I bought the Yellow top today . fits the TT perfectly . and also made room for the breaker for the power cable for the Audio setup . the original battery was a little taller and wouldm't clear the battery coverery. so I was worried about mounting the breaker too far from the battery, now its all good.
Reviews of OPTIMA battery
1088 votes
i had a yellowtop in my gti for several years. i got it from a friend who had had it as a second battery with his stereo install for 2 years. it lasted about 6 years total. bought a red top and liked it a ton. when my tt stock batt goes out, ill get one.
I would guess the alternator is fine, but you toasted the battery on the charger. Optimas don't respond well to rapid charging, and will do as you described. The top will warp, and acid/gas will escape from the vent holes. I'd bet it was screwed before you put it in the car, and the drive just finished off the job.
FYI New optimas are the suck. Good luck though.
red top fits perfectly fine..no mods
If your cover does not fit on the 75/35, you must be using the spacer under the battery! I have this model and my cover fits fine and no modifications to the battery box were required.
I have a redtop 75/35 and it fits fine. The battery cover doesn't fit over without a little modification though. And you have to slightly trim the top bracket that folds down over the battery..
red top model # 8020-164-35 RT I have one and it fits perfectly in the oem battery box and cover.
Redtop here as well - fits fine and bolts in just fine.
I just popped the plastic bottom edge off the factory battery and put it on a new replacement one from Autozone for something like $69. Same size and fit and post placement as factory Varta but made by Johnson Controls (I think). I personally would not buy another Optima. In the four-wheeler world, I've heard many complaints of premature failures. I've used red-tops as well as yellow-tops in my Land Rover and had to have them warranteed within 2 years of purchase due to sudden failures.
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