2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Optima price

[BSowers]

I have two Napa 34/78 batteries 2 yeaes old and I'm tired of having a weak battery after listening to the stereo for 2 hours while bombing. Who has a contact/website for the best price on the Optima D31 batteries? Costco carries the D34 blue top for $149 and red for $99 but these are only ~720 CCA

 

[tp0d]

Hmm 2yrs old shouldnt fail at all. . Have you checked the water level in the batteries? Also, the battery terminals are a common fail point, it would be a good idea to take off the terminals, clean em good with a wire brush, and put em back on with some type of anti-corrosion agent. My batteries are from 2000, and they run great. Had to fill the water up last month tho...



as for the optimas, theyre good batteries... havent heard anything bad about em yet. . But definetly get over 1000 cca per battery.



good luck



-j

 

[cumminspwr01]

My batteries are also from 2000 and I haven't had a problem yet. I do however plan on changing mine before this winter just because. Are the napa batteries under warranty from them?

 

[LHastings]

I bought the red top from Sears they were the best deal at the time, under a hundred. They spin the engine with no problem cold or hot. Also no more corrosion.

 

[BSowers]

Yep, been there, done that. Nah, the batteries are just underpowewed when it comes to RC.

I am also looking at the Infinity sound system drawing power as well as the head unit. Mine requires a solitary / dedicated 20 amp protected circuit. Re: "power, I need more power" thread. I, just last weekend, cleaned the posts, (they weren't bad). The batteries may have a warranty... . to the original purchaser... I will look into it. I know that it takes another diesel to jump the thing... Just about burnt up a poor blokes F150 trying to jump mine last July 30 miles away from anything.

 

[y-knot]

I too have never gotten over 4 years out of a normal battery. I went to Optima for all my battery needs, I have only used their RED top batteries, but I have them in both our trucks and the trailer. The Yellow 31 is a very large and seems to be the battery to get for a diesel, I have seen the at Advanced Auto Parts. My Red tops are going on their 4th year now, and seem to be just fine, I think they are the way to go. Search the web and look for specials, I got mine from 4 Wheel parts for 79. 00 each, and free shiping. Summit had them for that price last fall.

 

[BSowers]

Here is what I've come up with so far. Sears is the most expensive and Batteriesareus is the cheapest and they ship for free but they take Paypal or check/M. O. only. D31M $162. 95

Cabellas

1st optima

Batteries are us

Sears

 

[drrhoades]

Could 1 D31 Yellow Top Start our trucks in the winter in 0 degree weather after sitting overnight?

 

[n7gxz]

I got a pair of D31M (blue tops) off of eBay last fall for $169 each.



Kevin

 

[Midnite]

Originally posted by drhoades

Could 1 D31 Yellow Top Start our trucks in the winter in 0 degree weather after sitting overnight?

Sure, but it'd probably be a little marginal. The 1st gen trucks only use a single group 31 battery, but they tend to be over 1100 CCA. Before I bought my 2000 truck, I was trying to figure out how to mount a second group 31 battery in parallel in my 1992.



In *really* cold weather (-10 F. and colder) I had problems getting the 1992 to start if I'd forgotten or was unable to plug it in. The extra battery power would have let me cycle the grid heaters several times without losing effectiveness



Mike

 

[BSowers]

Optima Battery Fact sheet

Model: D31M

Color blue w/light grey case

Terminal top and 5/16 stud

Volts 12

AH 75

AMPS @ 32F 1125

CCA @ 0F 900

Reserve Capacity 155

Length 12-13/16"

Width 6. 5

Height 9. 4

Weight 59

 

[JHerrlich]

This is the best price I've found for the group 31's:





http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/



But that's only for the group 31's. If you want the smaller size, you'll find it cheaper elsewhere.



I'm running two group 31 blue tops.

 

[RGRAT1618]

I wourk at a battery supply store. I have sold over 30 red tops to a local boro for there 1999 thur 2002 boro trucks. They do not plug there trucks in the winter. This is there 3rd season running some of these batteries and have never had a problem. A couple of there Fire trucks take 4 group size 31st. Next week I will be installing 4 grp 31 blue tops. So far everyone here loves the optima battery. It's been a great seller. Out of the 100 batteries or so I have sold in the past month, only 2 have come back. The 3 year warrenty is unbeatable. IMOI





Rob

 

[StephenDelany]

I took the easy way out and bought two red-top Optimas at Costco for under $100. 00 each. They are the smaller 720 CCA batteries but they work GREAT in the truck. I don't see any voltage drop at all even when I crank the motor over. The starter spins the engine very easily and she starts immediately. The original Batt's had about 4. 5 years on them and these new "little" red-tops have Much More Pep.

 

[BSowers]

Those must have been the group 34 batts. I just ordered two D31M's from Batteries are us for $325 total... free shipping. Oo. We'll see how long it takes. I know the UPS driver. He may grumble when they arrive.

 

[y-knot]

If you can, hold off till fall. They will be on sale and many places have free shipping.

 

[CyberRanger]

Some stores carry Optima "blems". While they do not carry the same 3 yr warranty nor do they have the Optima label on them, but they are indeed Optima & are super inexpensive. I bought a "brown top" -1200 cca- for under $40 for my old Chevy & will do the same for the '02 when it needs it. The brown top normally goes for near $400.



I got mine at an Interstate Battery outlet.



FWIW.

 

[Mick2500]

Optima Best Price

I found DT 34/78 800 CCA Red Tops here http://tinyurl.com/42j3o for $89. 99

TNA-Sports has a website and they also have an Ebay store. GREAT guys to deal with. www.tna-sports.com The prices are better on Ebay than on their website.

Oo.



Mick

 

[duaneparks]

I took the easy way out and bought two red-top Optimas at Costco for under $100. 00 each. They are the smaller 720 CCA batteries but they work GREAT in the truck. I don't see any voltage drop at all even when I crank the motor over. The starter spins the engine very easily and she starts immediately. The original Batt's had about 4. 5 years on them and these new "little" red-tops have Much More Pep.

FF, your experience almost exactly mirrors mine. My truck ate it's OIEM batteries in 3 years. I bought a set of Hi/Lo/O'Reilly brand 900 CCA batteries and they corroded within a week. 3 months later I took them back and got 2 Optima Red Tops 720 CCA's. They spin the engine like nobody's business, much better than the OEM's ever did.



The only bad thing I've heard about Optima's, specifically the Red Tops, is that if you ever run them all the way down, they don't last as long before needing replacement. This was a friend's experience, not my own... FWIW.



Duane

 

[MBean]

Just about burnt up a poor blokes F150 trying to jump mine last July 30 miles away from anything.

My chicks Mustang started mine when it was DEAD just fine! Must just be that fact that the F-150 just didn't want to start a RAM... :-laf