Optima Battery Info and Install with pics

[Vella's Alero]

So I have seen a few others and including myself that have asked about Optima batteries.

After a bit of researching, this is what I have come up with.

Optimas are spiral design and deep cell batteries which means they are more efficient and also can be drained fully repeatedly and won’t be harmed like a regular acid based battery.

There are three type of Optima Batteries:
-Red Top
- Yellow Top
- Blue Top

The only ones you need to worry about for automotive are the Red and Yellow Tops (Blue Tops are more for Marine use)

The Red Tops are for general purpose use. If you have a stock automobile with no real plans to add anything more than an upgraded deck and maybe a few LED’s. Depending on where you get it from, will cost around $230 after taxes (CAN).

The Yellow Tops are a bit better if you have upgraded electronics like double din decks, additional speakers which will need more amps and subs. Anything that will draw more power than an alternator can give out. For the price difference, I went with the yellow top because I have plans to upgrade my system later. Depending on where you get it from, will cost you around $270 after taxes (CAN).

I just ordered my Optima Yellow Top and I must say that it works really well and I was impressed with the packaging and thought that went into it.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/Ur7MByh/IMG_1633.jpg
This is the packaging that it comes in. At first I thought Holy Crap that’s tall but that top part comes off which I will show next.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/Ur7MByh/IMG_1635.jpg
Under that top part they include some adapters for different applications.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/Ur7MByh/IMG_1636.jpg
They even show which adapter you will need for which application. I thought that this was a nice touch. For the Alero you can use the same Puck style securer or you can use the new one which I did because it lets you get more thread in.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/Ur7MByh/IMG_1640.jpg
Since this is the model battery that they got for me. Since they don’t have an Alero or Grand Am model on their site, this is the best fit.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/Ur7MByh/IMG_1641.jpg
Or not best fit…lol. Since this is a spiral battery, it will take up a bit more room so you will need to mod your battery tray a bit for it to fit. (Those are the EBCM’s from my other thread. Will soon be a write up on that too.)

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/Ur7MByh/IMG_1643.jpg
Since I have a cai I couldn’t cut the back side that leads into the engine so I cut the side that is closest to the bumper (That is the saw I used on the right).

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/Ur7MByh/IMG_1647.jpg
After installation.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/Ur7MByh/IMG_1651.jpg
Bit of a tight squeeze up front. But that’s it.

Now you can upgrade your sound system and you can store your car and feel comfortable knowing that your battery will now handle the stresses. Your only other thought might be a High Output Alternator if you go really large!

[Rexter9x]

I had to cut my battery tray as well to fit my red top in... although it looks like youve got more clearance for the intake with where your battery is positioned. Nice write up!

[HazMatt24]

I didn't have to cut my tray for my red top

One other thing of note..L.E.D.s will actually draw less power than a regular bulb, therefore if you are replacing your lights with L.E.D.s there would be no need to upgrade the battery.

Other than that, good job. I also recommend an optima battery to anybody with a 2.2 that is putting in a Cosmo WAI and has the post extension for an amp on the battery, otherwise it's very tight and will probably arc.

[alerogls001]

Hmmm thanks for the information on the battery. I may go with red top. Issue I've been having is flickering of lights when I kick on the ac. All I have added is gauge overlays and two led strips. I keep thinking it may be the alternator since it has well over 200k and has never been replaced that I know of. Battery is only like a year old. I have a 3.4 btw.

[cherrington17]

say no to the reds. quality isn't what it used to be. gotta get yellows now.

[Vella's Alero]

If your lights are fading in and out then check you battery after a night of sitting...if the charge is between 11.5 and 12.5 volts, then it is your alternator. I had the same problem a year ago and when I changed the alt, everything worked fine.

You could also take it to an auto store that has free electrical checks and they can tell you without taking it out of the car.

Cherri - What is wrong with the Redtops? I haven't found anything like that in my searches.

[hok666]

i can get a yellow top locally for 189.00

[guiguilandry]

Yeah I just got my new yellow top for 169$ taxes included brand new direct from my interstate battery distributor..

[jhubbz]

Just did this all in under 10 minutes. Thanks for the write-up! I got myself a 34/78 that has 870 CA at 32F. I too had to cut the tray to make it fit.

I was looking around for a 75/25 that had 770 CA at 32F, but no shops around me carried them. The 75/25 would've been a direct replacement with no cutting necessary, but oh well.

[SouthDakotAlero]

Since we are bumping old threads here, I'll give an update on mine. I'm at almost 7 years with the same yellow top Optima and still running strong.

[Papa Rad17]

I literally just put in my #78 yellow top last week, love it! I just had to trim the one side to get it to fit. having the top and side terminals is really nice to.

