Battery OPTIMA or Deka
I have run an Interstate battery without issues for the last year, but recently switched to an Optima Red Top. Although I had to get creative in mounting the fuse box on top of the battery, it is nearly 200-300A more than the Interstate in regards to CCA and CA. I am highly impressed. My Escort 8500 has a built in voltmeter. When I would sit at idle with the Interstate battery with all accessories running (lights, A/C, radio) and with as hot has it's been as of late, I would get a low voltage warning (10.5 VDC) when it activated. With the Optima I have yet to see one.
I've got an optima yellow top & it fit w no problem. No modification whatsoever. You just gotta make sure tha +/- (positive/negative) are reversed.
I think we have an Optima in our Mk1 diesel.
Im running an optima redtop 1000 cca. Starts like a champ in -10 degree weather.
The other day I installed my Optima yellow top that was intended for my S10 into the GTI. Had to cram the battery cover top on a bit, but its on there! Funny now the car starts up alot faster. It always seemed like since I got this car it was slow to start, as if the battery was always low...
I upgraded to an Optima yellow top D35 in my GTI probably about six months go..no problems w/ it at all..the batter cover doesnt fit perfect, but you can make it work...i'm runnin bags with dual compressors and also a jl audio sub/amp system so i needed something with more power..which the yellow top has
I had an Optima 5 or 6 years ago but I heard the quality has went down and the warranty isn't as good as it used to be. I picked up a Deka intimidator deep cycle battery and It's by far the best battery I've owned.
Your Optima might never be the same now. Once they go dead they usually don't have the same charging and output capabilities.
My Optima Redtop 8003-151 34R that I purchased through amazon kicked the bucket and cannot be recharged. Do not buy Optima Batteries from Amazon since they will send you back to Optima and Optima will tell you that Amazon is not an Authorized dealer.
Switched to a stock mk5 4cyl battery though as the Deka couldn't handle sitting for more than a couple days without being on a trickle charger.
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