I'm using a braille bat for the last year and 20,000 miles without issue - if you want a cheapy go to pep boys and they have an 8 pound sla motorcycle bat for 60 bucks - I've used those many times on different cars and they work well.

 

Josh, are you saying that you like the etx14 better than the etx16 that you had? How long did the etx16 last?

 

Random I even saw your post. Lol

I never had the etx16 I've always had the 14. The 14 works great I've been running it for prolly a year now

 

Sorry about resurrecting an old post, but I ordered the Deka etx16 and it looks like it will need a lot of modification before It will fit correctly.. What did all of you do to make it work?

 

I just installed a déka etx 16 using the OEM hardware. You just have to use the 2 height extenders that come with it. It starts the car so much better than the Etx 12 that it replaced. I was tired of having to carry jumper cables everywhere...

 

got it- I didn't even pay attention to those. Thanks!

 

Oops ... I was mistaken ... I installed an ETX 14, not a 16. However, I would guess that the 16 comes with similar "ass jacks".

 

I would not install it this way

here is a pic of my install of a Deka ETX16:

I would not use the height extender base at all because it is only lightly supported around the perimeter
There is no support on the center of the base and it is made of flimsy plastic

I cut up a flat plastic piece to serve as a battery tray and used shorter J-hooks as the stock ones do not have enough thread to reach down and provide adequate clamping force
I then put rubber pieces under the stock metal battery holder so that it squishes those instead of the battery

Even this setup is not the most optimum as ideally you want the battery laying on its side in order to be lowest to the ground as possible

 

My etx 14 lays on its side

 

I had a 16 with the plastic base thing with OEM hardware for a year or so and never had a issue.