26 replies to this topic

[nivek2002]

I think the battery in my sedan has taken a crap cus' the car wont start even when jumping it. All the signs i can see point to the battery. Anyways, I need to know exactly what type of specs im looking for when buying a new one. I have a stereo system (no amp or sub) and fog lights so i dont want to see any excess pull when i have everything on at idle. I would like to get a good battery rather than a crappy walmart brand one. Maybe a sealed type? Point me in the right direction guys!

Kevin

[Condor]

I've had good luck with the advance auto silver series so far.
The first one lasted a couple of years, then I was broken down
for about a year and it went bad. I still got 1/2 the money
on the trade in. I think its a sealed unit.

They dont have a gold or platnum battery for our cars.

The CCA is a little low compared to the one I had in my mustang,
but I think I had put like a SUV battery in that. However, I have
not had any trouble starting even when i sometimes dont start it
a couple of weeks.

Some people say Interstate is the 'best' one.
I dunno. You can't get them anywhere and I think they're like $100 or something.

I consider a battery semi disposable so I'm not trying to make it
last 10 years. The most important thing to me, it starts.
But I think I could get more life out of mine if I bought a charger and
really charged it up every so often I just never bought one yet.

[Simple87Si]

NRG Cell - you can pick one up from marcus - Heel Toe Automotive.. i think on his website it's listed as $99.. and $15 for terminals.. either that or an Optima 51R..

[nivek2002]

Well Heeltoeauto.com is down But the Optima 51R looks good to me. You recommend this i guess? THey dont list it specifical for our cars but do say its from newer Civics.

Well im off to the auto Store to test the battery

[nivek2002]

ok well the battery is BAD.

The exact battery replacement the Orielly's offered me is like $65 - Do yall think I should just get that or get the Optima 51R. I have found those for $116 shipped online. Im leaning torward the Optima because i like getting the best things for my car But let me hear yalls wisdom

[Simple87Si]

yeah i think im going to be getting the optima 51R for my car also Optima's are great batteries.. unless marcus can give me a better price on the NRG-Cell..

[Bogatyr]

I've got an Optima Red Top in my rover. It's great for an occasional use vehicle, always starts right up and it's immune to the shocks that the vehicle sees when offroad. I'm pretty happy with it.

Bogatyr

[nivek2002]

Ok well now i have found this

http://www.ibsa.com/...F3KK2QFADE&js=1

So a good Interstate with the same specs as the Optima for $67 and i can pick one up tomorow in the city. And a MUCH longer warranty. Only diffrence is that its not a sealed type. I like sealed but dont really need it. What should I do now?

Here is the link for the optima im looking at
http://cgi.ebay.com/...item=5702844110

Edited by nivek2002, 03 June 2004 - 02:14 PM.

[Erik]

go with the optima batt it is a maintenance free batt and it's a sealed batt so u can put inside the car and not worry about the fumes like the interstate or other wet cell batts.. the dry cell is WAY better u can mount it anyway u want and not have a problem what so ever it is worth the $116

[Davidov]

Optima Red Top.
I don't have one, but everybody I know that has used/had one has no complaints. They are a little more expensive, but they don't give you any shit.
Plus if you want to place the battery inside the cabin, it is completely sealed and not hazardous to you.


One example: One of my instructors broke an alternator belt and drove to school and back for a number of days (at least 100 miles) with only battery power from an Optima Red Top.

The Yellow top isn't really meant for automotive use, since it's deep cycle.

[Simple87Si]

i guess it comes down to how much you want to spend.. ive been using regular batteries just fine.. they resist vibration fine.. i dont even have my battery tied down it just slides back and forth.. .. but i just want something better.. and ive seen optima's last a long time.. and i just looks cool.. and will work better with my car audio applications.. and im sure it will relieve a little pressure off of my alternator..

[nivek2002]

Optima Red Top.
I don't have one, but everybody I know that has used/had one has no complaints. They are a little more expensive, but they don't give you any shit.
Plus if you want to place the battery inside the cabin, it is completely sealed and not hazardous to you.


One example: One of my instructors broke an alternator belt and drove to school and back for a number of days (at least 100 miles) with only battery power from an Optima Red Top.

The Yellow top isn't really meant for automotive use, since it's deep cycle.

humm well every web site i go to lists the Optima 51R Yellow top as the ones for Hondas and smaller motor cars. Now im getting confused

[Simple87Si]

you can use a deep cycle in a car just fine..

[Davidov]

The deep cycle Yellow Top would be OK, but it is meant for more industrial uses.
Like stereos, winches, auxillary lights.

[Simple87Si]

The OPTIMA Yellow Top™ Deep Cycle Battery should be used in the following cases:

1. Starting applications in high-accessory vehicles/High Cycling Applications. Vehicles with computers, extra radios, electronic components, lights, winches, etc. will create excessive amperage drain that can damage a starting battery. Recommend the OPTIMA Yellow Top to provide fast recharging and longer life due to its' ability to cycle over 300 times.

2. Starting applications with low amperage draws. If your customer has a vehicle that sits unused for long periods of time, either OPTIMA will provide longer life due to reduced corrosion and sulfation. However, if the vehicle has an alarm, computer, or other low amperage drain, the Yellow Top will guard against deep cycling damage that can occur over long periods of time.

3. To increase Reserve Capacity or Run Time. You must first identify how long the customer needs to use the battery to run a vehicle, accessory, or motor before without recharging. Each OPTIMA Yellow Top Deep Cycle Battery is rated at 120 minutes of Reserve Capacity at a 25 Amp draw. If your customer is planning on using their OTPIMA in a trolling motor that pulls 50 Amps, they will only get 60 minutes of run time. If they require more run time you need to install multiple batteries in parallel. It is important to understand what the customer expects in order to provide them with the correct OPTIMA solution.

Optima Red Top SLI Batteries

In any vehicle or equipment that will use the battery only for Starting, Lighting, & Ignition requirements and has a properly working alternator, the OPTIMA Red Top™ Starting Battery will perform extremely well, often providing up to two times longer life than conventional batteries. If the vehicle has few or no after-market accessories and uses a stock or upgraded alternator, the OPTIMA Red Top Starting Battery is the appropriate choice.
Remember, it is possible for the customer to have a completely discharged Red Top OPTIMA that will not start their engine; the advantages of the Red Top are that it can accept a rapid recharge and it will recover from discharge many more times.

To provide the customer the best OPTIMA solution, it is, necessary to consider both the application and the charging system before recommending the correct OPTIMA. For example, if your customer has a Ford Expedition with an after-market alarm system, which OPTIMA would you recommend? If the customer drives the car every day, the Red Top would be the correct choice, since the amperage drain will be nominal and the battery would be recharged on a daily basis. However, if the customer stores the vehicle for a long period of time with the alarm system engaged, you should recommend the OPTIMA Yellow Top, since the amperage drain over several weeks would damage a Red Top and reduce its life.

Edited by Simple87Si, 03 June 2004 - 03:20 PM.