OK, I had my battery out to do some work and noticed the I/C ducting feeds into the battery compartment. Does the battery really need to have air directed to it?? Wouldn't there be a better air flow to the Intercooler if I plugged that hole up?? Thanks for any info.

 

I say just relocate your batter to the trunk and seal the hold shut so your intercooler can be fed

 

With the underhood teperatures being what they are, and (Mazda) trying to help cool some things off. They put this duct there to help cool the battery as best they could. Heat is very bad for your battery and will shorten the life of it, not to mention cause the fluid to evaporate faster. Hope this explains it and yes it would probably give you a negligable increase to the intercooler but wout also decrease your battery's life.