Optima Battery

[WyrreJ]

I went heavy duty and bought a blue-top D31M, it fits but required a new "tie-down" bracket thingy and the terminals do leave indents in the hood sound-proof/heat-shield. Just last week I left one of the lights in the mirror on for over 12 hours by accident and still had no problem at all starting the engine - didn't even realize I had left it on until I got out on the road.

[Todd Adams]

I have nothing but gell batteries (except in the new Dodge). The red top I put in my Amigo (now my son's) is still doing great after 8 years!
Todd

[Heraclid]

The reason why I don't need the height adapter on mine may be that the rods for securing the battery are tall and one has worn a hole through some of the hood insulation. They're longer than necessary and the threads go down far enough on the rods that I don't need the adapter. Maybe at some point something else was in there and the bracket I have isn't stock.

P.S.- Someone brought this up before, but I'll reiterate - get one of those things you can plug into a cigarette lighter and you won't lose station presets when you fiddle with batteries. Just snap on a 9V battery and plug it into the lighter port.

[Spike]

It's cheaper than Pep Boys..

[Tone]

Not sure the 9v battery trick will work since the lighter is off when the car is off. With the key on, there might be too large a load. Blue and Yellow top Optima's are the SAME deep cycle battery (when comparing cca, etc) with different terminals.

[GOVEHIX]

Just last week I left one of the lights in the mirror on for over 12 hours by accident and still had no problem at all starting the engine - didn't even realize I had left it on until I got out on the road.

i had that experience too, but was with the original factory battery, and i had no problem at all starting the engine too.

[driver3]

I went heavy duty and bought a blue-top D31M, it fits but required a new "tie-down" bracket thingy and the terminals do leave indents in the hood sound-proof/heat-shield. Just last week I left one of the lights in the mirror on for over 12 hours by accident and still had no problem at all starting the engine - didn't even realize I had left it on until I got out on the road.

Hey.. what did you use for the new tie down? I just got the D31M and I'm using a bungee cord until I get a real tie down set up. I'm heading to home depot today to look at some brackets... but if you have any hints, let me know. The hood insulation definitely hits the top of the battery.. but for right now that's holding her in well anyway... $225 with tax.. hopefully this is the battery I'm looking for. If I don't start the vx for 3 days or so, my old battery would die. I'm thinking with the deep cycle I'll be ok now...

[Joe_Black]

If you check at your local AutoZone/PepBoys/Advance parts places or better yet, NAPA, you should find a variety of universal brackets. Be sure to take sketch with measurements of your battery and any possible mounts points so you can match it up with what they've got on hand.

Another good place for battery goodies is a commercial truck supply or truck stop.

Do take a good look at your electrical though, as a drain enough to kill your current battery after three days will eventually ruin your Optima as well. No battery is a cure for an electrical problem! If you have a multimeter, take a reading between the positive battery cable and your battery's positive post and take note of the amperage draw. You may find you've got a load somewhere that you shouldn't, and you'll need to track that down and get it on a switched or isolated circuit.

[driver3]

Do take a good look at your electrical though, as a drain enough to kill your current battery after three days will eventually ruin your Optima as well. No battery is a cure for an electrical problem! If you have a multimeter, take a reading between the positive battery cable and your battery's positive post and take note of the amperage draw. You may find you've got a load somewhere that you shouldn't, and you'll need to track that down and get it on a switched or isolated circuit.

I'll take a look.. I added a constant power wire from the battery that runs my gps and radar detector... even when they are off, it still dies... I should probably run that wire switched from the fuse box... I still hope to be able to run my stereo while I'm camping and still start the car in the morning... With the old battery, if I ran my stereo over 2 hours.. it was dead...

