The battery in my father's '03 SC430 is on its last leg. I have been using the Optima "red" top batteries in my vehicles for the past few years. Have any of you used the Optima batteries? If so and your experience is positive, what size battery did you use?

Sincerely,

Dall Landry

 

Dall,

I used to use Optima batteries until Sears stopped selling them due to issues with reliability. I was using yellow and blue top though. Switched to Sears for now.

 

Pearlpower uses it:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=optima

 

I replaced the Panasonic 2 months ago with the red top 34R. No problem with clearance. The black plastic cover of the OEM battery does not fit due to the position of the red top's terminal posts being closer in from the side of the battery. Also you need to bend the wire's terminal ends due to the right angle it makes to allow the clamp to move towards the center of the battery by 1/2". Vice-grips work well.

 

I've bought Optima batteries at Costco in the past - obviously good prices.

 

been using a yellow for past 3 years no problems

 

got a red top for free and figure ill try it out. had in both my subarus and kept it for my sc300. great battery. cranking in the dead cold weather is superior to stock.

i would prefer to have a yellow top in my SC because it would help with the sound system since its a deep-cycle. i would rather put the red top in my 240sx.

either way great batteries. i had the same problem with sears dropping Optima. i got two free dead optima red tops. one i exchanged at the store with no questions asked for a brand new one. the other one is still at my house. im waiting to find some time to find a place that will just swap it out for me. dont think it will happen but who knows.

 

Great battery. I have had a few and never a single problem with them. Fitment is sometimes an issue but mine fits nicely in the SC. Also have it in the GX, etc...

 

I bought a red top for the boat for vibration and size reasons. Sold the boat and kept the battery. It ended up in my Jeep. It has been reliable but not enough for the money. I am also checking into a replacement battery for my SC430. Interstate have two choices. What you have to be careful of is size. After talking with a rep. one drops right in, the other may require some modification. I have had better luck with Interstate than Sears. The old Die Hard batteries are not what they once were.

 

My stock 84 month Lexus battery (made in Spain) just about died as my car would barely start after about 4 days of sitting in the garage. A good friend of mine had an extra Optima Red battery model 75/25 from his old car that he wasn't using so he gave it to me.

I had to turn the battery around, if that matters at all, but I got it to fit since it was a about an inch and a half shorter on the length. Also it was about half an inch shorter on the height, so I used some rubber sticky on feet on the battery mount to make sure it would stay put.

pic is here for anyone who is curious:

Optima Red 75/25

Finally, I had to make the car relearn the seat position by making the seats go all the way back and all the way front. I had to do this before it would let me set the memory seats. Got this from another post. Great forum!

thanks, michael

 

Sounds like Yellow Top would also be good for using the top when the engine is off.

 

I'd advise never operate the top when the engine is not running, no matter what color top is installed. You're only asking for trouble and a possible costly repair.