could see the Shorai battery smoking profusely. In fear that the batter would eventually catch on fire I went into target picked up some tools and removed it as quickly as possible.
Keep in mind up to this point I did everything possible to prevent overcharging and discharging the battery past recommended stable voltage and the battery has been perfectly functional the past 4 weeks. I wish I had the opportunity to take a picture of the battery before the fire dept took it away... it was melted beyond recognition (yes a target employee called the fire dept as my car was smoking heavily in the parking lot).
I'm grateful that things didn't take a turn for the worse and I'm providing this feedback to the community as I would hate to see an S2K bite the dust.
In the end, my 04 S2000 with 25kmiles which still had the new car smell, is now replaced with a stench of burnt electronics, I have a Shorai charger that is of no use to me, and I'm out $350 for the battery....
I'm not saying that this will happen to every Shorai battery out there, but just a word of caution for you all.
Fast forward 4 weeks after the install, I make a stop at my local target for a 10 min supply run only to come out to the S2k not responding to my key fob. After multiple failed attempts to unlock the car doors using the Honda key fob I noticed a very strong odor emanating from the front of my car. I can only describe the smell as something similar to a fried motherboard but 1000 times stronger. So I popped the hood and to my surprise a huge plume of smoke came out from under the hood and I could see the Shorai battery smoking profusely. In fear that the batter would eventually catch on fire I went into target picked up some tools and removed it as quickly as possible.
Keep in mind up to this point I did everything possible to prevent overcharging and discharging the battery past recommended stable voltage and the battery has been perfectly functional the past 4 weeks. I wish I had the opportunity to take a picture of the battery before the fire dept took it away... it was melted beyond recognition (yes a target employee called the fire dept as my car was smoking heavily in the parking lot).
I'm grateful that things didn't take a turn for the worse and I'm providing this feedback to the community as I would hate to see an S2K bite the dust.
In the end, my 04 S2000 with 25kmiles which still had the new car smell, is now replaced with a stench of burnt electronics, I have a Shorai charger that is of no use to me, and I'm out $350 for the battery....
I'm not saying that this will happen to every Shorai battery out there, but just a word of caution for you all.
There should be a charge kit that is carried with them to properly charge if they die, but I still do not like them. For the little bit of weight savings they are just a royal pain the arse and a fire hazard if anything happens to them.
Sounds like yours had some other issue going on. Could very well have been heat related as LiOn is not very heat tolerant and our batteries sit very close to the exhaust mani, even with that heat shield they are exposed to a lot of heat.
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Sweden
Shorai LFX use lithium iron phosphate cells though which is a pretty safe and stable chemistry.
They wont burn but like we heard here they get super hot and smoke a lot when failing.
Sounds like it would be some kind of factory defect for it to fail that quickly, if it really was topped of with correct charger.
They wont burn but like we heard here they get super hot and smoke a lot when failing.
Sounds like it would be some kind of factory defect for it to fail that quickly, if it really was topped of with correct charger.
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Joined: May 2014
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Shorai LFX use lithium iron phosphate cells though which is a pretty safe and stable chemistry.
They wont burn but like we heard here they get super hot and smoke a lot when failing.
Sounds like it would be some kind of factory defect for it to fail that quickly, if it really was topped of with correct charger.
They wont burn but like we heard here they get super hot and smoke a lot when failing.
Sounds like it would be some kind of factory defect for it to fail that quickly, if it really was topped of with correct charger.
My car had one in it when I bought it. Worked fine in the spring/summer. I dont drive mine in the winter. When it finally died completely, I just replaced with a factory sized battery cause I doubt I am going to realize the benefit from a 25 lb weight savings 
But, if just wanting small size get a motorosports battery and spend $70 of the $250 you saved from not buying a Lithium battery on one of these, which is great to have anyway:
I have that jump pack in my trunk now. I have used it to jump off a 4runner and it used about 4% of its charge, and have used it to jump off a couple of others cars as well, so it is plenty to jump most vehicles if you follow the instructions on using it.
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Thats odd. I just looked on Interstate Battery's page and it recommends a group 51 battery. Do the ones that say they wont fit have an R after the number? That indicates reversed terminals so in that case the positive and negative would be on opposite sides from the standard battery
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Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Bay Area
I have legit been through so many batteries with different cars brands ect
Avoids
optimabatteries trash dies fast not worth the money
Ok will get your by
Walmart Last 2 years dies around warranty might have to bring it in to exchange before warranty
AutoZone Same as Walmart but dies after a year or so
Both are fine just not that great; I really think Napa sells better batteries then both of these if you have one in your area.
Napa I have been very happy with there brand they have 2 and 3 year warranties no issues so far
I have 2 NAPA Legend brand and they work great. 0 issues
Avoids
optimabatteries trash dies fast not worth the money
Ok will get your by
Walmart Last 2 years dies around warranty might have to bring it in to exchange before warranty
AutoZone Same as Walmart but dies after a year or so
Both are fine just not that great; I really think Napa sells better batteries then both of these if you have one in your area.
Napa I have been very happy with there brand they have 2 and 3 year warranties no issues so far
I have 2 NAPA Legend brand and they work great. 0 issues
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,907
Likes: 2,480
I have legit been through so many batteries with different cars brands ect
Avoids
optimabatteries trash dies fast not worth the money
Ok will get your by
Walmart Last 2 years dies around warranty might have to bring it in to exchange before warranty
AutoZone Same as Walmart but dies after a year or so
Both are fine just not that great; I really think Napa sells better batteries then both of these if you have one in your area.
Napa I have been very happy with there brand they have 2 and 3 year warranties no issues so far
I have 2 NAPA Legend brand and they work great. 0 issues
Avoids
optimabatteries trash dies fast not worth the money
Ok will get your by
Walmart Last 2 years dies around warranty might have to bring it in to exchange before warranty
AutoZone Same as Walmart but dies after a year or so
Both are fine just not that great; I really think Napa sells better batteries then both of these if you have one in your area.
Napa I have been very happy with there brand they have 2 and 3 year warranties no issues so far
I have 2 NAPA Legend brand and they work great. 0 issues
Also agree on Optima. Used to be good I think, but I had 2 in the last 10 years that did not last 3 years (two different vehicles). Pretty much garbage for the price.
I always thought Bosch Platinums were good as well. Nope. Bought one a few years ago, 10 months later it took a crap. Went back and got it warrantied and the store told me that was the last one and they were not going to get them any longer. I guess I see why ... 10 months later and it was junk!
