upgrading to larger battery 91 wagon
949
Senior Wagonist
yesterday i got fed up with the weak battery the car comes with.
i could just replace it but since costco near me has a pretty decent price why not get a larger one.
the battery i bought was the yellow optima. size 34/78. it wont fit so you will have to mod the battery tray. also you wont be able to keep the stock air box. the positive and negative wire do reach and there is enough room for the battery after the battery tray mod. the battery is 7x10x7, rough measurements in inches.
pictures to come.
ill do a DIY if you guys post here to say you want to know how to do it, if no then ill just post pics of the final finish product.
i did notice all my electical stuff in the car works way better and the throttle response is up to peak. much more responsive. i dont know if its just me but if its all in the head, i sure dont mind it either way.
i could just replace it but since costco near me has a pretty decent price why not get a larger one.
the battery i bought was the yellow optima. size 34/78. it wont fit so you will have to mod the battery tray. also you wont be able to keep the stock air box. the positive and negative wire do reach and there is enough room for the battery after the battery tray mod. the battery is 7x10x7, rough measurements in inches.
pictures to come.
ill do a DIY if you guys post here to say you want to know how to do it, if no then ill just post pics of the final finish product.
i did notice all my electical stuff in the car works way better and the throttle response is up to peak. much more responsive. i dont know if its just me but if its all in the head, i sure dont mind it either way.
Comments
Just to give you a heads up...people have experienced mixed results with the yellow top Optimas. It stems from them being a deep cycle battery trying to do a starting battery's job.
Optima claims it's up to the task, and the yellowtops do manage better than a regular deep cycle battery, but its barely enough.
My proof is mostly anecdotal...my own yellowtop failing just after a year. My buddy's failing after about six months. It was replaced under warranty and that one made it about a year.
And what's up with the one year warranty? Sounds like Optima knows whats going on.
Now, the red top I have in my CRX is awesome. My first one finally died after eight years. I just put another on in and look forward to another 5+ years. Only problem is its size...it's not going in the stock battery location if you have AC (the lines are a problem) so its in my trunk. And it has a more standard warranty (3 year, I think).
for the fitment issue i had to do the mod mentioned about to make it fit. i was able to get it work in the engine bay but i had to remove the stock air box. i am willing to do that but not the a/c. i must have a/c.
I put it in the boot inside a battery box and vented to the atmosphere via a U shaped tube that goes through the floor of the boot.
fits like a glove!
here's my deal..2 1/2yrs strong!
http://www.extremepsi.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=16187&cat=263&page=1&veh=Acura/Honda
$ 1,541.25
plus only 7.00 handling charge
shipped price 1548.25. (about) not sure what the change is for the handling
no other charge for shipping.
they are a greddy vendor.
so i get this as well.
http://www.greddy.com/news/?id=22
ends jan 31, 2007
either of these:
Print out PDF Voucher for Free Turbo Timer or Turbo Gauge
Print out PDF Voucher for FREE PRofec Type-S or Turbo & EGT Gauge Combo
not bad.
The reason your YellowTops fail is because of the way they're charged. An automotive battery is charged with continuous voltage around 14V. The problem is that this makes the acid in the battery boil, and the water escapes. In "maintenance-free" batteries, the gas is captured until it condenses. In "flooded" batteries, the acid escapes, but you can add more water whenever you need to.
YellowTops use a sort of fiberglass sponge, and when the water escapes, it's gone. That makes it more acidic, which corrodes parts and weakens the battery overall.
To prevent this from happening in my EV, I actually have a "regulator" on each battery. It continously checks the voltage, and if it gets above 13.5V, it sucks some current off to resistor and heat sink in an attempt to lower it.
That said, I did just use a YellowTop to run my (just-purchased) '91 hatch for a few miles.
RedTops would do a much better job, as they're designed for this kind of charging.
TIP: :arrow: If you do decide to get the Costco battery.It won't be listed.Look under the size chart to get the same size battery.The poles are reversed so you swap the cables or the battery around.The time I swapped battery around I made a plastic insulator (for the + side)out of a CLOROX bleach bottle.
:arrow: Don't ever get the capless batteries(except the Optima).They don't last. :!:
This is the one I use on my EV:
I mount them right on top of the batteries. It looks like a rolling science experiment. You could put a case around it to make it look better.
You can get them from ManzanitaMicro.com. Not the expected usage, so I'd email him first. He's got more experience with the YellowTops than any 100 of us.
ill call him for the help.