I splurged on a red-top a while back when I needed a new one because I had heard how good they were as a battery, but I did not know about the safety features you mentioned!
I just put a red top in my Scirocco, and it starts so much better now... I have seen lots of batteries fail, and nine times out of ten it's a cheap piece of crap like the duralast... The only batteries I have seen hold up in the long run have been Interstate batteries, and Optima's.
Go optima red top, 109@ autozone with a return core (your old battery) They are expensive for a battery, but they are worth it. Ask anybody on vortex about them, they know.
The previous owner of my VR6 killed a red top, by letting the car sit weeks at a time. After doing this for about a year the red top would not hold a charge. After driving it, and parking it overnight the voltage would be high 10's/low 11's....not good for starting a car. A yellow top was used as a replacement. It took the sits fine, because of it's design. Now a few years later I have the car and it still holds high 12's over a few days of not being started.
I went with a Red Top...Optima's 75/25...primarily because it is smaller. It only weighs 31 lbs and is slightly smaller in overall size. It still has 720 cold cranking amps and I do not have 2 tons of stereo equipment to push. If you got 4 years from you stock battery that is GREAT. But everyone I have spoken with said this was the LAST battery they purchased...some going on 7 years now. Although the terminals ARE reversed on this model for our European applications...I have PLENTY of stock cable length to make the connections. I paid $100 for mine at my local Batteries Plus store...
Before anything I'd replace the battery, something like an Optima Yellowtop. I never bothered with caps, the yellowtop put an end to the lights dimming rather quickly.
love my red top. i dont run much in the stereo dept (just a small amp/woofer) - but i do live where -28c or colder is commonplace. the CCA's on the red kick ass - starts no problem no matter how long the car has been sitting.
My battery died a hacking death with my stereo system and HIDs after 2 years. I wanted a red or yellow top Optima, but they don't fit without modification. In a pinch I got an 800cca direct replacement, can't remember the brand, too lazy to look.
I ran a red top optima and it died in 8 months, now I have a yellow top and I am not impressed at all.
I have had nothing but problems with optimas and I am far from the only one. Go with either an Odyssey or a walmart brand yellow top. I had one sitting around for 6 months hooked up to a non running vehicle. Tossed it into my gf's bronco to fire it up one day and it started right up. Also, I run those in my diesel, and I left the interior light and cargo light for over 12 hrs. Got in and she fired right up.
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