Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) ? which optima battery

[ramman-mn]

I have called around to the local parts places and they can't tell me which optima battery will fit in my 2002. Opitma rep. said to get the yellow one for the diesels, but couldn't tell me which one would fit in the factory battery holder. thanks

 

[rwineman]

I used the largest optima red-top battery available. They came with spacers for the correct height, so that the battery hold-down bolts did not need to be cut. With the spacers the optima batteries were the same size as the originals.

 

[ramman-mn]

Thanks but which parts dealer would have the spacer you where talking about. but i need the yellow top becouse i have a lot draw from amps and so on but i dont know what battery i need can any on help i would like go deep cell optima but what one

 

[rwineman]

Ramman-mn



Got the batteries from Pep-Boys and the spacers came with the batteries. If you can not find them, ask your Optima rep. If you don't use them, the battery height will not be correct.

 

[rwineman]

Also, if I remember correctly, the overall height of the yellow top battery was the same as the red-top. Again, I think your best bet is to check with your Optima rep about the spacer.

 

[Thomas]

Poke around the Optima website for sizes and specs. The 34/78 is the largest that fit my model year 2000 Ram battery trays without altering anything.



Here is one in red with my method of using the over-long OEM hold-down bolts:

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The 2004 has a battery temp sensor under the driver's side battery. I don't know what year began this feature. but I have heard you should not space the battery up from the sensor. The 800 cca Optima with the side brackets snapped on will fit the 2004 and you can position it so one cell is directly over the sensor.

 

[Thomas]

Model year 2000 also has the driver's-side sensor. The concern with bolt length has to do with the 800 CCA Optima being about an inch shorter than the OEM battery. One person on this board mentioned that the extra inch of bolt managed to damage/cut/short something in a harness under the driver's side battery

 

[y-knot]

I have the twin post red tops, and I have been happy with the way they hold a charge. I sometimes go several months without starting my truck and they are alwasy there. If I was to buy new ones again, I would go with there new group 31 yellow top, it has 1050 cca, and should be a bear.

 

[DLausche]

Yellow Optima's

Originally posted by ramman-mn

Thanks but which parts dealer would have the spacer you where talking about. but i need the yellow top becouse i have a lot draw from amps and so on but i dont know what battery i need can any on help i would like go deep cell optima but what one

I'd stay away from the deep cycle batteries for starting. Deep cycle batteries have thinner and more lead plates in them that allow them to supply power for a longer period of time, generally at a moderate or low current draw. The thinner plates can (will) warp under high current draw or charging. This will create a short internally in the battery rendering it junk. The grid heaters in our trucks draw something like 170 or 190 amps when on. That is a LOT of current, even for 2 batteries. I'm not sure how a deep cycle will hold up to that current draw. Of course, if you live in a warm climate, then this may not be of concern.



Just my 2 cents worth.



-Deon

 

[y-knot]

I don't think you have to worry about the Optima batteries shorting out. That is there strength, they are a sealed paste battery, and designed for rough conditions and abuse. The concerns about a deep cycle battery are valid, but I do not think they apply to the Optima's. I was concerned myself and was told similar stories 6-7 years ago when I first started to run the Optima battery's, but I have never had a problem. I run them in all our cars and trucks as well as the trailer, and they all perform very well. Like I stated earlier, I would go with the group 31 yellow top. I have always ordered by batteries Thur mail order, but recently the local Advanced Auto Parts store has the red tops for 101. 00, thats a very good price.

 

[Stamey]

I thought about the Optima batteries when I replaced mine. I asked around and from the feedback I got, I needed to worry more about the reserve capacity on them for starting my diesel. The Optimas didn't measure up as I was unable to find any Optima battery that had the reserve capacity of what's recommended for the truck. I ended up going with some Champion batteries, that met or exceeded the specs, from Sam's Club (where I was going to buy the Optimas).

I'm not a battery genious, but I'm just relaying my experience.



