replace car battery?
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: NYC
yellow tops are garbage they arent as good as claimed i had 2 yellow tops in the supra and they both drained out and ever since i've always used interstate best battary i've ever used well worth the price and second to that if u on a tight budget
aldeco however u spell is okay
aldeco however u spell is okay
My battery just went out this past weekend. I replaced it with the same one the original poster bought. I went to Autozone and Sears. The Yellowtop was $190 like he said vs. $100 for the DH Gold. Couldn't justify paying the extra $90 for a bloody battery.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Canada
I have a red top, but am thinking of changing to yellow top
Hi. I have a red top right now. I have about a 800watt system in the car that was installed by the previous owner. The install was professionaly done. At night, when i have the HID, fog lights, heater on (its cold here in the winter -20 degress C), I then experience the sound going out when I stop at a red light. I figure too much load. The CD player is player, but no sound. Then once I start moving, the sound comes on again. All light do not dim. Would a yellow top battery help me with this problem or or not? 
I should mention that I have replaced the alternator already with the same stock amperage. Thanks.
I should mention that I have replaced the alternator already with the same stock amperage. Thanks.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: BROOKYN N,Y TO CENTRAL FL,
I Bought A Red Top Optima For My Gs 430 And Bought It At Sam's Club They Seem To Have The Best Price On Them. I Just Want To Also Say My Cobra Has A Red Top Batt And I Drive Once Amonth And I Have Never Had To Recharge It And The Cars Starts With No Hesitation And My Nissan Armada Has A Red Top As Well I Love This Battery I Have Auto Start, Nav,subs 2 ,amps ,dvd Player, Ps2,nintendo Game Cube And 2 Monitors In Headrest For The Kids And When This Was All Insatlled The Installer Said You Have A New Truck Its Time Now For A Optima And Since Then I Will Never Go Back To Anything Else Also When I Bought My Gs It Came With A Interstate Batt Which Was Ok But Died Within 3 Yrs But It's A Good Batt As Well But 2nd To Redtop Optima I Hope This Helps You
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,338
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
My Red Top has been very good to me.
What kind of of battery you are going to get depends not only on $$$, but also what is your ownership situation, do you plan to keep the car for a long time, sell it soon, etc.
I had a friends with a Stinger battery, all sorts of issues.
DieHard Gold, had that several years back for a bit of time and a great battery, a lot of track friends get them at Sears Auto down here if they can't afford an Optima (which goes upwards of $200 USD in Mexico).
One interesting battery I came across a while back, http://www.brailleauto.com/ are very lightweight and are quite comparable to the Optimas in amps.
What kind of of battery you are going to get depends not only on $$$, but also what is your ownership situation, do you plan to keep the car for a long time, sell it soon, etc.
I had a friends with a Stinger battery, all sorts of issues.
DieHard Gold, had that several years back for a bit of time and a great battery, a lot of track friends get them at Sears Auto down here if they can't afford an Optima (which goes upwards of $200 USD in Mexico).
One interesting battery I came across a while back, http://www.brailleauto.com/ are very lightweight and are quite comparable to the Optimas in amps.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: MO
I had this same problem twice before but it was not the battery. The starter would not turn over either. All I did was shake the gear shifter in PARK or put the car in neutral and start the car.
So before you spend $50 for a battery, try it out. Beside's AUtozone can check if your battery is good for free.
So before you spend $50 for a battery, try it out. Beside's AUtozone can check if your battery is good for free.
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Hi. I have a red top right now. I have about a 800watt system in the car that was installed by the previous owner. The install was professionaly done. At night, when i have the HID, fog lights, heater on (its cold here in the winter -20 degress C), I then experience the sound going out when I stop at a red light. I figure too much load. The CD player is player, but no sound. Then once I start moving, the sound comes on again. All light do not dim. Would a yellow top battery help me with this problem or or not? I should mention that I have replaced the alternator already with the same stock amperage. Thanks.
I should mention that I have replaced the alternator already with the same stock amperage. Thanks.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Canada
I do have the volume low and it still does it. Its just too much load i guess. Should I get a 1 farad cap or upgrade to a yellow top or maybe both? recommendations? Thanks for the input.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,595
Likes: 1,400
From: Austin, TX
There are different discussions in this thread .
deep cycle (marine .... yellow top) These batteries are designed to operate for long time in between charge. Other battries if are allowed to discharge for a long time, between charging, their life is greatly reduced. If the engine is running then the battery is getting charged.
overload: Your alternator should produce nore current then the demand (which includes charging the battery). People with lot of accessories need to pay attention to this and not count of larger batteries. [Again the larger batteries would make sense when the engine is not running]
Capacitors: They help provide instantanious current (boom of the drum)/ If you notice headlamps dim with beat the cap would help. I would add a choke (heavy wire inductance) in series on the supply side to protect alternator and battery.
Salim
deep cycle (marine .... yellow top) These batteries are designed to operate for long time in between charge. Other battries if are allowed to discharge for a long time, between charging, their life is greatly reduced. If the engine is running then the battery is getting charged.
overload: Your alternator should produce nore current then the demand (which includes charging the battery). People with lot of accessories need to pay attention to this and not count of larger batteries. [Again the larger batteries would make sense when the engine is not running]
Capacitors: They help provide instantanious current (boom of the drum)/ If you notice headlamps dim with beat the cap would help. I would add a choke (heavy wire inductance) in series on the supply side to protect alternator and battery.
Salim
Last edited by salimshah; Jan 27, 2007 at 10:06 AM. Reason: Spell and elaboration on overload
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
A heavy car deserves a heavy battery so i went with the Yellow Top.
Seriously though, i've ran Optima's in all of my vehicles for years now and have only had 1 problem with a Red Top in my Cobra. I took it back and got it exchanged for free.
My wife's minivan and the Lexus use Yellow Tops. The minivan uses the Yellow Top due to LCD entertainment system and wife constantly forgetting to turn off an interior light that she uses to keep an eye on the baby.
The Lexus got a Yellow Top because someone in my area was selling them for $100 brand new
so i figured what the heck. The car has/will have 2 Zapco amps and a DVD/LCD portable system for my daughter.
The peace of mind the battery gives me more than pays for itself (had i actually paid retial for them)
Seriously though, i've ran Optima's in all of my vehicles for years now and have only had 1 problem with a Red Top in my Cobra. I took it back and got it exchanged for free. My wife's minivan and the Lexus use Yellow Tops. The minivan uses the Yellow Top due to LCD entertainment system and wife constantly forgetting to turn off an interior light that she uses to keep an eye on the baby.
The Lexus got a Yellow Top because someone in my area was selling them for $100 brand new
so i figured what the heck. The car has/will have 2 Zapco amps and a DVD/LCD portable system for my daughter.The peace of mind the battery gives me more than pays for itself (had i actually paid retial for them)
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,595
Likes: 1,400
From: Austin, TX
No Optiams are not a drop in replacement. Height is shorter (hold down problem), foot print is smaller (not an issue) and the posts are futher in from the corner (cable end have a hard time to reach).
Height problem can some what be mitigated if you pick up the riser bracket which snap on at the bottom.
Salim
Height problem can some what be mitigated if you pick up the riser bracket which snap on at the bottom.
Salim
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