some questions. I can get the optima red or yellow top 35 series for about the same price. Around $150 with the yellow top being $6 dollars more.

Red top

CCA 720
CA 910
Reserve Cap 90
Ampere hour 44

Yellow top

CCA 620
CA 770
Reserve cap 100
Ampere hour 48

Or

INTERSATE Mega-Tron Plus 24F $140 (approx)

CCA 800
CA 1000

I live in Texas so heat is crazy. I currently have the intersate mega-tron but, don't know how old it is. It was in there when I purchased the car. I also have ddm tuning HID's. Stereo wise I have a JL 900/5, which does it's rated power at various voltages.

What are the pros/cons of the aformentioned batteries. If I went with the red top, would it be suffient enough for the stuff I have? Biggest difference between red/yellow? The yellow just seems to have 10 more reserve minutes and less CCA and CA.

Thanks again

 

If the Yellow Top is just $6 more, I'd go for it! =)

 

I had the Megatron in for awhile before I got my subs, and after I got them the battery was declared d.o.a so I went to the body shop by me and they stated that the battery was still under warranty so I getting a free battery!...I ended up talking them into letting me pay the difference and go to next step up, which I believe was the Mtron Plus. I have a similar setup as you--i have a JL HD600 amp, and I've been running it with my new battery and my new HID's and it's been working great. Even with my good experience with my current battery, if I were in your shoes right now I'd go with the Optima {Yellow}

 

Costco battery $75.

 

I've got the 800CCA Megatron and have been happy with it. Not that it's a great test but I left the headlights and stereo on while my friends and I were playing after dark for about 45 minutes and the car started with no problems.

 

Thanks guys went ahead and got the yellow top.

 

yellow top ftw!

 

I've always used Interstate, never had one die on me.

 

^^ same....interstate ftw

 

You do realize that all that stff you have runs off the alternator and not the battery right? All your battery is good for is to start the car and run the accessories when it isn't running. You should look into a capacitor or your going to kill your alternator.

 

depends how much power your amp/sub is using....if you have a crazy power hungry system youll need a capacitor for those big bass hits....you can usually tell if your cabin lights dim when your sub hit....I have a 12 with a 500w amp and dont need a capacitor.

 

True...I was running a similar setup in my other car without a capacitor. Lights didn't dim either but over time it puts a huge strain on the alternator, granted it was like two years but it finally crapped out costing around 400 to replace, why not just save yourself some money and by a capacitor for much cheaper and save the life of the alternator? BTW sorry to threadjack OP, this is a little off topic!

 

 

Optima is still living off of it's old reputation before it was bought out. It's an average battery with a high end price tag. You're much better off with a Sears Die Hard Platinum which is an Odyssey rebadged. MUCH better battery at the same price.

Why do you guys thing you need such high CCA? You're not trying to turn over a diesel. Lower CCA batteries are less prone to failure in hot climates.

 

Braille 22pounder ???

 

What he said.

 

The Sears battery is more than likely and East Penn Manufacturing (Deka) battery

 

I work at an auto parts store, and I get at least one person per week coming in ti replace an optima with a "normal" battery. The optimal don't seem to last very long, and don't have much of a Warranty. I wouldn't buy one, personally.

 

I agree! I bought one when I lived out in SoCal and it worked fine for like two years but then my first winter in PA had to jump my damn car everyday because the battery died. JUNK!!!

 

I don't know about the other models but the Platinum is most definitely an Odyssey.

 

That was my experience. I had one of the oooold Red tops that lasted over 7 years. The rest were either defective right off the bat or lasted a year or so. My father tried 3 yellow tops in his GN over the course of a year until he finally bought one of the cheapest of the Die Hards and it's been fine for 5 years. These batteries are in the trunk so it's not like it has to deal with high temps or vibration.

I used one in the TL for a few years because I got a good deal on it and it was fine. Nothing special but ok.

 

sorry for a lame question....but how are your batteries dying ?

I have a 05 TL and running stock battery....are you guys doing something different that just running your cars with the battery ?

 

damn...6 years? I have replaced mine once last year....lasted about 4

 

Yeah....i really wanted to reduce some weight and go for the braille's but cudnt justify buying a new battery when my stock one is lasting....and the stock TL battery's have a 100month warranty....so why would you spend even a dime when the dealership is ready to cover the charges....

 

That's why I'll continue to buy Honda batteries. Great warranty.

Only reason to switch is for space or weight savings.

 

The warranty on an optima is Three years. Most of them I've seen seem to die at 37 months. Almost pre planned...Haha.

 

There are known issues with the Honda batteries. Many, many 3g TLs were replacing the OEM battery within 1-1.5 years. I was one of them. I remember hearing they are rebadged AC Delco but never looked into that. In fact, if I remember right, Acura extended out the free replacement warranty due to the problems. For me, it will always be the DH Platinum.

 

Optima batteries are like Starbuck's coffee, Overrated and Overpriced.

My 2¢
.
.

 

The battery I have:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...ge-_-Adbuilder

Works fine!

 

The Stock Acura batteries that were put in the car from the factory SUCKS. Most cars on the dealer lots that have sat for more than 2 weeks used to have to be jumped or charged before the car would move. Kinda sucked esp if you had a customer wanting to test drive a car.

Also with the factory battery, you are VERY lucky if you got it to last more than 4 years. The factory battery has a little green eye on it to tell you if it's dead and that's why there is a hole in the cover. If your battery doesn't have that eye, then it's not the factory battery.

The biggest killer of the batteries is heat! Ours are located fairly close to the radiator and other hot portions of the engine, and as well while a battery is charged it generates it own heat.

IMO acura should REALLY consider trunk mounted AGM batteries like BMW and Mercedes use. Those last quite a long time (guys with 2002 7-series are JUST having to replace them) and they aren't that much more than a traditional lead-acid battery. Plus mounting them in the trunk removes them from heat and helps them to last longer, plus you get a better weight distribution

 

i was thinking of doing it for weight distribution but then waiting when this one fails will go ahead and get the braille 21 pounder....

not that i want this one to fail LOL....Thanks AJ