Crappy battery died today so I decided to replace it under warranty with an Optima Red Top.

Does anyone know how to fit the plastic covering on this battery in our car (or does it not fit). It looks so clean when the posts are covered and matches my engine cover nicely. I won't be needing the battery tie down anymore right?

 

I'm going to assume it won't fit.

And you should have a battery tie down. You don't want the battery bouncing around.

 

Damn...It looks so nice. Maybe with a little *snip snip* it will fit

 

this is what the dremel is for~ minor adjustments to the fit

ALWAYS have a tie down system on the battery-one that will hold it secure when you pull on the battery to test
For day to day driving concerns, its better not to have the battery slapping around- damage to internal parts of battery from that will shorten its life

In a worst case scenario (what we have to plan for at racetrack/building race cars, so thats my standard) :
With a regular crash-- or worse, a rollover, if the POS battery terminal touches any metal- like the now crumpled and smashed hood --it charges the car electrically

ELECTROCUTION HAZARD to rescue persons and to vehicle occupants trying to get out

Plus some wire damage and blown main relays (hopefully they blew and saved the rest) if the car is repairable...

Thats why the pos terminal has a rubber cap over it- make sure that cap is secure, I use a plastic wire tie so it stays there--safety pays off

 

As always...Thank you for your extremely technical answer. You always give more than was asked for....and I love it.

Looks like im going to have to shorten the battery tie down bolts, they are extremely long

 

It does fit if you snip it in the back where the positive cable is. That's how I did mine if you are talking about the oem battery cover.

 

^^^ x2 i cut mine up to fit my yellow top

 

I was talking about the red covering that comes on the battery when you first buy it, but I then realized it goes on the bottom to boost the height of the battery inside the box. I still need to buy the OEM cover...but the Red Top looks nice so maybe I wont.

Is there anything to cover the posts that looks a little cleaner?

 

I know its a cleaner look but why put it back on, show off that expensive battery lol
The redtop for my truck was like $170!! So I show it off

 

Hell yea, haha. It was $130 after the $50 return for the warrantied battery

 

x how ever many have already said it needs a little trimming, it be on the back of the cover, so you won't see it anyways, and most aftermarket batteries need a little trimming of the cover anyways, so no worries about having to be different

and btw tin snips work better then a dremal for that sort of thing, much faster ,

 

I want to get the redtop for the TL-S but im cool off the $130 price tag. If I need a new battery tho im deff going back to an optima red/yellow top

+1 on the tin snips. I used the dremal to cut out the lexan for my fogs and yeah! that took me a good hour or three lol to get it right

 

not everyone owns tin snips- or even knows what they are
I understand some of us have left, right, and center cut style~ and rivet guns and tap/dies...and never ending snap-on payments
BUT
Who are you to deny a man the use of his Power Tools!?! <g>

note: I say use scissors not dremel to cut the cabin filter cover off, so even I have moderation

Tip:
to make a nice cut on over-length bolts--remove bolt- put 2 nuts on it, the 2nd ending where you want to cut
Make cut with hacksaw or,,you guessed it- the power tool!!
Now remove the 2 nuts- they will smooth the thread end as they come off, work it back and forth a few times as you remove
Now you have a perfect size bolt

Use 2 nuts -locked against each other- to install hold down (one wrench holds bottem nut tight- another wrench tightens against the first)
As I described before,, its important the battery not move or have the hold down come loose- 2 nuts counter-strained to each other and that setup is going nowhere

Note: leave the cover off the battery for improved cooling to batt- actually heat removal-dispersant,,, improves lifespan of battery when cooler

Get those rubber caps for the cable ends- covers terminals safely and cleanly.
Parts store has them for a few dollars a set

I know I get wordy but am trying to share a lifes worth of experience in the biz and around cars boats bikes and airplanes
Try to make certain there is no doubt on instructions or procedure for diy or diagnostics

 

that red spacer block is for cars where you went down a size on batt and need to raise it to reach the cables,
If everything hooks up with it sitting lower- thats fine

 

oh that cover, yea i put it under neath it to make it more taller so the tiedown isnt cranked all the way.

 

I just did the same last night. I almost want to spray the Black tie down Red to match the battery top now.

 

and even at home too