russianDude

Whats the best battery replacement for CLS that will match OEM battery specifications?
Please tell me the brand, model number, and where to get it.
Thank you very much!

Hobo

search, get a optima yellow top

GEB

I would think you'd want a red top and not a yellow top. In this case, russianDude has no mods so not big stereo that pulls big amps. This is from the Optima web site:

“In any vehicle or equipment that will use the battery only for Starting, Lighting, & Ignition requirements and has a properly working alternator, the OPTIMA Red Top Starting Battery will perform extremely well, often providing up to two to three times longer life than conventional batteries. If the vehicle has few or no after-market accessories and uses a stock or upgraded alternator, the OPTIMA Red Top Starting Battery is the appropriate choice.”

I love the optima battery. I've used it in a few different cars. It's a little more expensive then others but well worth the price. You can get them at Costco for about $100. I think Pep boys sells them for about $117.

Chaptorial

Got my yellow top here for $114 Shipped

TNA Sports

russianDude

What about the specs, size, and etc? Is "red cap" the only specification.
Don't they supposed to have the same AMPs as the OEM batter to make sure everything works fine?

BEETROOT

Is there any reason for an optima if you aren't running big stereos or anything? Just go get a die hard gold at sears...

Slimey

Do a search -- I recall a recent thread where EricL went over the specs for a lot of the major brands with regard to CCA, plate size, construciton, etc.

Optima are quality batteries, but you'll also do fine with most of the major brands (Interstate, DieHard, Champion, etc). My understanding is that most of the batteries we buy are made in one or two factories, and then branded according to where they are being sold. It's mostly the same stuff. The major difference is between dry cell technology (like Optima) vs the wet technology (DieHard, etc).

I'll probably get an Optima (or other dry cell) because of their tolerance to cycling, stereo system or not.

russianDude

anyone knows the model number for DieHard, or Champion?

NJ_CLS_driver

Their website sucks. Everytime I try to look at Acura and 3.2CL it gives a bogus error saying the session is timed out

BEETROOT

die hard gold 33125

item# 22833125 at sears

russianDude

Thanks! I assume it has the same specifications as OEM battery?

BEETROOT

I guess... I don't know. I went into Sears, told them I wanted a die hard gold, and thats what they put in. I have a decent stereo running off this... and it still works great.

Chaptorial

Works fine for me.

Zippee

Check the dealer. The OEM for my wife's Honda is $71, on sale right now for $59. Same battery fits Acura.

edgalang

Optima or not, whatever brand of battery you get, it should at least be a dry cell. I personally have a Yellow Top...but that's just a personal preference.

russianDude

Our OEM battery is also dry cell?

Slimey

No.

Dry cell batteries are Optima, Hawker, and a couple others.

Almost everything else is wet cell (lead acid).

Different construction altogether.

duckman2000

Just replaced mine a couple of weeks ago (in a 2002 cl-s). I went by the dealer to see about a pro-rated discount (between year 2 and 3 it is 25%)...but the dealer price was still around $165.00 (ouch!)

Got a Sears Die Hard Gold for $79 (plus $12 - $13 more if you want it installed). I have always had good luck with Sears Die Hard batteries. I think the Die Hard is better than the OEM battery...

Allout

I agree - get a dry cell. You won't have the corrosion issues that you have with lead acid batteries. Optima's are not the same specs as OEM but are far superior in CCA. It's flat out a better battery but will cost you more. If your not interested in that, just go to Costco and get their basic battery and be done with it.

russianDude

From what I read DieHard is better than our stock battery. They cost about the same, but DieHard gives longer warranty, its like 4 years fully covered, and then prorated.... and for acura its only 2 years full coverage.

Hobo

yea you leave a door ajar for 2 days and come back your car will still start, its dry, lighter, smaller and lok cooler

Gabo3k

Just remember that our batteries are group size "24", with a mininum "CCA" (cold cranking amp.) of 550.

