My Interstate battery (dated Aug '02) is completely dead. Am going to get Optima. I searched here (and the "old" FChat) and came up with the ff: red/orange top 34/78. Is this right? Autozone stores in my area say they have 34/78 but Yellow top (deep cycle). Can I use this instead? My 328 gets driven every week or two (the latter usually). Thank you. Any comment appreciated. Ron
If I remember correctly I used a 75/35 Redtop in my 308. It has quasi-universal post locations on top so you can switch ends and still get your cables hooked up. I asked the distributor about the Orangetop and he said it is no longer listed! Discontinued? Don't know if the 328's are side terminal or not but the Redtop I have came with those in addition to the top posts. I use the side terminals for an auxillary hook up mounted to the forward/outer side of the spare tire well for charging and jumping without having to pull the spare and access panel. The Yellowtop is a deep cycle for automotive use. Designed for for cars that have high amperage draw when the engine is not running like large sound systems or winches etc............... Since I took the winch off of the 308 I settled for the Redtop which is considered a "starting" battery. The Optima Bluetop is the deep cycle marine battery.
I have been investigating this a bit myself. From previous posts, most were using the 78/34. I found that Costco sells the 75/35 for $99.99 and in checking with Optima, they claim that dimensionally, it is slightly smaller than the 78/34, so should fit fine. The 75/35 is rated at 720 CCA which should be more than adequate power wise. I think the factory spec is only for around 600 to 650 CCA. I am pretty sure that the previous owner of my (now previous) 308 had a slightly larger Optima in it, because I remember it being rated at 800 or 850 CCA, but I can't remember the size. Check the Optima website, but the yellow top is recommended for cars driven infrequently (every two weeks would qualify), so you should be fine with that. In fact it may be preferrable to the red/orange top in that application. Dave
I have been having good luck with my red top staying charged between drives mainly because I turn off the master switch when I park (no computers). It always has plenty of charge for cranking weeks later. I think Dave is correct in recommending a yellow top for cars with computers (passive and active) when the car is parked for periods of time. What ever you get, don't buy another liquid 'wet' cell battery. When they get overcharged, shorted or cracked they spew acid all over your car. Destructive!
I would disagree...from the Optima website: "If the customer drives the car every day, the Red Top would be the correct choice, since the amperage drain will be nominal and the battery would be recharged on a daily basis. However, if the customer stores the vehicle for a long period of time with the alarm system engaged, you should recommend the OPTIMA Yellow Top, since the amperage drain over several weeks would damage a Red Top and reduce its life." Now granted, we don't know if he has an alarm or other such current draw, but the infrequent use would likely still dictate that the yellow top, would be the preferred choice. After all, his most recent battery lasted less than two years, so something is up. I would recommend having the alternator checked out as well.
BTW, just checked, and the 34/78 size may be preferrable as it is 800 CCA over the 720 CCA of the 75/35. Hey, bigger is better, right?
Ron, It does sound like there may be something up with your ignition switch that is causing a short or drain. Certainly worth having checked out. BTW, it may be a better use of funds to buy the red top version of the battery, and use the left over $$$ and buy a battery tender. That seems better than getting a yellow top, and just leaving it sit. You can get a battery tender for a good price here: http://snipurl.com/7cod $35 plus $6 shipping. Most places want close to $50 plus shipping for one. Splice a cigarette lighter adapter onto one of the sets of leads provided, and you can simply plug it into your cig lighter whenever the car sits in the garage. The cigarette lighter plug with an 8 foot cord is available at Radio Schack for $6.50. This way, the battery will always be up to snuff, regardless of how long between drives. These battery tenders really work. I used to replace the battery in my motorcycle every three years...(don't ride enough!). But since I bought a battery tender, I am on the same battery now for at least 5 years, and may be even 6! And I never have to jump start the bike, it fires right up each time. All I need to do is make sure I check the electrolyte level once per year (not necessary on the Optima).
