Optima Red Top battery help
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 5
From: Silver Spring MD
Optima Red Top battery help
Hey guys, I know about all the crap these batteries have given people here on the forum, but I still decided to go with a Red Top. I picked one up yesterday at Advance Auto Parts (I get a discount from a buddy of mine) and there was no part number for the 2004 Corvette in their system. So having worked there for 15 + years, he said let's just drop it down a year and got me one to fit the 2003. When I went to install it, the top post cables won't fit over the top of the Optima like they did on the old GM battery becuase they hit the sidepost covers... What should I do? Am I just making a really dumb mistake (besides getting a Red Top 
)?
FWIW, the model number he sold me was: 75/35-925
TIA!
)?FWIW, the model number he sold me was: 75/35-925
TIA!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
Yeah I ran into that myself with my 04
This is how it looks in mine:
It's been this way for several months, no issues
There is another model, I want to say 75-25 (but I'm not 100% certain on that P/N) that doesn't have the front SIDE terminals which are getting in the way of the newer battery terminal-style like ours. But since my local AutoZone didn't have it in stock, I just stuck with the 75-35...
Oh, whatever you do: do not lose any of those battery terminal NUTS!!! I thought I did (it fell down below but I was able to retrieve it thank god) and checked with the dealer and they don't sell them separately; you would need to purchase an entire battery cable w/terminal which the guy quoted me $125.00 or some silly bull@hit like that!!! It's not an ordinary nut, it has a bevel shaped part at the bottom that enables the terminal to be fastened to the battery post.
This is how it looks in mine:
It's been this way for several months, no issues
There is another model, I want to say 75-25 (but I'm not 100% certain on that P/N) that doesn't have the front SIDE terminals which are getting in the way of the newer battery terminal-style like ours. But since my local AutoZone didn't have it in stock, I just stuck with the 75-35...
Oh, whatever you do: do not lose any of those battery terminal NUTS!!! I thought I did (it fell down below but I was able to retrieve it thank god) and checked with the dealer and they don't sell them separately; you would need to purchase an entire battery cable w/terminal which the guy quoted me $125.00 or some silly bull@hit like that!!! It's not an ordinary nut, it has a bevel shaped part at the bottom that enables the terminal to be fastened to the battery post.
Last edited by LarryW; May 19, 2006 at 10:56 AM.
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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No - just take the end of the battery cable that is "L" shaped for your top post Delco and flatten it out. You might use a vise grips or something similar.
I've had my Red Top 75/35 for almost 3 years in the extreme Phoenix heat (admittedly the car is not a daily driver) and I've never had a single problem. If it were to fail today - I'd buy another. IMHO, of course!
I've had my Red Top 75/35 for almost 3 years in the extreme Phoenix heat (admittedly the car is not a daily driver) and I've never had a single problem. If it were to fail today - I'd buy another. IMHO, of course!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 5
From: Silver Spring MD
thanks guys for the quick responses, I did undo the tie down clip, so I guess I'll have to go with LarryW's little modification! That really pisses me off though, no more custom painted battery top 
Maybe I'll call up my buddy and check on the 75-25...
Thanks again!
Maybe I'll call up my buddy and check on the 75-25...
Thanks again!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 0
From: NH
You could change over to side mount cables!
Looks like you have the smallest size available by the chart in their catalog:
http://www.dcbattery.com/optimacatalog.pdf
Interesting info nonetheless. I was contemplating changing my '03 side mounts to the newer model top mounts. I have the Red Top 34/78. Guess not...
Looks like you have the smallest size available by the chart in their catalog:
http://www.dcbattery.com/optimacatalog.pdf
Interesting info nonetheless. I was contemplating changing my '03 side mounts to the newer model top mounts. I have the Red Top 34/78. Guess not...
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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Originally Posted by CUlookin
Guess I jumped the gun a little bit Randy, I'll try this method next!
Maybe you'll have better luck finding it than I did!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
I tried to find a post by Patches from a year ago or so - it was one of his typical excellent documented with pictures and text where he talked about this and had actually shown it. I know flattening the end of the cable will work.
Maybe you'll have better luck finding it than I did!
Maybe you'll have better luck finding it than I did!
But hey if it works
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 5
From: Silver Spring MD
Acutally Found Patches post... He used the side mounts. Oh Well, I'll be flattening the cables this evening!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ghlight=Optima
And the pics from the link..
Thanks again guys!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ghlight=Optima
And the pics from the link..
Thanks again guys!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by snorvet
great thread guys - I'm taking a 5 day trip in my vette next week, and thinking of replacing my 5 year old battery before I leave. I've heard a lot of good things about the redtop
Whoaaaa, hold on for a minute. Before you buy one of these Redtops, do a search. There's tons of info about premature cell failures w/ these things.
You might want to think twice before buying.....
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Originally Posted by BiggieBoy
Whoaaaa, hold on for a minute. Before you buy one of these Redtops, do a search. There's tons of info about premature cell failures w/ these things. You might want to think twice before buying.....
You might want to think twice before buying.....Must be a relatively new thing. I've had my Red Top for 4 1/2 years with no problems at all. Hope they haven't gone downhill on the quality - someday I'll need on in the other cars and was planning on getting a Red Top.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I just replaced my 2 year old Red Top this week with an Exide XLT Performance series size DT34 from Sam's. It was only $99.42 plus tax. It has 1000 cranking amps and 770 cold cranking amps and is the same exact design and shape as the Red Top. It is about a half inch longer but it fit in car perfectly. The cheapest Red Top I could find was $119.00 plus tax.
The reason my Red Top lasted only two years is my Vette is a garage queen and is only cranked about once a week and sometimes once in two weeks. I did not have a battery minder (1 and 1/2 amp charger with automatic shutoff so it won't overcharge). I have now purchased the battery minder and plan to keep it hooked up each time I put car in the garage.
The warranty on the Exide is three years free replacement and remainder of 108 months limited warranty. I had never seen a battery warranty for this long a time.
The reason my Red Top lasted only two years is my Vette is a garage queen and is only cranked about once a week and sometimes once in two weeks. I did not have a battery minder (1 and 1/2 amp charger with automatic shutoff so it won't overcharge). I have now purchased the battery minder and plan to keep it hooked up each time I put car in the garage.
The warranty on the Exide is three years free replacement and remainder of 108 months limited warranty. I had never seen a battery warranty for this long a time.
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From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by snorvet
great thread guys - I'm taking a 5 day trip in my vette next week, and thinking of replacing my 5 year old battery before I leave. I've heard a lot of good things about the redtop
