Optima Battery vs. Traditional Battery? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

TRDCAMRY · 10-27-2003, 07:14 PM

Hi guys
I had to purchase a new battery for my car over the weekend. I had the choice between a traditional battery or an Optima Yellow Top. I ended up buying the Optima. I have briefly read about these batteries before but,
Does anyone here have one in their car?
How good are they really?
Is there really any difference over the traditional battery?

By the way I have a complete sound system installed in my car...(Subs, amps, mids)

Thanks in advance for the prompt responses!

***EKam*** · 10-27-2003, 07:44 PM

I think you got the wrong idea.

Get the Yellow-top if you have a high-power sound system.

If not, don't get it.

Simple as that, don't need to post a poll for more confusion because not everyone has a crazy sound system to prove yellow-top is better, and then you get into people that has a car with stock sound system that says regular battery is better yadi yada....etc...

PS: You posted this in the wrong forum I've moved it to the audio forum.

TRDCAMRY · 10-27-2003, 08:20 PM

Yes ... but will the Optima Yellow Top last longer than the traditional battery that I had before with my existing audio setup?

***EKam*** · 10-27-2003, 08:33 PM

you mean if the battery last longer with the stereo running when your engine is off?

It's a deep cycle battery so yes it will.

TRDCAMRY · 10-27-2003, 08:35 PM

Okay...How reliable are the Optimas for normal everyday winter start-ups?

Thanks
Sorry for being such a pain.

Luc · 10-27-2003, 09:15 PM

Yellow top is a deep cycle battery, meaning that it is fully utilized when the car is OFF. It's not really a starter battery, as that is left for the Red top. For your system that you have, you didn't really need to buy the yellow top. Do some reading from Optima.

silverstrand · 10-28-2003, 12:33 AM

I have an Yellow top that i bought about 2 months ago, my main purpose is because i knew that i was gonna be using alot of power for my system and mainly thats #1 JOB for this battery. if not don't get it.

Number Eight · 10-28-2003, 04:21 PM

Optimas are better than regular batteries BECAUSE:

1) They're dry cells instead of wet cells, which means that you can puncture them and flip them any which way and they won't leak acid on you.

2) They're able to be mounted in any position in the car.

3) They last longer than wet cells.

4) They have more cold-cranking amps than a wet cell battery.

5) They don't really lose their ability to hold a charge over time.

6) They take bumps and hits better than wet cells.

The thing that converted me to Optimas was when I saw a guy at this garage I took my old Sunbird (RIP) to actually cut one (a redtop) in half and it was actually POWERING THE TOOL HE WAS CUTTING IT WITH.

[SMAN] · 10-29-2003, 12:49 PM

When I added a yellow top to my system this summer, it really rounded out a lot of things in the car. The lights don't dim when my subs hit and i get even mre power out of my amps. It raised my competition score a whole 2 DB and took me from 3rd places to 1st place trophies.

TRDCAMRY · 10-30-2003, 05:13 PM

They didn't have a Red top that fit my vehicle at the store that I purchased this one at so I went with the Yellow top instead.
Thanks for all the input.

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Thanks!

Luc · 10-30-2003, 08:16 PM

That makes no sense, the Red and Yellow Tops have the same mounts. Only option on those batteries, AFAIK, is whether you want the GM side posts or not.

Xenon · 10-31-2003, 01:56 AM

The red top is the one intended for everyday cranking use, the yellow top is for sound systems because it lasts longer when the alternator isn't charging and the blue top is for marine use..

I personally have a red top and a sound system and the battery is working great for me.

I don't know why you're saying they don't have the right size for your car in Red Top because the Yellow and Red are both the exact same size..

prophesized · 10-31-2003, 07:31 AM

at autozone ive seen the yellow and red tops with two different terminal setups (not including the gm sideposts) so im thinking the store he went to was out of red tops with the terminal setup he needed.

TRDCAMRY · 10-31-2003, 11:30 PM

exactly...i went to Pepboys
First i purchased the red top but the terminal cables didn't reach the terminal posts. They had a yellow top with the posts set up in the opposite direction so i just mounted it backwards(logo is upside down if you look at it from the grill) and it fit fine. My yellow top is also slightly smaller than the red tops that they had there. (model 51R or something like that). working fine up to now. plus it came with a nice warranty.

Luc · 10-31-2003, 11:39 PM

None of the factory battery terminals will reach the red and yellow tops unless they are extended. What they sold you sounds different. If the battery were properly mounted and wires replaced, it would look like this.