Chris

 

[willyslover]

the newer D31's are about the exact size of the stock battery. . use your search button. . several threads about them a few months ago

 

[Loren]

While there are lots of opinions regarding Optimas in our trucks, especially concerning deep-cycle vs. regular, CCA, and reserve capacity numbers, the fact remains that lots of TDR members are sucessfully using Optima batteries.



Optima recommends their deep-cycle batteries for our trucks, but there are plenty of drivers with the red-top (starting) batteries installed. My trucks have had deep-cycle Optimas for years with no problems. I have never experienced any hesitation in starting even in cold weather following two cycles on the grid heaters. The oldest Optimas I have are in my 1995 truck. They were installed about four years ago, and are showing no signs of going bad.



For my installation, I removed the factory batteries, placed the Optimas in the battery trays, cut an inch off the battery hold-down bolts, tightened them down, and installed the electrical cables.



You must do something, either shortening the hold-down bolts or installing a spacer, to avoid having the bolt screw into the wires below the battery tray. (See post by Thomas. )



My recommendation is Optima yellow or blue-tops. These are identical, deep-cycle batteries with different electrical post configurations. The yellow-tops have a side post while the blue-tops have a wing-nut RV connector on top. Both have regular posts for our trucks.



Loren

 

[Herb D]

Very informative thread. I too have asked battery dealers, Dodge Dealer, and Cummins, etc. about using Optima deep cycle batteries. Nobody seems to have an answer.



My reason for switching to deep cycle batteries is that I usually haul around a Lance camper on my hunting trips to cold Colorado & freezing Wyoming. As the camper is plugged into the truck's electrical system it might strain the batteries with the overnight draw down caused by using lights, water pump, heater, tv, etc. .



Also, I'm in the process of installing an electric winch that will be used daily in my gold dredging operation.



From your answers, it sounds like Optima deep cycles should work OK. Are the D31's larger than the above mentioned 34/78's? Will they fit my 2000?



BTW, how long do factory batteries usually last?

 

[n7gxz]

Herb,



Any of the Optimas will fit, physically speaking, even the big D31. I just put two D31 blue tops in my 2001. The D31's have to sit just a little kitty-wampus in the battery tray but they fit. They are about a 1/2" taller then the factory group 27 batteries so you have to play around a little bit to get the hold down bolts to get started. I went with the blue tops because of the extra terminals so I can attach extra things, like a winch, to the batteries easier.



Kevin

 

[y-knot]

First there are several sizes of the red top Optima battery. In fact there are several sizes for all of the. Optima rates there batteries by three catagories 1. starting 2. deep cycle 3. marine.



In the starting catagory there are red and yellow and orange top batteries available. An easy way to tell the differance between them is dark grey case means starting technlogy and light grey case means deep cycle technology.





Please enter the following information about your car,

and find which OPTIMA is right for you.



DODGE Pickup Trucks, Vans, Minivans or Sport Utilities

Ram Pickup (1500-3500)

2001-1994 L6 5. 9L; Diesel

Part# CCA Model

Name Group

Size

Alternative Selections:





3478DT 750 OPTIMA 34DTO

DT34/78 800 OPTIMA 34DTO



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This chart gives you the information you need to buy your battery.





Printable Version Reset









This is what optima recomends for our truck, and if you would have purchased the right Optima battery there would be no need of any mounting modifications. Be carefull, there are many who don't no squat about Optimas, and they may steer you wrong.



The 3478DT Is a Red Top it has 750 CCA and is group size 34DTO



The DT34/78 is a Yellow Top it has 800CCA and is a size34 DTO



these two batteries are all that Optima has for the Dodge, make sure you check that you get the right ones.

 

[aconnors]

How much material did you remove from the battery trays? Did you cut both the "front" and "rear" panels?

 

[y-knot]

Hopefully you guys will wise up and get the correct bateries. The big marine batteries you installed are not only the wrong size but the wrong type.

 

[DBrickel]

I installed two red tops in my 95 Ram. No modifications. I just put them in and tightened the hold down clamp. It did sit a little lower than the stock batteries but they tightened with no problem. I've only had them in for about a month so can't give much input on durability. They did perform well with our recent cold snap though