Dave, THANK YOU. I will take that route then. (You know, I was really hoping that you chime in in this discussion as you have offered a lot of help and technical assistance to fcar owners here (esp. 328's). (This is absolutely not to say that I don't value other's input). Thanks again and to all. Ron
Darn Dave always gets the credit I just went to Costco last night and bought a red top. This is to replace my existing red top (lasted about 5 years). I punished the old one though. I definitely recommend a battery tender. I too only drive mine about once a week and would recommend the yellow top, but Costco doesn't sell them. I think you would be fine with either. The CCA is fine. Bigger isn't necessarily better, because it's going to be heavier also. Just my $.02 Henry
Finally got an Optima Red top 75/35 ($109.99 Autozone) and installed it this afternoon. Man, installing the battery in a 328 is bit of a pain. Anyway, as was mentioned the 75/35 is quite smaller so I had to mount the plastic adaptor (it comes with it) at the base of the battery, after which width- and heightwise the fit is okay but lengthwise is still short but it doesn't matter. I made sure the battery is secure by tightening the hold-down clamp. Now I am going to order that battery tender... Henry, did you get a 75/35 or 34/78 red top? The latter only comes in yellow top ($159.99) at auto stores here in St. Louis so I ended up with the former.
Good job Ron, The other part you will need is this: http://snipurl.com/5rl7 You can get it at any Radio Shack store. Splice this into either of the sets of leads provided with the battery tender, then you just plug into the cigarette lighter socket...easy!
What adapter???!!! Dang it! I had to make my own! Thats what I hate about living in the sticks, it seems everybody I deal with is a little behind the curve. If it wasn't for Fchat and my fellow club members I would be up sh*t creek! I ask about the orange top, "Never heard of it" (Does one exist?) I was told it has the reversed posts, that's what I need, "They don't make these with reversed posts, the red top has universal posts". Great, I get a 'one size fit all' line from the guy. Oh well, I know better now. I ask about the yellow top and he explains about the deep cycle for high amp applications but he doesn't tell me it will fit my car!!!!!!!
Dave, I went to that link you listed but the price is $52.99, not $35. I looked on Froogle and found the same model for $43.95 at: http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=DEL-021-0156 Gary
The BASTARDS raised the price (in the past two days)!!!! Sorry, the next best price would be on Ebay then. $39.99 plus shipping. Tons of sellers offering them at that price. Just enter "battery tender plus" or "Deltran plus" for your search. Watch the shipping costs though....
I put an orange top in my ex-348 Spider a couple of years back because it needed the reverse posts. I have no idea what you guys mean by universal posts? The red top in my BB512i has two standard male clamp-on type posts on top and two side mounted female screw-in type connections on the side.
can you put the battery holder on top of your battery and secure it? If so..please let me know. I hate the battery that I have right now, a die hard, and I have had to engineer the battery holder to make it fit.
Universal as in the position of the posts on the top of the battery. The version of the red top I got has the posts mounted almost equal in distance from each corner (at each end of the battery) allowing the battery to be turned end-for-end in the car to place the correct post next to the correct cable.
Ron, I got the 75/35. I was at Pep Boys today and they carry the 75/35 for $109 and the yellow top for $159. They were out of stock on both though. They did have a yellow top that only had about 520 CA that was labeled a YEL51 (don't know what that was, it was smaller than the 75/35). Again for our applications I think either will do (especially, if you get a battery tender). And as Dave said, you want to get something that has a "brain" to prevent overcharging. Try www.optimabatteries.com for more info on them. Happy Fourth. Henry
I bought an Optima red top from Costo (don't recall exactly what I paid for it, but it was the lowest price available from any source) about a year and a half ago for my 328. At the same time I bought a Battery Minder from batterymart.com. The battery is practically always connected to the Battery Minder. This is the ultimate set up as far as I am concerned. I have NEVER had a single problem with it. It works so well, I bought a Battery Minder for my Miata and I have not had a problem since then with that battery either.
What kind of hold-down clamps do others have in their 328s? All mine has is a metal strip, held down by one bolt, that pinches down on the bottom "lip" of the battery base. With a plastic adapter on the bottom of an Optima, does the adapter hold the battery, or does everyone else have a strap that fits over the top of the battery?
