Has anyone installed an Optima Red Top in their Gen5, and if so which model? The Optima application guide at Pep Boys showed a blank listing for the 00-03 Maxima. Maybe one will fit with some slight modification? The dimensions of the model no. 34 (top post only - 10"x6.8"x7.8") are very similar to the stock battery (approx. 10"x7"x7.5"). The height differ is my concern (Optima is approx. 0.3" taller).

Thanks,

Craig
03 Sheer Silver 6MT

 

Wow, I guess no Optima fans-must just be an Arizona desert thing. Well after finally finding a store (Batteries Plus) that actually knew something about battery applications, and after 2 hours of cleaning battery acid and modifying cable terminals/mounting brackets, I have an Optima in the Max. No more acid leaks!!!!

FYI - the closest fit is the 34R, in which the R=reverse terminal (the positive terminal on Maxima is on the passenger side which is opposite many other cars).

Hope this helps those who hadn't considered it before.

 

what's the weight difference between the optima and the stock battery?

 

Optima = 37.9#
Stock = 35# +/-

 

i got the optima redtop 37/75... it comes with a cover to protect the electrodes on the top and you could clip the same cover onto the bottom and the battery fits well. someone in another earlier thread told me this and i am just repeating his word and it worked well for me. i bought my redtop at costco, best price i could find.

 

I just got one a few days ago. So far so good. The factory battery was toast and this one should stand the Tucson heat for longer than most others. Looks pretty good too. Just needed different tie down bolts since the factory weren't threaded far enough down.

 

The best Optima for 5th gen Maxima is the orange top. The orange top line has been discontinued and replaced by the red top. If you get a regular red top, you'd have to cross the wires to the positive and negative terminal. This problem is solved when you get the Red Top 34R (the letter R stands for "reverse" polarity).

Here is an example

Another example


~limsandy

 

Does the 5th Gen have the positive terminal on the right, or is the 34R installed backwards so that the negative post is on the right? If it's installed backwards, why not just use one of the non reversed terminal batteries such as the 75/25? These batteries also have the advantage of having the posts positioned closer to the side of the battery, so that bending or replacement of the postive terminal is not required.