Battery Question: Optima Redtop owners?

[BadMojo]

So, in my attempt to get to work on time this morning, I found out that my battery has given up the ghost.

I'm thinking now is a good time to get a nice, shiny Optima Redtop battery since I've heard many good things about them.

Question: They don't make an application specifically for the 240SX. Which model # did you use and did you have any issues with it? Did it fit in the OE battery tray?

Thanks!

[Bronze MFP]

I don't think they have application specific redtops, I do think their are 2 different kinds, depending on where the pos and neg terminals are located. Thats about the only thing to check out before buying one. I had one in an old honda prelude i used to own, and it ROCKED. plus i think its supposed to last for like 7 years or something. I remember the warranty being a crazy amount of time. good luck!

[nismostate]

just get the smaller redtop. that's what im using right now. it use to be in my prelude but i switched it out. yes it does rock because it'll keep your car powered FOREVER! haha. i left the fan on for like 4hrs once and it still cranked up.

[evotech240sx]

i read this somewhere about what each color of the battary top is for. correct me if im worng.

red top- is more for like daily/high performance cars that use a lot of power or something

blue top- is for boats cause it is built for vibration resistant and im pretty sure for water corrosion too

yellow top- it delivers a lot of power for the people who love sounds

but there you go

[Soy]

As far as I'm to understand it, the Optima series is like this:

RedTop - Starter Battery - Used mainly for street applications where you need an extremely reliable battery used mainly for starting the car.

YellowTop - Deep Cycle - Great as a starter battery, but has an incredibly long-lasting charge for people with high-power consuming devices like winches, off-road lights, etc. Maily used in commercial and truck applications.

BlueTop - Marine Battery - Just as it says - very resistant to salt and corrosion, deep cycle so it can sit for a long time between uses.

All of the Optima batteries are sealed and gel-cell, meaning they can be put upside down, sideways, whatever without fear of leaking or charge issues. I have a yellow-top in my truck (winch and KC lights) and a redtop in my '92 Hatch. I'm forever sold on these batteries... i've NEVER been stranded due to dead battery, and I'm always the 1st guy friends call when they need a jump.

James

[BadMojo]

Got a Redtop Optima, very happy with the fitment and quality. Considering it's only been a few day since I bought it, I suppose it's too early for a final verdict.

Note: Trying to replace a battery in 40 degree weather and a stiff breeze is *not* fun. Until I saw blood on the battery handle, I had no idea that I had cut myself on something. Working on cars in the winter sucks...oh, what I'd do for a nice heated garage.

[Rex]

Optimas are the standard in automotive batteries, Red Top will meet/exceed most everyones needs. Go with the smaller version and have them give you the tray/base even if you don't need it now, you may need it on the next car.

One thing to keep in mind is that if a Yellow Top is to ever run down, it must be re-charged on a trickle charger, nearly no alternator will bring back a Yellow Top that's been drained to dead.

[MYK]

yeah first thing I did with my 240 was drop in an optima. of course it had been sitting for months and the battery that was in it was gone! But I've been using optimas for years and I've been very happy with them. They are a little heavy but a great battery.

you can just see the back of mine in this pic.

BTW I used a universal tie down from AutoZone and some new battery tie down posts to hold it. It's still a bit small compared to the stock battery, so it'll slide side to side if you really shove it. I ended up running two screws though the plastic base part (the web in between the cells) into the battery tray metal to completely keep it from moving.

myk

[nsrZ32]

My Z used to chew through batteries big time then I got an optima redtop. Talk about an amazing battery that has given me zero problems. They are worth their weight in gold. As said farther up, they are truly the standard in batteries.

[574-240sx]

My optima red top sits nice in my battery box mounted in my hatch. I had to shove a piece of wood under it to get it to mount in the stock location due to the battery being shorter than the stock one I had. I killed my last battery after a full day of drifting. So far the optima is great.

[Rex]

There's a page on their site about an installation base, as well as additional hold down adapters.



(Click image for page)

[AZhitman]

Think I'm gonna switch out to one of these when i relocate mine to the "trunk" (convertible top well).

[Silvia2b]

Great batteries I've always used them. I currently use a redtop. I have to give it a good charge every 3 weeks though since my little 90amp alternator can't seem to keep up with the total current draw from amplifers and stereo. If you play long enough these batteries can be deep cylcled, in which case charging won't help, it will have to be replaced

[nsrZ32]

There's a page on their site about an installation base, as well as additional hold down adapters.



(Click image for page)

Mine came with the base. Looks clean cause it matches the top and what not. Not to mention it makes the optima sit the same height as the stock battery did.

Here's a picture of it

Engine bay is usually cleaner than it is in that pic so don't mind the dirt on the battery tray and the firewall lol

[seyath]

What dirt??? I'm thinking of buying an Optima now... wait, wait... Got to get the Brembo's first