Installed Optima Yellow top today - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Stealth · 02-08-2005, 09:19 PM

It wasn't too hard, actually. What I did is I connected the factory terminals to the side posts on the battery. Cost me like $2 and some change for some nice side post adapters. Aparently if you take the nut off the factory top post connectors (not the one that holds it onto the top post, but the one thats on top of the thing) you can take out of the round clampy thing that goes around the battery top post and its almost like a ring terminal so all you have to do is bend the thing a little to attach it to the side posts. I just made sure to tape off the bare metal on the positive terminal to make sure I don't short anything.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the model is a D34/78, same as what Durrby has.

***Durrby*** · 02-08-2005, 09:35 PM

Nice

I didn't have too much of a problem connecting my Optima since the cables have to be reversed. It did take some yanking on the cables to make it reach but it worked fine.

Loves me an Optima!!!

***Eye8Pussies*** · 02-08-2005, 10:39 PM

when I installed mine, I just used it as an excuse to upgrade my wires at the same time

Stealth · 02-08-2005, 10:54 PM

I'm gonna upgrade my wires to but I wanted to leave the factory ones in tact. So the factory ones will be connected to the side post and anything upgraded/stereo wires goto the top terminals.

I still haven't used anything to raise the battery up yet, but I'll probably just get some MDF I have laying around.

EDIT: just got a tray on ebay for $18 shipped.

[SMAN] · 02-09-2005, 12:40 PM

When i installed my yellow top, i found it was too SHORT and i had to boost it up with a few pieces of wood to get the battery tie down to hold the whole thing in place.

***Knailgun*** · 02-09-2005, 02:09 PM

I am on my 3rd yellow top....killed the 1st one easily, 2nd was run down to nothing. I didn't have to raise mine up, though I did have to clip the metal bracket that holds it down, didn't fit perfect until then. This summer will be a HO alternator....$600...ouch

***Eye8Pussies*** · 02-09-2005, 02:13 PM

^ why don't you use several in parellel? that way you won't run them down as fast, and you won't worry about running them down while using your system

and do you have a 5sfe or a 1mz? because you may be able to use an alternator from the highlander instead of getting one rewound or getting a ho out

about the height of the battery...
you don't actually need to boost it up with wood, if you go get a hanger from a civic (that's shorter than both the ones that you have right now), and you switch your current shorter one to be used on the opposite side that it's on now, it will tie down perfectly and with no chance of shifting

battlekat49 · 02-09-2005, 02:43 PM

when i first installed it my car fired up like a champ but now it starts up like it used to when i had the stock battery in. when i got my optima it sat too low also so i used that as an excuse to make a new clamp out of aluminum...

eddiem67 · 02-09-2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by battlekat49

when i first installed it my car fired up like a champ but now it starts up like it used to when i had the stock battery in. when i got my optima it sat too low also so i used that as an excuse to make a new clamp out of aluminum...

Dude your fuse is not within 18" of the battery, big no no!

Luc · 02-09-2005, 09:32 PM

For all of those installing an Optima, use this tray to elevate the battery so the factory tie down can still be used.

I got it free from Optima back in '00, not sure if they are still giving them out.

Stealth · 02-10-2005, 12:59 PM

Ordered mine on Ebay a few days ago, mines Yellow though.

[SMAN] · 02-10-2005, 04:17 PM

how much those tray's go for?

Riggs · 02-11-2005, 03:32 PM

Email Optima directly (see their website for contact info) for the battery tray and they'll send one out to you for free. I emailed them myself, and someone about 6 months back posted that they emailed and had one shipped direct from Optima.

Stealth · 02-19-2005, 03:33 PM

Installed my battery tray but now the tie downs aren't long enough! Well, I'll give it a second try later, if I manuever it properly I think I can get it in.

Also, looked at my old battery, it was purchased in 7/97... An Interstate battery with a 5 year warranty that was 7.5 years old and still going. The car would still start with it and run fine, I just decided I wanted a yellow top.

dna59 · 02-19-2005, 06:50 PM

I was thinking about getting one of these batteries, but here they sell them for $450 USD. That's way out of my budget.