Bryan858

iTrader: (1)

Hi guys, I was driving around with my sc300 with no Battary hold down and I found out yesterday that the Power steering pump pully thing gauged my batt, Well long story short the battery is now bad and I was going to replace it with a Red top optima that was in my old car but I noticed it is shorter and the battery posts are on the opposite sides... How did you guys extend the positive wires to reach to the other side and what did you use to hold it down? Any help would be great... Thanks in advance... Bryan

TGRich

Let it sit in there backwards. It won't hurt it.

steviej

iTrader: (1)

order the same optima battery with an R after the number. I believe the R is for Reverse, the connections are opposite compared to the battery without the R. Then it will fit perfectly. I just read this in another thread about optima batteries.

steviej

alexulan

for the install on the GS400 i had to put a one inch spacer on the bottom of the OPTIMA to make it sit up to the hight of the original OEM. The spacers were at the store where i got the Optima.

Bryan858

iTrader: (1)

So you guys didn't have to extend the wires and replace the battery terminals? Hmm, For some reason there isn't enough wire on my 92 sc300 to get it to the correct battery post no matter which way I mount it in... I no longer have the spacer to bring the battery up, is there any way to purchase this seperately? I tried autozone but they didn't have any... Bryan

TGRich

Call Optima directly. Maybe they can ship you one.

alexulan

Just go to any shop that sells the OPtima.
I took a spacer from a RED to fit my Yellow.
They should give them away for free!
At worst they might charge you a few bucks.

Bryan858

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for all the advice fellas... I actually ended up cutting off the positive wires and then extending one with a 4gauge wire and then just left the other one alone.. I put a different battery terminal on the positive and negative side... For the Tie down, It was actually level with the place metal that you bolt the tie down to so I just bought a peice of thick aluminum and fabricated my own tie down... Hope this thread helps out others... Bryan

mburnickas

I just installed a new red top (r34 or 800r) last week. I use the original metal clamp and it works perfectly! Start a lot better and the red top reverse ios the way to go, at least in my ES.

I used a 1 x 3 cut to about 8 inches. I used two below the battery.

Lexusfreak

I've heard to use either the R34 or R35....which is it? And does it need an adapter? what is the correct part number for the ES?

mburnickas

I just installed a R34 also called 800R in my 98 ES300 last week. Adapter for? wires? I just need to put a spacer below battery so I could still use the metal, original battery clamp. Other then that, works perfect.

Lexusfreak

I got an e-mail back from Optima customer service & they told me to use the R 35 battery not the R 34. What's the difference? I also asked if there was an "adapter" part number for that battery but they never mentioned one way or the other! Not overly impressed with their customer service people, I hope their batteries are better.

mburnickas

I belive the 97 to 2001 or 2002 are the same battery. Also I have never heard of a R35. Not from people, ebay, or online. It must be a new model number that replaces the R34 orange top;which is the red top now. Mine is the red top but use the old number. It is called old stock and this new number must be new for 2004.

Nothing to worry about. All you care about is the R for reversed and the red top. The 35 or 34 means nothing. I owuld guess same CCA, Same AH, votls, hours, etc

The battery I got was again 34/800R # 8003-151. I got this one since that is all they sell online. If there is a newer number for the same battery get whatever one makes you feel good. The important thing is again the R. The color depends on what your application is.

Also again what adapter are you talking about? Wires, raising the battery? If it is more raising the batteries do a DYI one. Why pay. I did not need to buy anything for mine.....

Also what do you expect from a person behind a desk, getting $10 per hour that knows jack %&$#!

From what I have found out, if you have question ask the people in forums. Never failed yet.

csaxon

The R35 is slightly smaller and has slightly less power ratings in all areas as compared with the R34. There should only be a $10-$20 difference in price.

Lexusfreak

Thanks guy's! The catalogue that Optima sent me has a list of the cars with the correct battery number but there was no listing for the ES 300 (I also tried to cross reference it with the Toyota Camry and no listing for that car either....go figure! ). The brochure also had a "adapter number" with a small pic for the different applications (about 7 different ones) so I wasen't sure if there was one for the ES or not. If the R34 has more CA especially CCA I might go with that one.