Hello all i have a 2005 TSX and the battery is about to die so i decided to go off and get a sweet Optima battery...
I did read JTso post on it and i have some simple question
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=optima

1) Is there an Optima Battery that will fit the TSX without having to remove the plastic Oil Tray?

2) Is it dangerous installing the Optima 35 without the plastic tray?
I know the plastic tray is there for battery spills and the Optima does not spill battery acid BUT is putting the battery on a metal object really that smart?
I noticed the plastic battery tray had rubber in it which was under the battery which furthers my thinking that putting the battery on metal isnt the best idea

3) If i install the Optima that i just got what is the point of those red plastic trays that just came with the battery?
Check the link below for pictures regarding this question and read the comments on the picture

Here are some pics that i took ...
http://picasaweb.google.com/cytomax/...ryInstallation

Thanks in Advance
Eddie

 

1. Optima has a yellow top p/n D51R which is a direct fit for the TSX. This battery was discontinued for awhile and now it's back in production.

2. No problem without the plastic tray.

3. I think you can use the red tray to support the battery from the bottom and it restores the mounting height. I didn't use the tray.

 

What JTso said...

I also have 75/35 series Red top and they are amazing. The stock battery tray will NOT fit. Take the Optima battery tray, flip it, and install it upside down as a tray. It should fit in there no problem.

I also slide the stock anti-slip plastic between the Optima battery tray and where it sits to make sure it doesn't move.

 

I have a 75/35 Red Top Optima.

I didn't use any tray, but it sits kinda low.

Maybe I should use that red thing it came with....

I did not like how the stock battery tie bar fit at all, so I
just machined a piece of aluminum to take it's place.

It works well and looks fine, I just need to raise it some or
trim the threads on the bolts for the tie system there...





I have it tightened well and it doesn't move anywhere.

 

[QUOTE=MMsTSX]


QUOTE]

Nicely done MMsTSX, the stock tie bar is too narrow for the battery, I don't feel like paying $50 for some name brand battery tie, got an extra piece?

 

Thanks for the replies guys....

 

I like your tie down bar. It must be expensive to cut down from a larger piece to size.

 

I would be careful with Optima they have a 60 percent failure rate. My buddy worked at autozone and they were coming back all the time. After doing some internet searching on this I have read through multiple forums of the same occurrence. Alot of this came from vendors who actually sold Optima batteries. I have heard good things about kinetik batteries.

 

Are you referring to all Optima batteries or a particular model?

 

I'm sorry, but I wouldn't go with an Optima Battery. they are ^%$% IMO. I had a 51R in my TSX. 13months after install (yes there is a 12mo replacement warranty and that's it), one of the cells died. Read 12.8v when no load, but just turning the headlights on would show the culprit, one dead spiral cell. 10.6V does not start the car. I tried talking to the place I bought it, no dice, tried talking with Optima, same story. No one would even give me the time of day when they found out it was out of the 12 month warranty.

In my opinion, any company that doesn't stand behind their product and charges 40% more for less warranty, can just stop being in business.

I heard several horror stories about optima batteries recently with the high failure rates as well, but either way, it's bad when a company won't give any good faith help when it's obvious that their product was defective.

I'd try Orbitals... =oP

 

nah, it was cheap.
I have a connection or two at a local machine shop that I used to get
in there and do the work real quick.
just a 1/4" piece of aluminum stock.
they had it lying around, I grabbed it and machined it and was out.
I brought in a cardstock template.
was in and out in about an hour.

as for making more for others.... that's a possibility.
what would be a fair price?


and Optimas suck? huh? strange I never heard that before.

 

No particular models, from red to yellow.

 

I don't know how complicate is it, maybe $15-20 is that too little???

That is such a broad statement, it's like people saying "He sucks" but they can't point out the details.

For real, the Optima did fxxk up their 51R line back then with a high failure rate. However, they have tighten their act but recalling it, since then I haven't heard any bad news from them. I'm using the RedTop 75/35 series for awhile and I can tell you in terms of CCA or reserve, they are doing an excellent job if not better than others.

 

which is better, yellow or red?