pinseeker

iTrader: (3)

Optima battery installation problem (also posted in ICE section)

Finally got a yellop top & set about fitting today but I have a problem
The terminals for the optima are further away than the Subaru battery terminals so the positive terminal needs to be extended. Looked in Halfords & local spares shop but no extension types available. Does anyone know if Subaru do a positive extension ?

Has anyone come across this problem before & how did you solve the problem ?

Car is a Subaru STI UK 2007 Hawkeye
Appreciate any info people can give

Cheers Andy

Scoooby300

Did you buy the one with reverse terminals?

My 2005 WRX300 has the terminals the wrong way round. You have to specify it when you buy it.

I'm assuming here you didn't buy the one with the terminals in the middle, but up at one side of it.

Have a look at the battery you are removing and check it against the new one for which side positive and negative are. You will probably find they are different way round.

This is the reverse terminal one....
OPTIMA® RedTop R 4,2 Optima Batteries UK

Hope this helps mate.

pinseeker

iTrader: (3)

I phoned the shop & Optima.
Seems that for the 2007 UK Hawkeye there is not a Yellow Optima that is suitable for the car. Even reversing the terminals does not help as cables not long enough.

The solution is a Stinger SP1000 which have the terminals in the right place.
Essentially same as the Optima but a bit more power

Cheers Andy

53

iTrader: (41)

Andy I have the Red Top in the link above fitted to my Hawkeye.

Works well.

I have one of these on the wagon to keep it tip top

12V VOLT CAR BATTERY CHARGER SOLAR PANEL POWER NEW on eBay, also, Solar Panels, Gadgets, Consumer Electronics (end time 10-Feb-09 13:30:00 GMT)

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

How does that work then Stu? You plug it into the cigarette lighter and put it on the dash...but what are the crocodile clips for? Fun

WRX_Dazza

lol. you never had 12v across the nips chris????

53

iTrader: (41)

Unlike my previous fords, the scoob cigi lighter is inactive without the ignition on so you use the croc clips direct to the terminals/nips.

Fella at the end of my road has a blue blob STi in the garage and has used one of these chargers for ages. His car see less road than mine but he never has starting issues

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

I used to put the square batteries on my tongue to see if they worked

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

Alright, stupid question... how do you get them from the inside of the car to the battery terminals. I guess you leave the bonnet open and put it on the roof or something?

53

iTrader: (41)

Frameless doors are good

Panel stuck to the inside of the windscreen, one bit of wire creeps out from the round the A pillar to the bonnet direct to the battery. For a car used twice a week its great, but for those that use their scoobs everyday perhaps not ?

I haven't looked to see if you can get through a gromit in the back of the engine bay or something to go direct.

pinseeker

iTrader: (3)

Would you mind posting a pic of the Optima in your Hawkeye.
Interested to know how yours is okay & mine is not

Cheers Andy

53

iTrader: (41)

Mine is the Red Top Reversed. I sent my blue/yellow top back because of the terminal issue, and I couldn't be bothered to mess about. Plus the Yellow top is about 19kgs

Here's my redtop, should be able to see in my only ever engine bay shot.



I don't know where you get them but you could try and use an extender like I have on my negative wagon terminal ?

pinseeker

iTrader: (3)

Cheers for the pics
The red top is one option but also want to run some amps so I think the Stinger with the right terminal positions will do me.

Cheers Andy.

yellowvanman

That's only 9V you big girly

Scoooby300

I'm running 2 amps off the red-top and it works fine. Have invested in a capacitor though......