 Seeking battery advice |
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 Mar 11, 2011 - 12:07 PM
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Enthusiast  Joined Jun 18, '09 From Orlando Currently Offline Reputation: 8 (100%)  |
My crud Costco battery is slowly dying, so I'm looking for a good replacement. I run an amp on low power and my commute is really short, 2-3 miles to work or school. Needless to say, the battery takes some abuse and doesn't get charged much, although I don't run accessories on battery power that often. I've heard good things about Optima batteries, and I can get a yellow top locally for $120. Thoughts?
-------------------- '97 ST \ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+ [sold 10/18]
'93 MX-5 LE |
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Mar 11, 2011 - 12:44 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Feb 5, '05 From pineapple under the sea Currently Offline Reputation: 9 (100%) |
-------------------- 1991 MR2 - T-tops - Crimson Red - Gen3 3SGTE - Lots of money
 I'm not really an asshole, but I play one on the internet. **** Photobucket |
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Mar 11, 2011 - 1:07 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Dec 26, '09 From Albuquerque, NM Currently Offline Reputation: 19 (100%) |
Yellow top sounds good. My Bosch battery performs really well, I hardly drive as well (I'm still on the same tank from Jan. 18), and I haven't had problems yet. Once a week, take her on a little drive to keep the battery kinda charged.
-------------------- taking too long to mod since '09
June '12 COTM '95 AT200 |
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Mar 13, 2011 - 11:03 AM
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Enthusiast Joined Jun 18, '09 From Orlando Currently Offline Reputation: 8 (100%) |
Werd. Yellow Top it is then, fellas. Thanks for the help. Matt, you didn't do much, no thanks to you.
This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Mar 13, 2011 - 11:04 AM -------------------- '97 ST \ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+ [sold 10/18]
'93 MX-5 LE |
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Mar 13, 2011 - 1:09 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Aug 4, '06 From Chicagoland Currently Offline Reputation: 9 (100%) |
If you want to do it on the cheap, find an Interstate dealer and go buy a blem. I picked up a brand new battery with some physical damage for $45. Still works perfectly, they just can't sell batteries with physical blemishes for full price.
IMO, Interstate is the best battery you can get without going to optima. (I have both) -------------------- ~bloodMoney
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Mar 16, 2011 - 5:42 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Feb 5, '05 From pineapple under the sea Currently Offline Reputation: 9 (100%) |
QUOTE (SwissFerdi @ Mar 13, 2011 - 9:03 AM)  Werd. Yellow Top it is then, fellas. Thanks for the help. Matt, you didn't do much, no thanks to you. 
-------------------- 1991 MR2 - T-tops - Crimson Red - Gen3 3SGTE - Lots of money
I'm not really an asshole, but I play one on the internet. **** Photobucket |
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Mar 18, 2011 - 12:39 AM
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Enthusiast Joined Aug 2, '06 From bay area Currently Offline Reputation: 21 (100%) |
ive heard that the yellow tops now an days are not up to par on what they advertise. ive talked to our interstate supplier and he recamended that i get a red top for the car.
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Mar 22, 2011 - 4:07 AM
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Enthusiast Joined Aug 16, '03 From Bay area Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
difference between red top and yellow top is a starting battery vs a deep cycle battery.
deep cycle if you want to listen to the radio with the engine off. red top if you live in the cold weather and want to run thicker oil in your engine for more protection/ performance. Since the optima batteries make so much power; the difference between the yellow and the red top is not noticeable. The only disadvantage of using the wrong battery for the application is shortened battery life. All batteries have parasitic drain therefore you will need to have a trickle charger for a car that is not driven often. |
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Mar 27, 2011 - 9:42 PM
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 Moderator Joined Jun 29, '08 From Denver Currently Offline Reputation: 59 (100%) |
As long as you don't end up with one of the Wal-Mart Neverstart's, you'll be doing alright.
-------------------- "Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others labored hard for." -Socrates. Even Socrates told us to use the search button!
 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. 1998 Celica GT- BEAMS Swapped. 2022 4Runner TRD Off Road Prenium. 2021 GMC Sierra AT4. |
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Mar 29, 2011 - 9:26 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Mar 15, '07 From Tennessee Currently Offline Reputation: 52 (100%) |
QUOTE (azn87 @ Mar 18, 2011 - 12:39 AM) ive heard that the yellow tops now an days are not up to par on what they advertise. ive talked to our interstate supplier and he recamended that i get a red top for the car. paint the yellowtop red then... -------------------- Learned a lot in 10 years... I hardly log in anymore, last login Today Sept 6 2019, and I was forced just to clarify a post. LOL
If you PM me and I dont respond, dont fret or cry. Im alive, better post your questions in the thread below, maybe I log back in 2grfe Swapped... Why I chose the 2GR, before you ask read here... A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within. @llamaraxing in Instagram is the best way to find me. I hardly log here anymore. |
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Apr 4, 2011 - 10:19 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Mar 22, '07 From Houston, TX Currently Offline Reputation: 4 (100%) |
I've got an autozone marine battery. 115 amphours ftw. (yellowtop is only 55 iirc).
