which battery to use

[eastcoastS14]

just wondering what kind of battery people are running i have a choice between an optima yellow top with 750cca and 870ca for $189 or a duralast gold with 750cca and 900ca for $74.99. wondering if the optima is worth it. it says its a deep cycle so it can run accessories better. wondering if ill have any problem running the duralast with boost and AFR gauges and such if not ill save my self some money just let me know..thanks

[Jung918]

I am running a optima red top and no problems so far.. Are you running a aftermarket stereo?

[eastcoastS14]

^^ no stock stereo

[koukimonster139]

not really necessary unless you're running a trolling motor in your car or something. dont get me wrong though, that yellow makes ur shit so much faster

[mRclARK1]

I am running a optima red top and no problems so far..

Same goes for me... they're an especially good choice if your battery is trunk mounted, or you plan to in the future IMO.

[KoukiMonster805]

what kinda of battery would you recommend if say you had a pretty decent sound system.?!

[eastcoastS14]

^^ yeah battery is in the trunk...i mean at this point i have no doubt about the optimas i just want to know if there is any real reason for me to spend an extra $110 or if a duralast will work just as well....so what im getting is optima is good but not necessary unless i have an aftermarket stereo and what not?

[Jung918]

Since your battery is in the trunk I would go with the optima since it is sealed and maintance free. You can save a little and just get a red top.

[eastcoastS14]

ha red top isnt much cheaper $149 for the cheapest red top....i have a sealed summit racing box with a vent tube to the outside too

[ronmcdon]

the summit relocation box is a pretty flimsy. mine has already cracked, and i have a smaller/lighter miata battery in there. if you haven't purchased a rear re-location box, id suggest getting something else w/ better quality. i hear the moroso aluminum box is pretty durable.

[eastcoastS14]

hmm mine seems pretty sturdy but its already in there and trying to avoid spending extra money right now just need a battery now

[Jung918]

ha red top isnt much cheaper $149 for the cheapest red top....i have a sealed summit racing box with a vent tube to the outside too

If you find a place that sells interstate batterys, they should also be able to get the optimas. I think i paid 130 for mine.

[eastcoastS14]

yeah theres an autozone right down the street....so really is there any reason why i should not get the duralast i have a sealed box and i just need to get somethin now and can possibly upgrade in the summer when im working more

[Ameer]

Get an oddyssey battery. They are less than $120. they are small and dry cell.

[eastcoastS14]

had a small odessey couldnt start the car in the cold weather....still pretty cold on the east coast

[Jung918]

Get an oddyssey battery. They are less than $120. they are small and dry cell.

From what I hear, they don't last very long. That was part of my decision to go with the optima.

[O3DigitalBath]

if I remember right the oddyssey batteries have a 5 year warrenty as far as if its full replacement or just a pro-rate i'm not sure...

i'm running the pc680 in my car and i've never had a problem.

as far as the optima, they generally don't tend to last as long, sounds like you are going to buy it from Autozone, there and discount auto parts only offer a 1 year free replacement on them I would go with with the duralast gold or the autocraft titanium battery's which both offer a 3 year free replacement and 84 month pro-rates.

[JDMClifford]

i run a optima yellow top, with a 4000W sterio, left my glovebox open and the light was on for a week and the car started right up. + you can mount it sideways or upside down if you really wanted to. i have had the same battery in 2 diferent cars for 3 years and it still works great!

[one_tyme]

i had an optima blue in my s13 for 2 years and thecar started everytime, no matter what. but i crashed that car, and the battery died with it.

now i have a s14 with a optima red. i have a 1000watt sound system (nothing major, lol) and running a bunch of electronics....gauges, standalone, msd ignition, relays, HIDs and etc. i have no complaints. and like others said, they make for easy mounting, as i have mines mounted in my trunk.

[KA-T_240]

I am using a stinger high performance battery. I am using a aftermarket stereo, but no subs, and efans.

[staygold24]

ive heard of braille batteries and they're small. any input?

[mRclARK1]

Well I had a good testament to the Optima batteries happen to me just last night... I parked my car and left my dash lights and interior light on all night. And it's below freezing here. It started up no problem this morning... over 8 hours later.

