Installing an Optima Red Top
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: North/Central NJ - a.k.a. Gotti in the CFNE section
St. Jude Donor '05
Installing an Optima Red Top
I am going to be picking up my 00 soon.. there is an ac delco 1809 in there now, but am gonig to replace it with the red top. Obviously car will be off and all.. but after i disconnect and remove old battery and then put in the new red top, is there problems like will the stereo need a code rentered? Anything else i should be concerned, cautious about? or drop it in and im good to go!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
If the security code has been set on the radio, you'll have to enter it once the battery is hooked up or your radio will not work. I'd be more concerned about the Red Top battery working properly. My opinion (for what it's worth) is the Optima Red Top battery is a less that reliable piece of horse poop. Good luck w/ your purchase. Hope you have better luck than I've had w/ Optima batteries. 
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Tempe Az
Originally Posted by BiggieBoy
If the security code has been set on the radio, you'll have to enter it once the battery is hooked up or your radio will not work. I'd be more concerned about the Red Top battery working properly. My opinion (for what it's worth) is the Optima Red Top battery is a less that reliable piece of horse poop. Good luck w/ your purchase. Hope you have better luck than I've had w/ Optima batteries.
You're one of few who think that. I've had a red top in my C5 for 2 months. No problems
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There is a possibility that you will need to reenter your theft lock code for the radio, but you may be able to make the swap without it. I'd have it handy just in case.
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From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
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Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
There is a possibility that you will need to re-enter your theft lock code for the radio, but you may be able to make the swap. I'd have it handy just in case.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=164&TopicID=1
Originally Posted by techtips
Procedure: 01. Turn the ignition ON (The radio displays LOC) 02. Hold down the Radio Presets 2 and 3 buttons for six seconds 03. The radio display changes from LOC to a three-digit number. Write this number down. Don’t take forever, fifteen seconds max before the next step. 04. Press the AM/FM button 05. The radio display changes to another three-digit number. Write this number to the right of the first one. 06. You now have a six-digit number, the first three digits are from STEP 03 and the last three digits are form STEP 05 07. Call 1 800 537 5140 08. Press 1 then # (pound). You’ll hear “Invalid Code, try again” 09. Press 139010 then # (pound). You will be asked to enter your four or six digit code followed by * (start) 10. Enter the number from STEP 6 then * (star) 11. Listen to the four-digit number and write it down. It will be repeated twice 12. Turn the ignition ON (The radio displays LOC) 13. Use the MN and HR buttons to enter the code from STEP 11 14. Press the AM/FM button. The radio display changes to SEC Your radio is now “un-locked” and usable. The Theft-Deterrent feature is STILL active! If you want to disable it, use the instruction on page 3-27 in your Y2K Owner’s manual. Use the code from STEP 11 instead of your personal code. Note: This tip originated from LOTZAHP, Austin TX (credit must be given where credit is due). I verified it on an Y2K C5 with a locked radio - mine.
Last edited by stangkiller18; May 7, 2005 at 11:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: North/Central NJ - a.k.a. Gotti in the CFNE section
St. Jude Donor '05
what are the odds the radio will enter ask for a code? I have an aftermarket headunit.. does that change anything? Its an alpine cda 9805.. thanks
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Drifting
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From: San Diego
Originally Posted by BiggieBoy
... My opinion (for what it's worth) is the Optima Red Top battery is a less that reliable piece of horse poop. ...
..rickko..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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From: North/Central NJ - a.k.a. Gotti in the CFNE section
St. Jude Donor '05
i heard a bunch of good things and some bad.. but like ne battery the bad will happen to people.. but overall it is a great battery i think. What else do people use and have been happy with?!?
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I've had an Optima Red Top 75/35 for 18 months - not a moment's problems and that's going through a Phoenix summer. Over 100 days of 100 degrees or more last year. My car is black and the underhood temps reach well above 200 degrees. No problems.
There have been some CF'ers who have reported failures. But like they say in Rome - Caveat Emptor (buyer beware.....)
There have been some CF'ers who have reported failures. But like they say in Rome - Caveat Emptor (buyer beware.....)
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From: [QUOTE=onedef92]Remember when that spookable closed the door on that mofo and trapped him inside tha
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '11
Don't drop your only socket attachment. 
Mine is still rollin around somewhere. :o 
Mine is still rollin around somewhere. :o
Tech Contributor
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The stock battery hold down doesn't fit the Optima. I think you can get a bracket specifically for the Red Top from Optima. I made a local bracket but I may have to get the real thing to hold it down tighter.
I've had mine for 6 months and its doing great.
I've had mine for 6 months and its doing great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Norfolk VA
Originally Posted by WOEII
Don't drop your only socket attachment. Mine is still rollin around somewhere. :o
Mine is still rollin around somewhere. :o 
I replaced my optima last weekend (left the radio on for too long while working on the car, easier to pick up a new one than recharge it) accidently dropped a wrench and it went under the battery tray. had to take out the battery tray, and piece of plastic in the behind the wheel. More annoying than anything else, but it is a pain if you drop something. There have been some bad reports about optimas over the last couple of month, but I think they are a small % of the people that are using them with no trouble. Even with the recient problem, they're still 100x better than a Delco AGM POS.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: North/Central NJ - a.k.a. Gotti in the CFNE section
St. Jude Donor '05
what size/ kind do I need for a 2000 c5 ? I know there are a few numbers that you can choose from... what are pple saying they dont fit in?
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There are two that fit the C5 - the 75/35 which is 720 cold cranking amps and the 34/78 which is 800 CCA. The 34/78 is slightly larger and can be distinguished by the side terminals being closer together than on the 75/35.