I just installed an Energizer battery group size 24, CCA 620. Purchased at Pep Boys for $75.00.

I went to Costco, but they did not carry any batteries group size 24.

The optimas are nice, they are filled with gel versus liquid. Just to darm expensive.

Plus the Energizer's warranty is exactly the same as the Optimas.

Good luck.

russianDude

Cool, thanks. Were you able to fit your OEM plastic cover on top of this energizer battery?

Gabo3k

Yes, it is exactly the same size as the OEM battery.

NiteQwill

Buy the Optima battery, it should come with a height spacer that you place on the bottom. Fits perfectly.

Red-CL

If I left my car door open for 2 days the least of my worries woul be my battery being dead.

russianDude

Looks like DieHard is the number 1 if you don't feel like spending extra money for Optima.

EricL

CS Reports:

Best for cold weather:

1 DieHard $60 (75 North)
10 Kirkland $60 (34/78 North), CR Best Buy
12 Nascar $100 (34/78 national)
All deliver the best blend of life and cold-starting performance in their group sizes.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you live where it’s warm:

2 DieHard $80 (75 South)
13 Duralast $75 (34/78 South)
16 EverStart $60 (34/78 South)
The DieHard (2) excelled in our life tests, while the Duralast (13) excelled in our CCA tests, handy if you sometimes drive in cold weather. The EverStart (16) offers a well-rounded choice for less money.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If reserve power matters most:

5 Exide $80 (75 national)
11 DieHard $90 (34/78 North)
14 DieHard $90 (34/78 South)
All three excelled in reserve capacity, though you’re likely to give up some longevity with the Exide (5).


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top picks for other sizes

Group-size 35 (many Japanese brands):

DieHard WeatherHandler 30335 $60 (South)
Exide Nascar Select 35-84N $80 (national)

Group-size 65 (large Ford vehicles):

DieHard Gold 33165 $80 (South)
Exide Nascar Select 65/84N $90 (national)



BTW, the battery in the wife's Altima dropped dead at night and the local Autozone had the Optima battery we needed (it needed a spacer). All considered, the Optima was not all that much more than the Sears batteries we priced. IOW, check the price your going to pay. As it turned out, the Optima was 5-minutes away and that easily made up for the $20+ difference. The car has never started so quickly.

If you want a battery that can possibly last longer than the car *and* price is not a consideration, get the Optima.

YMMV

MethodRN

What's the difference between a group 24 and a 34?

EricL

First -- an Optima excerpt and picture:



LINK: http://www.optimabatteries.com/using...ht.asp?learn=1

And here some links to tables that shows all of the "group" codes for various batteries:

http://www.dscr.dla.mil/PRODUCTS/bcicvc/cat1.htm
http://www.wholesalebatteries.net/spec2.htm


Basically the group 24 and 34 batteries have:

1. Different dimensions
2. Different cranking and reserve capacity (performance)

However, depending on make, construction and technology a battery from one vendor/manufacturer that is smaller can outperform a larger battery in many ways (longer life, better cranking, etc).

The charts and relevant specs can also help to substitute a battery that is possibly superior in technology and other characteristics by checking out dimensions and seeing if a spacer or other option is available.

So, have a look at the charts and you can see that group 24 has a size of:

10.250L x 6.812W x 8.875H

and the 34 is a tad shorter (about an inch) at:

10.250L x 6.812W x 7.812H

Hence, the "general" need for the spacer

russianDude

EricL, if I live in NJ, would it classify as cold or warm climate (as far as diehard battery go: North or South).

EricL

I'd think that would be a NORTH as in cold. You'd want some extra reserve for the cold months...

http://www.optimabattery.freeserve.c...AQ/carfaq7.htm


YMMV

car_lost

which optima yellow top model does the cl-s require?

jlspeed29

the cl reqires about 580 cca (cold cranking amps) if that helps any
Joe

phipark

get the 34/78