My 2005 S2000 has a Honda 31500-CCA-H500R battery that was in the car when I purchased it. I need to replace the battery.
I go to my Honda dealer looking for a new battery. They give me a 31500-CCA-H500. The battery is the correct measurement a 51 series battery. However the poles are not the same as the 31500-CCA-500R.
they are opposite, which means the cables will be too short. I believe the 500R battery the one that is there is also not the proper battery. Can someone please confirm what battery I should use.
Thank you.

 

Not sure of the appropriate model number, but I recall reading a while back that the original batteries had terminals oriented just like your 51R (with + toward the front of the car), but with the terminals closer to the engine side. Are you able you orient the new battery like that? The cables should have enough slack to reach over the top of the battery.

 

The Honda part number shows in the photo albeit upside down. But like you I keep getting "this will not fit your car."

Any Group 51 battery works fine, the electrical cables have plenty of length. My terminals are on the heat shield side of the battery. Works fine. I'm not embarrassed to open the hood. These are walk-in walk-out at most auto parts stores. Honda doesn't make batteries, of course.

-- Chuck

 

It may work but it will be tight. I think I will try and get another 500R. Not sure what the difference is between the 500 and the 500R.
Thanks

 

Kinda surprised at the dealer. I was going to pick up a Costco 51 but as you said, the one cable would be a bit tight. For fun, I checked with my local dealer (Shingle Springs CA) and they said they had the proper 51R and they would give me deal if they installed it. So, for $5 more, they installed it instead of me dealing with the Costco regular battery and the almost long enough terminal wire.

Just as an aside, when they popped the hood, a crowd of the mechanics came over. They could not believe the it was not a new car.
Edit,
Here are some pics I could not include on the PM. In case anyone wonders, the extra cables on top of the battery is for a minder. When the car is covered up in the garage in inclement weather and I blast off for a few weeks, I cover and connect the battery minder. I drop it down through the engine compartment and fish it out under the car to plug it in.

 

The R is what makes it fit in the S. I heard once that the R stand for reverse as the poles on the battery are reversed.