That's the battery I was talking about, yes.

 

I was looking at those too, but the low reserve power concerns me.

They come in a wide variety of sizes (and prices!) and the one (formerly) sold in the marketplace and at Autobachs is the small one - so small it makes the stock battery look hefty. It in fact looks like a slightly large motorcycle battery. This is the model PC680.

There are some other sizes that cost quite a bit more, but they are mostly too fat to fit well. One could mount it sideways and it probably would fit, but it increases the chance of the battery shorting if it happened to come loose.

A group 51 battery has these measurements:

9 3/8"L x 5 1/16"W x 8 13/16"H and the Optima is 26lbs and 41 Ah.

the 680, in comparison is:

7.27"L x 3.11"W x 7.35"H, 15.4lbs @ 16Ah

the 925 is closer to group 51, but you would have to mount it on it's back - making the fit:

6.64"L x 7.05"W x 5.79"H to 6.64"L x 5.79"W x 7.05"H. The problem again, is the terminals will be on either the fender or heat shield side rather than the top. This battery is 26 lbs @ 27Ah.

The next size up is the 1200. It is:
7.87"L x 6.66"W x 6.80"H @ 40Ah and it weighs in at a whopping 38 lbs.

 

i know that.... thus the at the bottom... jeez, can't a guy make a bad joke around here?



either or -- judging from rworne's comments - it doesn't sound like the Odyssey batteries are a good option either.


i'm decided on going to a Die Hard or Interstate or something... of course, i'm assuming my current yellow will be dead by September at the latest. (based on my previous trend)

 

Well good news, bad news, worse news and better news:

Good news: I found an optima 51 today.
Bad news: The store wanted $179.00 for it and they and I knew damn well why they were charging that much. As I was walking out of the store, the price dropped $10, then $20.

Worse news:
[QUOTE]
questions@optimabatteries.com

 

It's not the car. It's not the weather. It's not you. It's the freaking battery. Optima is no longer making Group51. Gee, I wonder why?

I had to explain my situation to an Optima rep in customer service. Fax a copy of my purchase and give them the serial number on the side of the battery. They said they will refund my purchase price.

I was offered another model. I declined.

 

I had a optima yellowtop in my civic running 1500+ watts for ~4 years, didn't drive it for about a month, got smartstart installed on it, and it is still working great!

 

Anyone hear about the Rockford Fosgate batteries? Are they still being made/sold?

 

the rockford/lightning audio batteries are exide batteries.

never tried them and never heard anything about them.

 

I received my refund check from Optima yesterday. It pays to contact them directly! If I was still going through my retailer, I would still be waiting for a replacment that is no longer made.

My yellow top failed after 11 months. Optima knows there is a major problem even if nothing is being said about it. Once they recorded the serial number of the battery it was not hard to negotiate a refund.

FYI to anyone else who has experienced this problem.

 

thanks Chris.

considering i've still got a dead yellowtop (#2) sitting on the shelf? i think i may just give them a call. it has been a while though, and it is long out of warranty... (since they only gave me the greater of 3 months or the remainder of the warranty from #1).

what was their response regarding your yellowtop and the status of your warranty?