Hey guys, i just had a new battery from Sear put in. It was the "DieHardŽ SUV, Truck & Van". I paid about $110 for it. Was this a bad choice? It was a little big, but it fit ok. I had to get rid of the plastic shield (insulator) around the OEM battery cuz it couldn't fit around the new battery. Any info would be helpful. Thanks!!!

 

My optima red top cost that much. But i don't think you can just take back your battery, but if you could get the red top.

 

I heard the red top optima doesn't fit well. Is that true??

 

Bad fit but works GREAT!

 

mine just sits there I don't even have it tied down.
I put it in myself it's not hard.

 

Do i need the plastic shield (insulator) or can i just throw that away??

 

On battery terminal??? No I left mine on.

 

not that one, the battery cover i meant

 

1) for the money, an optima red top would have been the winner. again, i'm only saying because it's generally the same cost. it's sealed, maintenance free, and has a much more reliability rating

2) cover is not needed. i got rid of mine awhile ago. it's only there to keep the battery clean and in some cases, it does look nice. since it don't fit, dont' sweat it. just leave it off.

 

They fit fine as long as you get the right one. The red top 75/35 and the 35 fit well, and you can get them online or at Costco for ~$100.00

 

autozone $49.00 great for the money...

 

what size optima battery is everyone using?

 

D34/78

 

In the red top, most use the 75/35 and have had no problems. I recently got the 35 online here

http://www.remybattery.com/350/shope...at=166&L2=&L3=


and it fit perfectly

 

it got the 75/35 also.

 

You'll be fine w/ your diehard battery

 

I replaced my original battery with an AC Delco a few months ago... Threw away the plastic shield... not needed... haven't looked back since. Works fine.

 

I love Diehard batteries. The only one's i buy. Will crank even in the coldest weather plus sears backs there batteries really well

 

I got a die hard last year and didn't use it.
The terminal on the battery is smaller than the cable connector.'
How do you get around this. do you have to cut the cable and
put a new end on?

 

that's what I did to fit my optima yellow

 

It's been my experience that there's not a lot of difference between most of the major brand batteries -- DieHard, Duralast, Exide, Interstate, etc. all seem to be about equal in terms of how long they last and how well they perform. The average lead-acid battery will last you between 3-4 years depending on where you live, what loads you have connected, and how often and how long you drive your car. I got 6 years out of the Delco Freedom in my '95 Camaro and it was still going strong when the car was totalled.

The Optima and Tsunami (?, or is it Typhoon..?) batteries are constructed differently. I use an Optima and have had great success with it.

 

for optima...I love mine

 

Check the November, 05 issue of Consumer Reports. Sears used to top the list but in the latest evaluation they've dropped to the bottom. Up at the top are believe it or not, Wal-Mart Everstarts at $60. When checking both Wal-Mart's electronic and paper application guides it says you need a 35 N for their top of the line Everstart, basically a group 35 with reverse polarity. Unfortunately, when I went to the auto desk they said they didn't carry it. I asked but it's your own house brand and shows in your own application guide. Shouldn't you carry it? Still no such luck. Called a couple other Wal-Marts in the area but when they transfer me to auto no one picks up. Despite Wal-Marts supposed expertise in logistics they don't carry their own brand in all sizes listed in their guides.

Went to NAPA, again with a very well rated battery in Consumer Reports. Their top of the line Legend series ran $70. Hey, $10 more but they actually have it. Wal-Mart also installs for free but with the Maxima, battery installation is a snap anyway so no biggie. I also cleaned and inspected the undertray and the battery cover while I was at it while Wal-Mart (or Sears) would have just dropped it in. There's some corrosion in the tray which I'll get to when the weather gets warm again.

Snap off the handy carrying handle and the NAPA fits perfectly. The OEM cover fits maybe a bit tighter than on the OEM but it does fit.

I was really interested in the Optima but none of the major autoparts stores seem to stock the reverse polarity. Optima's on-line application guide comes back with no fit for the Maxima. Response from an e-mail inquiry to Optima says the fit for the Maxima is their 34 R. Best price I could find on-line delivered was about $140. I couldn't justify paying twice the price of a top rated NAPA for that.

As this relates to your original question, I'm afraid you paid too much for something that doesn't fit just right. Don't mean to rub your face in it but you did ask. Your price probably included installation but as far as work goes, changing the battery on the Maxima is about the easiest project there is. Faster than even an oil change. On the bright side, what you got will work and you won't have to worry about it for a few years.

 

So all this talk about how great my optima red top was ... Mine died in less then a year bought it back in Jan 05 ... come to find out optima red's Had a problem with production between Jan and May so check your date code. bought mine at Advance auto and they have a 3 year warranty so after check/charging it for 45 min. they swapped it out free.

 

Did you use the 34R? Or the 75/35?

 

75/35 .

 

How do you check the date codes on the battery?

 

Mine had a sticker on the side Jan 05. My new 1 has NOV 05
on the negative side.

 

I know this sounds dumb, but does it say Nov 05 or have digits? All I can see is a sticker on the top (NEG post side) that is by the bar code and it starts with the numbers 11405... Does this mean Nov 4, 2005?

 

Sorry it was a small round light green sticker the reads 11/05

 

When you bought the battery at Sears did you tell them what car you were driving? The reason that I ask is that the one that they selected for you should fit darn near perfictly.

I am also assuming that you bought the die-hard gold with 36 month free replacement and a prorated replacement for up to 72 months?

I've used die hards in a my cars with never a problem. I just put a new one in the Vette and it cost me $96.00