8 replies to this topic

[blown_volvo850r]

I went to get my car today and it wouldn't start...so I think, yeah the battery's dead. There wasn't even enough juice to run my gauges. My roommate drove out and tried to jump start me, and it wouldn't work. We went to Sear's to get a new battery, and we weren't sure if the Optima Yellowtop was gonna fit so we figured we'd go get my car jumpstarted and bring it up there. He told me to hold the cables on there for about 5 minutes and see if it made any difference...now this is where stuff got weird. We held the cables for awhile, and after a few minutes, the blinkers came on by themselves. Turning them on in the car made them stay on w/o flashing, and leaving them off kept them blinking. The gauges turned on, so did the headlights and everything...but the engine wouldn't turn over, all it did was make that clicking sound. When we took the cables off the battery, in about 10 seconds the blinkers stopped, and nothing would turn on. I checked the fuses and nothing was blown. I tried to take the battery out, (and I know this is gonna sound stupid), but I couldn't get it out. I've got these Lightning Audio battery terminals the PO put on the car. It was the dumbest idea, u can't fit any jumper cable clips over them and keep them there, u gotta hold them in place. But once u take out the triangular plate to expose the posts, there were these gold rings that kept me from getting the terminals off the posts...I pulled and pulled and pulled, and used vice grips to try to squeeze them together enough to remove, but I couldn't get 'em lose. I said poke it and we went and ate dinner. I'm really irritated, what kind of person puts on battery terminals that u can't take off? What, does he think someone's gonna steal his battery?? I tried to take a picture w/ my phone but Mobile Phonetools won't work as usual. But anyway, anyone have any clue what's going on? Never seen that w/ the blinkers.

[jross]

Yeah, sounds like you tripped the stock security system. Go back, hook the battery up again, and let the blinkers come on. Then shut the drivers side door, relock it with the key and then unlock it. Should fix the problem.

[blown_volvo850r]

OMG I'm an idiot...well it was about 25 degrees w/ a 30mph wind and it was snowing, so I wasn't really in the best state of mind. I can't believe I didn't think of the stock alarm. Sometimes my clicker works, sometimes it doesn't, I think it's time to change the battery. But anyway, will any of the Yellowtop batteries fit? I had them look up a DieHard for a '97 850 and it came up w/ one model. That particular one is about a half inch shorter than the Yellowtop, and has the same depth. The battery in my car is already wider than the stock one, and I actually had to secure it w/ some screws and stops to keep it from sliding around in the case, so I'm pretty sure the Yellowtop will fit. The only problem is the battery posts are about an inch or two further towards the front of the car than the one in it now, and I don't know if the cables will reach. They should tho, they have a pretty good amount of slack in them. I was looking at a Redtop but the guy there said the Yellowtop would be much better for me since it's a Deep Cycle and it can start on a lot less power, and I can run stereo/lights longer on a non-running engine than a standard battery. It's $190, that sounds about right.

[jross]

No worries, first time the alarm happened to me I was very confused too.

Yellow or red top should fit, no problem. I've got a Redtop floating around between my two cars, havn't had any fitment issues. You do have to play with the wire a little to get it on, but just tug gently and you're golden.

Price seems a bit high though. I paid ~$110 for the Redtop at Costco.

Edited by jross, 22 March 2006 - 12:58 AM.

[blown_volvo850r]

Well it's happened numerous times, but the one time it actually matters, I can't think of it what's going on. I'm not sure how much the Redtop is, it has a 3-year warranty versus the Yellowtop w/ the 1-year, but the Deep Cycle is definitely what I need. Plus the DieHard International it called for was $100 anyway. DieHard makes a d*mn good battery, but it doesn't compare to an Optima.

[Pauloil]

me, I'd just buy the freshest stock size 47(?) battery I can find they are cheap at $65 and last 5 or more yrs........

[blown_volvo850r]

I got an Optima Yellowtop...fit just fine, it's actually smaller than the battery I had in there. It was a Douglas or some sh*t like that, 675 CCA. The Optima has 750 CCA.

[Mesoam]

those terminals are worth the $ and yes people will steal your battery maybe not in bumble-monkey but its known to happen

[blown_volvo850r]

those terminals are worth the $ and yes people will steal your battery maybe not in bumble-monkey but its known to happen

If someone goes to the trouble to get in ur car, pop ur hood, and rip off those terminals, why don't they just steal ur car? Or the engine??? LOL.