I got the blue top - D31M
http://www.invertersrus.com/optimad31m.html
(not from there though.. I got mine at sears)

[Joe_Black]

Well, your old battery was probably on its last legs but it still sounds as if you have a phantom load somewhere. The Blue Top is the marine flavor of Optima and not ideally suited to an automotive starting role, but will work. The Yellow Top is the automotive version of the marine Blue Top, and with either you should be able to run a light accessory such as OEM audio overnight without worry.

Definitely check your load though to see how much is being drawn with everything off, that may be what caused or helped your conventional battery to fail.

[driver3]

Well, your old battery was probably on its last legs but it still sounds as if you have a phantom load somewhere. The Blue Top is the marine flavor of Optima and not ideally suited to an automotive starting role, but will work. The Yellow Top is the automotive version of the marine Blue Top, and with either you should be able to run a light accessory such as OEM audio overnight without worry.

Definitely check your load though to see how much is being drawn with everything off, that may be what caused or helped your conventional battery to fail.

I had read this:
"
Optima D31M Blue Top, D31A Yellow Top and D31T Yellow Top Batteries: The D31 series is Optima's most powerful single-unit deep cycle battery. Like all Optima batteries, the D31 series deep cycle batteries offer exceptionally high CCA for their size and boast 75 amp hours of current storage for long deep-cycling run times. The D31 deep cycle batteries will not off-gas in normal operation, but for complete safety in enclosed spaces their overpressure vent will accept a remote venting tube. If you have room for a D31 series battery, they represents the best performance/cost value on the market. They're stellar performers in virtually any deep cycle battery application, and their Spiralcell AGM construction make them tough as nails. The D31A has automotive-style (SAE) posts, the D31T has top mounted stainless steel threaded studs for flat-loop connectors, and the versatile D31M has both SAE posts and threaded studs. The difference in color between yellow and blue top batteries does not denote a performance difference. See specs & delivered price in table below.
"

So they just have cool additional spots to hook up accessories... lol

I need to find this "leak".. i had just heard other vx owners having the issue of a dead battery if they leave the car sitting

[SPAZZ]

When I had a stock Alternator and just a stock battery or even just the RedTop before I went to the 160 amp Alt and the higher power Redtop, just running the VX's radio (without an amp) for a couple hours parked then attempting to start it, it would not start.

Although, with the Redtop it would last about 4 hours verse 2 hours.

Now, with the 160 amp alt and higher power Redtop I have NO problems and never a dead battery. Although stock my VX came with a 45 amp alternator and I do believe they were suposed to come with 95 amp alternators.


Hmmm, was this a supply issue in the factory??? Hey We are out of Alternators...Hey, we have some Rodeo ones next door..ok that'll work, throw one of those in.

[psychos2]

Well, your old battery was probably on its last legs but it still sounds as if you have a phantom load somewhere. The Blue Top is the marine flavor of Optima and not ideally suited to an automotive starting role, but will work. The Yellow Top is the automotive version of the marine Blue Top, and with either you should be able to run a light accessory such as OEM audio overnight without worry.

Definitely check your load though to see how much is being drawn with everything off, that may be what caused or helped your conventional battery to fail.

I have the blue top marine batt and it works just fine. The extra posts are awesome for hooking up amps,lights,etc. Why would the blue top not be good for starting a car? Boats start the same way a car does! There was another reason for getting the blue top marine batt for me, IT WAS FREE!! So was the one I put in my brothers car. As far as there being a load , it is possible ,but if the batt was junk That was more likely your problem. shawn

[transio]

I'm running a Yellow Top.

Not only is it the best battery I've ever had, but even better, it matches the color of my Proton!

[Joe_Black]

Why would the blue top not be good for starting a car?

My statement was incorrect and based on outdated information. I've just learned that the 34M Blue Top is a 2nd generation Optima and is constructed to the same standard as the Yellow and Red Top batteries.

The original Blue Top, from what I understand, was built a little lighter (less vibration in typical marine environment) and formulated more toward a traditional deep-cycle usage curve. The popularity of this particular model in the RV market is what likely led to the improvements.

Sorry for the error on my part!