[Kn1ves]

i had an optima blue in my s13 for 2 years and thecar started everytime, no matter what. but i crashed that car, and the battery died with it.

now i have a s14 with a optima red. i have a 1000watt sound system (nothing major, lol) and running a bunch of electronics....gauges, standalone, msd ignition, relays, HIDs and etc. i have no complaints. and like others said, they make for easy mounting, as i have mines mounted in my trunk.


lol blue tops are marine batteries which are deep cycle (heavy as fuck). redtop is good for most applications, its their bread and butter. yellow top is if u want to run a decent stereo with ur car turned off, or want to run them in a series for more power. otherwise, no major advantage.

ive also heard a rumor that theyre going to faze out yellow tops since they do not sell well.

[S14DB]

Yeah, unless you bump the bass with the car off for hours you don't need a yellow top.

I got a red top after replacing normal batteries every year. Had a sealed for almost 2 years. Red top has been going strong for 3yrs. Sitting for over a year and only loosing 1 volt and still powering stuff.

Heat just boils the water out of batteries here and kills them fast.

[s13gold]

do you ever go to tracks?
i tried to go to irwindale (my local) and they told me i couldn't race cuz of my battery..Lots of Regulations.
So if u go to tracks, just go with a sealed battery. so just in case u dont have to buy twice.

[georgesal]

optims are good but once they die they are a pain to recharge might as well junk it or use it as a door stop.

[LA_phantom_240]

Kinetik also makes some very good batteries. Very high CCA's for such small batts. Mostly used in car audio, but theyve been proven on the race track as well.

[bigOdom1]

i swithed to the optima red top just recently because i am bad about leaving the dome light on and walking away (5% tint). hasn't died yet plus i wanted something sealed in my trunk and when i get a box built there will be subs that i put in it. red top that they say goes in integras is what i chose

[LA_phantom_240]

I like yellow tops for audio... just my 2 cents.

[staygold24]

so... any input on braille?

[drift freaq]

the summit relocation box is a pretty flimsy. mine has already cracked, and i have a smaller/lighter miata battery in there. if you haven't purchased a rear re-location box, id suggest getting something else w/ better quality. i hear the moroso aluminum box is pretty durable.
Why both using a Miata battery if you have relocated to the back? The only reason for using a smaller battery, aka Miata and whatnot, is if you don't have enough room for a regular battery up front due to intercooler piping. The whole point of relocating your battery to the rear is so you can run a regular size sealed battery. FWIW Miata batteries do not have the proper CCA for our cars and can,will and do wear out prematurely.

[S14DB]

yeah, Small batts don't have enough capacity if you have a Taurus fan.

[LA_phantom_240]

Sounds like an alternator issue there...

[cfrost]

my car uses a lawn mower battery, it works great! :2f2f:

[mRclARK1]

^^^ But if you have an aftermarket stereo of any kind or especially if you live in a winter climate; that won't be enough.

[S14DB]

Sounds like an alternator issue there...
The miata doesn't have the capacitance to ride out the 1sec delay between the fan coming on and the alt realizing there is a high power demand.

[garbury]

^^^ But if you have an aftermarket stereo of any kind or especially if you live in a winter climate; that won't be enough.

I run a 300w rms sub on my 450 cca lawn and garden $25 autozone brand battery since May. I have had no problems whatsoever, and even when my car died, I cranked the starter at least 20 times and the starter was still chugging easily (ecu was gone). Tucson had a pretty cold winter this year dipping into the low 20s and the battery didn't notice. A lot of people like to discourage the cheapest options, but this battery has been flawless so far. Plus with the warranty, I should be set even if it does fail.

[mRclARK1]

^^^ Low 20's is nothing... try the -30 to -40 range with that battery and see what happens.

I'm not saying it doesn't work in of itself... but start adding things like efans, stereos, foglights etc... and I wouldn't trust it.

[garbury]

Yeah, touche...I don't think my ass would even want to leave the house in anything under 20 degrees, lol. I am in no way saying a lawn and garden battery is the best option, but it will work. I have a clutch fan too, but I was under the impression that once the car is started all the battery does is transfer the power the alternator makes to the accessories.

[240on430]

I went with the $30 battery from autozone. I think it was group 24.

...stock stereo.

[MAGILLA]

+ 1 for the red top. Bought mine for $80 over 6 yrs and 4000 watts ago. still kickin

[Sky80]

so... any input on braille?
I would like to know the same, i plan on keeping the battery up front and running the intercooler piping right by it...