I have run an Interstate battery without issues for the last year, but recently switched to an Optima Red Top. Although I had to get creative in mounting the fuse box on top of the battery, it is nearly 200-300A more than the Interstate in regards to CCA and CA. I am highly impressed. My Escort 8500 has a built in voltmeter. When I would sit at idle with the Interstate battery with all accessories running (lights, A/C, radio) and with as hot has it's been as of late, I would get a low voltage warning (10.5 VDC) when it activated. With the Optima I have yet to see one.
I've got an optima yellow top & it fit w no problem. No modification whatsoever. You just gotta make sure tha +/- (positive/negative) are reversed.
I think we have an Optima in our Mk1 diesel.
The best replacement battery i use in all my Vw's and other cars and trucks is Bosch..They are usually right over 100 bux but the are dependable, They also come with a 7 year warrenty.
Im running an optima redtop 1000 cca. Starts like a champ in -10 degree weather.
The other day I installed my Optima yellow top that was intended for my S10 into the GTI. Had to cram the battery cover top on a bit, but its on there! Funny now the car starts up alot faster. It always seemed like since I got this car it was slow to start, as if the battery was always low...
I upgraded to an Optima yellow top D35 in my GTI probably about six months go..no problems w/ it at all..the batter cover doesnt fit perfect, but you can make it work...i'm runnin bags with dual compressors and also a jl audio sub/amp system so i needed something with more power..which the yellow top has
Your Optima might never be the same now. Once they go dead they usually don't have the same charging and output capabilities.
These Optima batteries are crap. Junk. The new battery that i have had for a year now installed in my EOS (that replaced the batteries that were left continually connected to the optimate charger) were tested at Advantage auto parts today and the tester said they only had 180 CCA out of the 750CCA that the battery is rated at. WTF-- JUNK !! I am so frustrated with tis Optima JUNK.
My dad put an Optima red top in his Porsche 930. He used the exact trickle charger you pictured for storage and because the car is driven only a couple of times per month in the summer. The battery was in there 2 years and I had to scramble late Friday night to install a replacement after it wouldn't start at the gas station (friendly attendant helped me bumpstart it). The battery stopped taking a charge.
Write your review
Help others - share your experience with this part.
