Starters and batteries (NA, NB, NC, ND)
A Miata that clicks and will not crank is usually the battery, a connection, the starter or its solenoid, and owners disagree about which to try first. This page lists who sells starters, trays and batteries and what owners said. It is not a repair guide.
How to read it. Seller claims are as read on each seller's own page on 1 October 2026. Owner accounts are from Miata.net forum threads, dated below, and are individual experience, not advice. There are no prices on this page, and nothing here was bought or tested.
Starters
| Seller | What it says it offers | Fits (as stated) |
|---|---|---|
| Moss Miata, starter for the NA, new | "new replacement starter" for the 1990-1997 car. 12-month warranty, not covering labor | 1990-1997 NA with manual transmission |
| Moss Miata, starter for the NB, new | "new replacement starter" for the 1999-2005 car | 1999-2005 NB |
| Moss Miata, rebuilt starter | listed simply as "Starter, Rebuilt" | 2016-2025 ND |
Moss's category page for the 2006-2015 NC's starting and charging system lists 16 items (chargers, a jump starter, battery covers, the alternator, a coil and a spark plug) and no starter, so I found no Moss starter for the NC. Mazda-Parts.com, a Mazda parts retailer, lists two genuine NC starters, each with a note to add your vehicle to confirm the fit and a warning that not every listed part is available for sale:
| Seller | What it says it offers | Fits (as stated) |
|---|---|---|
| Mazda-Parts.com, Mazda starter LFG1-18-400 | the genuine starter, noted "from 4/1/12"; it supersedes LFG118400R00 and LFG118400R0A | 2006-2015 listing, from April 2012 builds |
| Mazda-Parts.com, Mazda starter LF9H-18-400 | the genuine starter, noted "to 4/1/12"; it supersedes LF9H18400R00 and LF9H18400R0A | listed as 2009-2012 |
For the early builds, Jim Ellis Mazda Parts lists the same LF9H18400 starter on its page for a 2006 Miata, noted "to 04/01/2012" (read 2 October 2026), so the "to 4/1/12" part above covers the 2006 cars as well as 2009-2012.
Batteries and trays
| Seller | What it says it offers | Fits (as stated) |
|---|---|---|
| Flyin' Miata, Antigravity U1R lithium | says it saves almost 17 lb over the stock battery (stock 24 lb, this one 7.4 lb), has an 8-10 year life with a five-year warranty, and has a battery management system that will not allow over-discharge. It says it is a drop-in for the NA and NB only; it would technically fit an NC or ND but is physically smaller, and the right size for those is a 51R, which it does not carry | NA and NB, 1990-2005 |
| Moss Miata, battery tray by Mazda | the Mazda tray, OE reference B095-56-032 | 1990-1997 NA |
| Moss Miata, battery tray by IL Motorsport | says the original Mazda tray is no longer available, so IL Motorsport made a replacement that "looks and fits exactly like OEM" | 1999-2005 NB |
| Moss Miata, NOCO GB40 jump starter | a portable lithium jump starter pack rated at 1,000 amps, with spark-proof connections and reverse polarity protection, a flashlight and USB charging; it says it starts gas engines up to 6 litres | any |
The same Moss category page for the NC also lists a battery cut-off switch for the negative terminal, CTEK battery chargers, battery covers by DaveFab and Jass Performance and an acid-neutralising mat; I read that listing, not those pages.
What owners said
- NC battery size (June 2006). Soon after the NC came out, someone asked what battery it takes. A reply quoted the owner's manual, 12 volt and 36 amp-hours, and said Mazda's parts listing gave no part number and none of the shops he tried had an NC-specific battery. (Miata.net thread; I read the first page.)
- A 51R in an NA (October 2018). An owner fitted a refurbished 51R-size battery in a car with no tray, needing only a longer J-hook, and reported it started the car easily and was secure. Another said an Optima D51R fitted his 1994 with longer J bolts but died within a few months. A third worried that a non-vented battery could let hydrogen and corrosive gas build up in the boot and said vented batteries are cheap insurance. (Miata.net thread.)
- ND battery (November 2020 and December 2023). In November 2020 an owner abroad asked whether the ND takes an AGM battery, because his charger had separate modes. One reply said the factory battery is a flooded lead-acid, usually Panasonic, group 51R; the asker said his car carried an idle-stop sticker, so check your own car's label. In December 2023 an owner asked which battery to buy instead of the Mazda one. One reply recommended a lightweight Antigravity battery for saving weight; another said a 51R from anywhere is suitable, to look for a three-year replacement warranty, and that one big-box club had moved to a prorated warranty. (Miata.net thread and second thread; I read the first page of each.)
- Click but no crank, an NB (January 2015). An owner of a 2002 NB with a new alternator had a loud click and no crank at times. One reply asked about an aftermarket security system and the clutch switch. One said a click means checking the solenoid, and that when he replaced a starter the car started quicker and never clicked again. Two said to test the battery first: it can have enough power to click the solenoid but not turn the engine, and one gave a resting voltage of 12 to 13 volts as the first check before a load test at a parts store. (Miata.net thread; I read the first page.)
Search results for other Miata.net threads mention corroded grounds under bolt heads, resistance in the ignition switch contacts and cheap replacement starters failing; I did not read those threads, so treat them as leads.
Not covered yet
- A Moss or Flyin' Miata starter for the NC.
- A seller of a 51R lithium battery I could open, battery brand reviews, and a tray for the NC and ND.
© 2026 Fischer Interactive LLC. Written for the Ref Sensor app's Miata users. The seller's page is the authority.