[MMGT1]

I wish Optima would offer a colour range on their batteries. Make your batteries available with a simple black top! That has been the only thing keeping me from buying one. I have one of their regular green tops in the car and I hate it, Ive hated it since the day it went in there, Ill be damed if I'm going to spend 200 on one that is going to last the rest of this cars life and look that bad.... she an't goin' out like that, not on my watch

[jawa]

i have a blue top in mine because i like to listin to my stereo when im working on my car, it has 1125 cca at 32 and 900 at 0. im very impresed, i can run my stereo for 6 hours and it doesnt drain hardly at all

[jawa]

I wish Optima would offer a colour range on their batteries. Make your batteries available with a simple black top! That has been the only thing keeping me from buying one. I have one of their regular green tops in the car and I hate it, Ive hated it since the day it went in there, Ill be damed if I'm going to spend 200 on one that is going to last the rest of this cars life and look that bad.... she an't goin' out like that, not on my watch

paint it.... lol

[Vella's Alero]

Green top? They don't make green tops. They only have Red, Yellow, and Blue. I'm guessing the green top is from another company.

[MMGT1]

Optima is a line of Interstate Batteries

[Vella's Alero]

So then it is not technically an optima. Then it is just an interstate. If I'm not mistaken, the green interstate batteries are just regular battery while the actual optima batteries (red, yellow, and blue) are the deep cycle ones. Here is there actual website: http://www.optimabatteries.com/home.php

Correct me if I am wrong. I would like to see pics to see what it looks like.

[AleroB888]

..........

Optima Batteries Inc in Aurora, CO is a private company categorized under Dry and Wet Primary Battery Manufacturers. Our records show it was established in 2001 and incorporated in Colorado. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of unknown and employs a staff of approximately 100 to 249.

Johnson Control Inc. and Gylling Optima Batteries AB of Sweden said that Johnson Controls will acquire all the stock of Gylling Optima Batteries AB. In order to maximize its technical lead and better penetrate the OEM market, Gylling Optima Batteries AB said it has long sought an international business partner.

Several months of intensive dialogue on possible forms of collaboration have now been concluded with Johnson Controls, Gylling Optima Batteries said. As a result of these negotiations, Johnson Controls has decided to acquire 100 percent of the shares in Gylling Optima Batteries AB. Johnson Controls said that it expects to pay cash for 100 percent of the company.

The offer has already been accepted by the Gylling family, which owns 70 percent of the share capital and 83 percent of the voting stock. Johnson Controls does not currently own or control any shares in Gylling Optima Batteries.

The two companies said that the completion of the transaction, which is subject to normal governmental approvals and other conditions, is anticipated by the end of November.

"Having the world's best-selling spiral-wound battery technology from Gylling Optima Batteries within Johnson Controls will benefit both our aftermarket and original equipment customers," said Keith Wandell, president of Johnson Controls battery business. "With Johnson Controls sales, marketing and technology resources, together with the available capacity at Gylling Optima's Colorado facility, we expect increased sales of this product in the automotive aftermarket as well as identified 12/14- volt OEM applications."

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0UDO/is_5_9/ai_65540594/


CBS4's Rick Sallinger speaks with an employee of the Optima battery factory, located near the intersection of Interstate 70 and Airport Road.
This Thanksgiving is a tough one for 140 employees of a battery production firm in Aurora who learned this week their jobs are going to a new plant in Mexico.
For a decade Optima Batteries has produced its product in the United States, but earlier this year employees were informed a new plant was being constructed in the Mexican city of Cienega de Flores.

"When they built that plant in Mexico, what did they tell you?" CBS4's Rick Sallinger asked one employee.
"That half of the production would stay here and the other half to Mexico."

"And now it's all going to Mexico?" Rick asked. "Yeah," the employee said.
Optima workers in Aurora told CBS4 they were asked to train Mexican employees for the new facility.
The company issued a statement saying "the economy has changed dramatically over the past several months and we find ourselves in a very difficult market." Doors will close on Jan. 31, 2008.

No time is a good time to lose your job, but especially not now.
"It kind of puts a damper on it knowing in a couple months you don't have a job (and you'll be) going down to unemployment," one worker said.
A spokesperson for the city of Aurora said the timing is unfortunate and they understand the impact on the employees and their families.
The company is part of a much larger firm called Johnson Controls, which said they will provide support and placement services for the employees in Aurora who are losing their jobs.

[AleroB888]

I like the Red Tops, used 4 of them in 4 different cars. But when they go, they go! 2 had to be replaced while under warranty, had severe duty.....Just replaced the one in my Mom's Lincoln .......yeah :lol: just use a section of plastic 90* moulding to adapt the clamp, make shims from the part that came with the new battery, and.....

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/Gflash01/opt-lincoln.jpg?t=1324158789

[jhubbz]

So, my ultragauge is shooting me a P0300 code at me (check engine light), and I think it might be because of the new battery. Is this possible? Could the Crank Amps be too much for the car or what?

[MMGT1]

Oh yes, this green one is just a regular battery. We sold them at a shop I worked at a couple years ago. I could have gotten a deep cycle for dirt cheap, but could not bring myself to put it in there. If I can get a rear mount set up in for the battery, then I will put a deep cycle in it for sure.

[jhubbz]

Its been a couple days now, and my UG hasn't thrown me the code since then. I never cleared the code, so maybe it just learned the new battery? Oh well, no more P0300 for me :)