I was digging through a box of parts in the back of my garage and found a couple of items of unknown origin . First, this battery carrying strap. After some digging, I found it in the RX7 parts diagram.




The second item is this foam battery blanket. As far as I can tell, it is not shown in the parts diagrams or the service manual. Is this from my '94, or some other car?

 

Battery Band as they call it
FE5018522

The foam is likely oem if the cut outs align with something. it was probably on what would have been the original battery when the car was new. maybe someone decided to save it when that battery ultimately passed on. does any part of that foam have indentations on where the strap would have been resting on it?

 

My '93 has a black plastic battery box that captures cool air from the front and directs it around the battery. The box has a cover that snaps on over 3 wedge-shaped protrusions. It covers the battery and the hold-down bracket.

 

Yes - my '94 also still has the original battery box and cover. I think air flow around the battery would be obstructed by a blanket, but maybe not. The cover isn't tall enough to cover the battery from top to bottom.

 

I don't see any indentations in the blanket, but it only covers the sides, not the bottom of the battery. It has cutouts that look like they are for the battery cables.

 

Never seen it in any parts catalogue or options catalogue. Why have cooling ducts around the battery then put a blanket around it?

Having said that Mazda had several options to winterize the car, such as stronger wiper blades and more powerful wiper motor (plus rear hatch decal).

In one generation the winterized version even had its own type designation (Type M)

Maybe a battery blanket was a dealer option.

I supose the headlight washers on Canadian models were to wash away the slush,

 

the strap is Mazda, the foam is for something else

 

I bought (actually leased and then bought) my first FD new from the dealer. It did not have the blanket or strap.

 

I bought mine new too. I probably removed the strap for better fitment when I had to replace the original battery in 1998. Over the years, I've had to replace 5 batteries including two Optimas, and just put in #6. The blanket must have come with one of those pre-Optima replacements.