Does anywone have a "optima battery" in their fiero. The battery is a dry cell that will never leak or eat your batter tray. They are very expensive ($150 or so). Just wondering if anywone hase any experience with them. I see that "exide" and "interstate" have also started to produce this type of battery. Thanks
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01:23 AM
PFF
System Bot
GT Bastard Member
Posts: 2243 From: Rapid City, SD Registered: Sep 1999
I've got one.... It's pretty snausome. I never ever worry about a dead battery and it starts right up in -40 below weather. Fierogod has one in his Fiero and he says he's happy with it. I've left my stereo and doors open for extended periods of time while working on stuff, and it still never has trouble cranking over.
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07:52 AM
1FST2M6 Member
Posts: 3905 From: Dallas, GA. Registered: Jan 2000
glad jeff likes his! there is a cheaper one out now!... the NAPA Orbital. I have a few on other cars and LOVE THEM... and my Fiance' got me one for christmas. it's 6lbs lighter than a normal battery (according to our scale) and it's a dry cell. the optima is a gel cell.. if shot or crushed it can leak where the Orbital can't either way you've got a KILLER battery but the Orbital is cheaper. I've paid for/used both brands...
[This message has been edited by 1FST2M6 (edited 01-03-2001).]
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10:38 AM
TheFiero64 Member
Posts: 1345 From: New Bedford,MA,USA Registered: Mar 2000
I just gotta ask, exactly what are you doing that gives you concern that your battery might be shot or crushed? Furthermore, I've read reports where testers drove framing nails into an Optima with no leaks or immediate noticable degradation in performance. Not that I'm worried about somehow winding up with a nail driven into my battery or anything.
For what it's worth, when the OEM battery in my 4WD Suburban puked after only 3 years I replaced it with an Optima and have yet to have ANY problems with it after 4 years now. Keep in mind that the newer Suburbans have fairly high electrical needs, too. There are time when the ECM/FI system, dual AC, lighting, etc taxes even it's factory 105 amp alternator. So far, that Optima has performed flawlessly through sun scorched 110 degree summers in Texas, -40 degree winters on the windswept plains of Minnesota and the Dakotas, and survived pleny of offroading as well, never failing to start the big ol' 454. I really couldn't ask for anymore from a battery.
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01:49 PM
1FST2M6 Member
Posts: 3905 From: Dallas, GA. Registered: Jan 2000
many fieros have borken battery clamps them sliding around will rub the side of the deck-lid hinge and poke a hole in it.. thats why i had to get an optima cause the stock battery had a nice chunck out of it.. (i bought it and didn't knwo it was broken till i smelled fuel) along with the battery i had to get fuel lines, coolant hoses and belts. I'm not saying the Optima is crappy.. just the Orbital is cheaper for an on par battery. granted you don't have a shiney red/yellow or blue top but is the color worth $50
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05:21 PM
rockcrawl Member
Posts: 2528 From: Lehigh Valley, PA Registered: Jul 2000
You really should fix or replace that broken battery clamp. It wouldn't even pass inspection here without it. Champion also makes a gell-cell battery. We use them in the material handling industry (forklifts) and they suck! They only seem to last 2-3 years whereas a standard lead-acid battery will last 5-6 years. I haven't heard anything bad about the Optimas though (except the price).
You guys are nuts. You can buy 4 regular batteries for the price of one of those Optima batteries. One regular battery lasts me four years without trouble.
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09:04 PM
RossT Member
Posts: 3038 From: Bismarck, North Dakota Registered: May 99
88formula, you make a very good point, but I am more concerned about the battery acid fumes slowly eating away at my battery tray. There is a battery mat made that runs about 5 bucks, that will help prevent it. Thanks guys.
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11:41 PM
Jan 6th, 2001
RossT Member
Posts: 3038 From: Bismarck, North Dakota Registered: May 99
Well I went ahead and got the optima. The red top looks kind of nice next to the Red v6. It also matches the bright red paint on the car. Price was $119. About 30 buck more thant the best declo or diehard.
it was a tight fit.
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06:22 PM
Jan 7th, 2001
Nashco Member
Posts: 4144 From: Portland, OR Registered: Dec 2000
Just for anyone looking for more testimony to the Optima, I swear by them. I demolition derbied a 1976 Cadillac before with a big block 500 motor (torque monster ) that had no charging system. I ran this car for two heat races and the main event, equal to about 25 minutes worth of running. After dying in the main event, I cranked the engine about 15 minutes. The water temp. was about 230 degrees, so this was a huge load on the starter. I then cranked it about another 20 minutes after the race trying to get it started up and on the trailer. This battery just kept on cranking!!! I still have this battery in my 69 vw bug, which likes to lose a voltage regulator now and then. I have the car run, lights, stereo, everything; for a week without a charging system. THESE BATTERIES ARE AWESOME. It has a full two year replacement warranty, and mine is two years old and like new still. Everybody should have one!
glad jeff likes his! there is a cheaper one out now!... the NAPA Orbital. I have a few on other cars and LOVE THEM... and my Fiance' got me one for christmas. 
) that had no charging system. I ran this car for two heat races and the main event, equal to about 25 minutes worth of running. After dying in the main event, I cranked the engine about 15 minutes. The water temp. was about 230 degrees, so this was a huge load on the starter. I then cranked it about another 20 minutes after the race trying to get it started up and on the trailer. This battery just kept on cranking!!! I still have this battery in my 69 vw bug, which likes to lose a voltage regulator now and then. I have the car run, lights, stereo, everything; for a week without a charging system. THESE BATTERIES ARE AWESOME. It has a full two year replacement warranty, and mine is two years old and like new still. Everybody should have one!
