Yeah, I just wish Autozone recommended it for the 8. I had to argue with them after two of their recommended batteries died under warranty and I didn't want that same one a third time. I just went to the shelf and looked at the specs of the group 35's and paid the difference. No more battery problems since.

 

hmm weird, cuz I never had any problem locating the right 35 battery on Autozone's web site.

One time I was trying to get the right drier for my Rx-7's AC, they gave me one that it saids it match my VIN, but they were wrong of course, but when I told them it was the other one they looked at me funny, and like sir are you sure you want to order this? I was like go ahead cuz I know i am right. told them that your system need to swap the 2 part numbers. finally the right part came and I fixed my A/C (not a bad experience)

but I just checked their system, its still wrong, I need to grab another one in case they stop making it.

most of the time we know more than the monkeys at Autozone/AAP/Name your local Auto parts store anyway

 

Yeah, I never really checked the specs of the battery and that was my fault for going by what their systems recommended for the RX8.

 

There is a TSB. They changed the battery size on the RX 8 as it was too small.

They don't change the printed books for batteries. Sometimes the electronic data base is not changed.

That's why they insist on the wrong battery. They have old information.

 

Good point, never thought of that.

 

I wouldn't even bother asking people at AZ. I researched on here, found the battery I wanted (optima r34) and went go pulled it off the shelf, and bought it. Never once mentioned what it was going into. Had no problems, they were happy to take my money.

-Shawn

 

For anyone searching, I found this
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...19-05-1504.pdf

It states 640cca is recommended.

-Shawn

 

does the battery from sears fit? cause i think its to tall but im not sure.

 

What about Braille batteries ?

http://www.braillebattery.com/index....tteries/b3121/

 

Flashwing over at BHR has had a couple of them

 

Yes it does, that's the one I use.

 

yes the platinum p5, group 35 is plug-and-play.

 

Well, my optima red has been doing the constant discharge thing now for about a year. If I didn't drive the car for more than 4 days, i'd have to trickle charge it.

Car flooded today for the first time in 7 years of ownership because of a weak battery.
I'll deflood it later but I'll probably pick up a new non-optima battery. Since the 8 is now my second car, I'll likely go with one of the duralast golds from autozone.

From everything i've read these days, this thread included, optima has gone to ****. had I known that, I wouldn't have bought one 2 years ago.

 

How old is the battery?

 

Some stories on the internet saying that after Johnson controls bought Optima. they fired most scientist to cut cost.

then they start using "not so pure" stuff for their battery. and they moved the factories from US to Mexico.

after the lead designer left Optima, he went to another and made something even better in another company, forgot the name of it now, I think its the maker of the Sears die hard battery.

I got my Optima for Free (don't ask me how and why) so Im not complaining. lol

 

It's probably an 08.. still probably has a few months left on the warranty. I bought it in the summer. I don't care to wait 3 weeks to get a replacement from them.

 

and... deflooded..

 

Autozone has started to carry a glass mat sealed series battery (Platinum Series). I am now in the process of figuring out which one will fit properly. The only one they had in the store was a 34 series in both left and right positive terminal posts. I measured, and it will fit, but it is very tight and leaves no room to "breathe"...may not work. When I purchased my first 8 last week, the battery was dead I know even though it is starting fine right now, it won't hold up over the long run...and I may be able to get some credit since it is an Autozone battery already.

IF I can get one to fit properly, it will be the best price for the specs...I will update later.

btw...I've had 9 RX7's and I will never buy another Optima battery! I went through several of them, both red tops and yellow and they just don't last and the warranty is not as good as Walmart or Autozone, or Sears. The Autozone Gold worked best for me and the 8 year warranty is good.

 

I'm running a Optima RedTop R34 battery, survived summer with no problems. I was worried about it being able to "breathe" in the heat too, but it seems to be doing just fine.

 

FWIW, I just replaced my OEM battery about a month ago with the Duralast Gold battery and am plenty happy with it. I don't have any aftermarket audio equipment, but I feel this battery would be quite sufficient for a modest setup.

The OEM battery was going on over 5 years old and on really cold days was showing its age with some slightly uncomfortable slow start-ups. The first time starting up with the replacement was a remarkable difference in speed (even from what I recall when the OEM battery was younger).

 

I never had a problem using Duralast Gold batteries either, Its actually my first pick when on a budget.

 

I can recommend the Bosch Premium Power 35-640B, $90, available only at Pep Boys. In a recent Consumer Reports battery test, in the "cold or temperate climates" category it ranked 4th out of 26 batteries, with a score of 82 out of 100.