-------------------- QUOTE "And, as always, your friendship, help, and dedication to the advancement of Texas Celica dominance is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks bro." -DEATH 1994 GT: V6 swap, 5speed E53 W/ LSD, All Power, now RED 1995 ST: SOLD @273k miles, Auto, all power, CarPC, White 1994 ST: Totaled, 5spd, all power, Red RIP 07/09/09 @ 241,810 1994 Lexus LS400: This is my new DD |
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Apr 6, 2011 - 4:17 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Aug 16, '03 From Bay area Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
QUOTE (stephen_lee @ Apr 4, 2011 - 8:19 PM) I've got an autozone marine battery. 115 amphours ftw. (yellowtop is only 55 iirc). not worth it in my books. Simply because the warranty on the marine batteries at auto zone is 1 year free replacement and 3 years prorate. If your not running a sound system a deep cycle battery is worse for performance because its heavier and makes less CCA compaired to a regular starting battery of the same size. |
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Apr 6, 2011 - 4:34 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Jan 20, '09 From Winnipeg Currently Offline Reputation: 5 (100%) |
If you have a sound system, you should use a deep cycle battery?
I don't drive in cold weather so CCA is not a big deal -------------------- -Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load. 1995 Toyota Celica GTS - Daily Driver 1999 Chevy Cavalier - Winter Beater 1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback - Dead My Celica! |
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Apr 7, 2011 - 12:20 AM
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Moderator Joined Jun 29, '08 From Denver Currently Offline Reputation: 59 (100%) |
^^ I think that should say if you have a big sound system. It won't make much of a difference on a little baby sound system.
-------------------- "Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others labored hard for." -Socrates. Even Socrates told us to use the search button!
2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. 1998 Celica GT- BEAMS Swapped. 2022 4Runner TRD Off Road Prenium. 2021 GMC Sierra AT4. |
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Apr 7, 2011 - 1:49 AM
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Enthusiast Joined Aug 16, '03 From Bay area Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
QUOTE (jordisonjr @ Apr 6, 2011 - 2:34 PM) If you have a sound system, you should use a deep cycle battery? I don't drive in cold weather so CCA is not a big deal Its not about driving in the cold. Its about longevity. Its a fact, a battery will slowly lose CCA as it ages; with less cranking amps the battery is force to work harder to start the car every time. Working the battery harder will wear out the battery faster which means decreased crank amps. The cycle then feeds on itself and one day the car will have so little CCA that it wont start leaving you stranded. You end up buying new batteries every 2 years, which cost 10x more then buying a proper battery that will last much longer and give you better performance. With everything car related, there is never a perfect set up. If you have a sound system, you are better off with a deep cycle hands down. The main reason is because people will listen to the radio as they clean their cars. Draining a regular starting battery will cause a deep discharge and decrease its CCA. A deep cycle battery will tolerate this kind of abuse with less damage. So even if you have a minor sound system deep cycle is the way to go. As we all know, a battery has little to do with how good a sound system sounds. If you want to make a dramatic improvement to your beats, dyno mat, high amp alternators, ground kits, filters, and capacitors will give you way better return on your investment. |
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Apr 7, 2011 - 9:06 AM
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 20, '09 From Winnipeg Currently Offline Reputation: 5 (100%) |
Yea I'm not too worried about the sound, just don't want my system to kill the battery I buy.
I've heard good things about the kirkland batteries from costco, any opinions? -------------------- -Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load. 1995 Toyota Celica GTS - Daily Driver 1999 Chevy Cavalier - Winter Beater 1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback - Dead My Celica! |
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Apr 7, 2011 - 4:38 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Feb 11, '08 From Auckland, New Zealand Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Good posts Hanyo.
If you can find an affordable Optima, do so. I never get one because it would have to last 3x as long as a regular lead acid 500cca (which is adequate) to pay itself off. They do have the advantage of being lighter, and mountable in the boot without a sealed box. 500cca lead acid battery is good enough to give u 30 minutes of sounds with a 12" subwoofer on battery power before you should start your engine -------------------- Mike W
1996 Toyota Celica ST205 GT-FOUR GT2860RS turbine, TiAL mvr44, JE 86.5φ piston, Clutchmasters FX400, APEX P-FC 269awhp / 273ft-lbs |
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Apr 7, 2011 - 5:18 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Nov 25, '08 From dillsburg pennsylvania united states Currently Offline Reputation: 12 (100%) |
shamefully i had a walmart turd battery cuz i was broke at the time. lol lasted not even 6 months haha but yellow top is the bees knees man. do it!!
--------------------  those with golf balls golf those with real balls race |
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Apr 11, 2011 - 2:19 PM
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 Enthusiast Joined Apr 18, '06 From Calgary, Canada Currently Offline Reputation: 37 (100%) |
QUOTE (SwissFerdi @ Mar 13, 2011 - 10:03 AM) Werd. Yellow Top it is then, fellas. Thanks for the help. Matt, you didn't do much, no thanks to you. I love my yellow top - matches my paint too - but I'm thinking about upgrading to the blue top... -------------------- |
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Apr 11, 2011 - 6:28 PM
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Enthusiast Joined Jun 18, '09 From Orlando Currently Offline Reputation: 8 (100%) |
^ Werd, good, thank you. Why are you considering the blue top? I've yet to replace my battery, I'm probably going to get myself stranded if I keep pushing this one. I vow to replace it in the next two weeks.
QUOTE (SwissFerdi @ Mar 11, 2011 - 1:07 PM) My crud Costco battery is slowly dying, so I'm looking for a good replacement. QUOTE (jordisonjr @ Apr 7, 2011 - 10:06 AM) Yea I'm not too worried about the sound, just don't want my system to kill the battery I buy. I've heard good things about the kirkland batteries from costco, any opinions? Funny you should ask, that's exactly the battery I'm replacing. I guess it's okay for being at least 3 years old, mostly doing short city trips (<10 minutes), and supplying 150 watts for an amp in the past year. This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Apr 11, 2011 - 6:35 PM -------------------- '97 ST \ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+ [sold 10/18]
'93 MX-5 LE |
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