Seeking Advice for Electrical and Battery Issues on 2011 Mazda Tribute

Hey there! I've had a similar issue with my 2013 Mazda CX-5. To be honest, I'm no car guru but I've got some experience under my hood. Took my ride to the local workshop where they found a defective battery. Ended up paying about 290€ to get it swapped out, but it's been running smooth since then. Sounds like you might be dealing with a similar issue. I'd suggest getting that battery of yours checked first and foremost, could be discharging faster than it should be. You've checked for any signs of corrosion around the battery terminals, right? Can you share more about other symptoms your Mazda Tribute is showing? Also, how old is its current battery? That info could help in narrowing down the issue. Maybe we could figure it out together!

Hey! Thanks for the response, it's reassuring to hear from someone who's dealt with something similar. My mileage is up to 214951 KM now, and latest service was just last month - all seemed fine then. I'll take your advice and check the battery and terminals for corrosion first thing tomorrow morning (maybe I should learn a bit more from experienced peeps like you, haha). As for other symptoms, well, there's a sluggish start, which is odd. Current battery's about three years old, so should have some life left but you never know, right? I'll get back to you after running a few checks! Cheers!

Hey there! Great to hear back from you! Given the age and mileage of your ride, your symptoms do seem to point towards a battery issue, especially considering that your current battery is about three years old now. Yes, typically, a good car battery can last anywhere from 3-5 years, but sometimes they do wear out not following the norms. A sluggish start, dim or flickering lights, and general electric malfunction could definitely be symptoms of a weak battery or poor electrical connections in your car. Checking the battery and its terminals for any corrosion or loose connections is definitely a good first step. And to add, although an interruption of terminal 30 could also cause these electrical issues, from my own experience it seems that often the simpler explanation turns out to be the correct one, especially when it comes to complex electrical systems like in our Mazda. If you don't spot any obvious terminal 30 issues, it might still be worthwhile having a pro take a look, but based on my experiences, I'd double down on that battery suspicion. Please do update after your checks. Keep your fingers crossed, and hope it's just a simple fix as replacing a battery rather than digging into the much more intricate electrical systems! Safe troubleshooting!

Hey, thanks again for your input! It's helpful coming from someone who's experienced this. Yeah, I'm hoping it might be just a simple battery swap job as well. I did notice some irregularities with the terminals, will have that seen to as well. And oh, I wholeheartedly agree! Racetrack or garage, it seems we all got reminded that usually, the easiest explanation tends to be the right one. Although, here's to hoping it doesn't turn into a hair-pulling session with the technicalities, haha! I'll keep you all posted on what I figure out. Fingers crossed and appreciating all the help! Cheers!