i just bought an optima redtop and it is considerably smaller than the factory battery my car came with. the problem that resultedwas that my battery tiedown isn't able to tighten down to the battery being that it is shorter. does anybody know of where to get a tiedown that will work well with an optima battery?

 

I'd just go to home depot and buy a couple very large zip ties. That'll hold it pretty well. Buy extras for when you decide to take your battery out.

 

Why not cut some wood to put under the battery build it up to the proper height?

 

I used the plastic tray/cover that was on top of the batt

 

Yup me too.

 

As did I...its actually what it is for

 

I got 8" J hooks from the auto parts store, like $3.

 

come on just MacGyver the tie rods...I just measured and sawed the J ends, then bent them back into shape.

 

Same here. The plastic tray/cover was designed to put under the battery for different applications.

 

http://192.132.24.107/UsingOptima/height_WCM.asp
Maximas use the "35", which's the 1st illustration

Jae

 

Thats what I did. Any auto parts store will have them. I went to Strauss.

Wood, in the engine bay, no no

-matt

 

A lot of batteries also come with a plastic tray between the top of the battery and the battery handle so that they can be stacked better.. You can put that under the battery too if it came with one.

 

optimas are crap anyhow. i will never buy another. mine died in about a year.

 

I am going 2/3 strong. But I won't buy another, I plan to get an odyssey battery or something else lightweight and drycell.

 

I'm still on the same redtop I got in 2k3. Drained the battery at least 3 times, probably 4 cuz people forget to turn off my headlights after they borrow my car. This thing is amazing.

Jae

 

Mines been in the car for two, no problems, not the best, but not bad for the money...

 

It really pissed me off seeing as I have a new alty, wiring is good, terminals are new, etc. I used to leave my car for a day or two and it would struggle to start. I thought it was the starter or because of the extreme cold. Come to find out the batter wont hold a charge. Worst way to spend $100. Right now I have some POS VIP battery that works flawlessly. I took that sucker out of my Sentra, it saved my *** for now.

 

+1, only useful post in this thread...

 

yeah one of my friends told me lastnight that that is what the tray thing on top is for. son of a B, cuz i threw it away in front of autozone. ill prolly just get the shorter J hooks

 

Yeah, blocks below, or above.

Or how about a nice tie down bar?
http://www.stillen.com/product.asp?i...R01&c=PE&m=all


You could easily have a machine shop make you a custom fancy looking one.

And to JSutter: I try to buy quality parts for my car, from good places, w/good warranty <--in no way was this statement a flame, just tell u where I'm coming from. I got my battery from CostCo. Not the cheapest, but their return policy is the bomb. If I ever had a problem w/my battery, I'd take it back there. I'm not sure your specific case, but it sounds legitimate that you got a bad battery even tho i died on you a year after purchase. Have you tried contacting Optima directly?

Jae

 

yes that is a nice fancy stealin tiedown, but no thanks. I dont plan on spending 40+ bones on a tiedown bar.

 

The redtop in my Maxima is the 3rd or 4th one since 2000. I would buy something else but since they have a free 3yr replacement warranty, I just get a free one. The one in my Z32 just made it past the 3yr warranty when it died, it was replaced with a PC680MJT.

 

LOL. Look around, there are many many bars out there that are much "fancier" looking than the stillen one. And probably closer to your budget.

If you think stillen's bar is fancy, wait till you see their BBK.

Jae

 

I've got a redtop in my maxima FROM 2000, the sticker on it says manufacturing date of Jan 2000. still cranks strong for me.

 

Ghettofabulous 3/4" mdf under battery ftw. My red top went out after a year but I got it used. Wally world everstart battery for the double win.