Optima Yellow Top battery

[rambada]

Hi all, just wondering which Optima Yellow Top fits the Landrover D4 2011 SDV6 & can a knucklehead instal it - ie there is no mucking around with different terminal fittings.

Cheers

[Redback]

I have the 2.7l D4 and had no trouble installing the Yellow top in our D4, don't know if it fits in the same place as the 3.0l though, it fits in front of the main battery in the 2.7l.

I have the D34/78 55AH Yellow Top.

Baz.

[drivesafe]

Hi rambada, and depending on how you want to fit the battery, you will most likely need a battery tray.

Also, what is your intended use for the auxiliary battery as I may have a D4 kit to suit your requirements.

Here is a link to my kits which are all specifically designed for DIY installs.

Discovery 4 DBS Kits | TRAXIDE - RV | Traxide - RV (http://www.traxide.com.au/complete-diy-dual-battery/land-rover-dbs-kits/discovery-4-dbs-kits/)

[AnD3rew]

Hi all, just wondering which Optima Yellow Top fits the Landrover D4 2011 SDV6 & can a knucklehead instal it - ie there is no mucking around with different terminal fittings.

Cheers

Do you want to use it as a cranking battery replacement or as an Auxilliary battery?

[AndyG]

Hi rambada, and depending on how you want to fit the battery, you will most likely need a battery tray.

Also, what is your intended use for the auxiliary battery as I may have a D4 kit to suit your requirements.

Here is a link to my kits which are all specifically designed for DIY installs.

Discovery 4 DBS Kits | TRAXIDE - RV | Traxide - RV (http://www.traxide.com.au/complete-diy-dual-battery/land-rover-dbs-kits/discovery-4-dbs-kits/)

Why the battery tray, to hold it in place, I thought:o these were acid free ?

[Redback]

Why the battery tray, to hold it in place, I thought:o these were acid free ?

How else would you hold it in place:confused:

[discotwinturbo]

How else would you hold it in place:confused:

Hehe....saw one 2 weeks ago held in by a ratchet strap on a bitsamissan.

Brett...

[letherm]

How else would you hold it in place:confused:

Hi Redback.

Apologies for off topic but I just noticed your location and comment about "the shire". Love it !!!! Made me laugh and that's a good thing.:Rolling:

Martin

[AndyG]

A tray is a tray, a hold down clamp, which I have, is different again.

Unless the tray includes the hold down clamp.

Traditionally, the tray would capture any acid, but I didn't think the yellow top needed this.

[rambada]

This is to replace my main battery which is on its last legs, so straight swap with the current/main battery.

[jonesy63]

A tray is a tray, a hold down clamp, which I have, is different again.

Unless the tray includes the hold down clamp.

Traditionally, the tray would capture any acid, but I didn't think the yellow top needed this.

Andy - are you talking about a D3? It has an aux battery box with a flat space (tray) and you only need hold down clamp.

[jonesy63]

This is to replace my main battery which is on its last legs, so straight swap with the current/main battery.

Optima yellow top is not the right battery for a replacement. There have been other threads in the past month regarding various batteries. Varta, Supercharge, Exide (AGM) and others are available.

[AndyG]

Andy - are you talking about a D3? It has an aux battery box with a flat space (tray) and you only need hold down clamp.

Sorry,
It was a generic question, I understood Yellow Tops were acid free and did not require a tray to capture possible acid spills, a hold down clamp, certainly.
In my case i was going to put 5 mm of high density rubber under the battery, not a tray.

cheers

[jonesy63]

Yeah - the D4 has "other stuff" in the spot where the D3 aux battery was located. So you have to buy the tray - which is then located between the main battery and the coolant reservoir, as there is nothing there to start with and isn't flat.

[rufusking]

Easy enough to clear out to fit a battery.


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/102180-clearing-d4-aux-battery-tray-3.html

[rambada]

Thank goodness for this forum & your clarification jonsey63.

OK, so which of the Varta, Supercharge, Exide (AGM) is the best main battery or is it much of a muchness?:confused:

[jonesy63]

Varta G14 is AGM and about $400-500 depending on where you get it.
Exide AGM (new type supplied by Land Rover) is between $630-$700. :o
Supercharge Gold Plus MF95D31R are around $200. There are lots of other choices too.

One thing though - as you have a D4 - is it still in warranty? If so, LR will cover a replacement.
Cheers,
Rob

[WhiteD3]

x2 but mine's in the battery box on the driver's side.


I have the 2.7l D4 and had no trouble installing the Yellow top in our D4, don't know if it fits in the same place as the 3.0l though, it fits in front of the main battery in the 2.7l.

I have the D34/78 55AH Yellow Top.

Baz.

[Redback]

x2 but mine's in the battery box on the driver's side.

I had a battery over there also, as well as the one in front of the main battery, I removed it though, didn't really need a 2nd auxillary and didn't feel comfortable moving the suspension ECU.

Baz.

[BMKal]

Thank goodness for this forum & your clarification jonsey63.

OK, so which of the Varta, Supercharge, Exide (AGM) is the best main battery or is it much of a muchness?:confused:

As jonesy63 said - check with LR that it's not still covered under warranty.

I had mine replaced under warranty a couple of weeks ago - mine is a 2011 D4.

[clubagreenie]

Optima yellow top is not the right battery for a replacement. There have been other threads in the past month regarding various batteries. Varta, Supercharge, Exide (AGM) and others are available.

And I can get you a D34 yellow top for $220- and it's everything that the others listed will be.

[Redback]

And I can get you a D34 yellow top for $220- and it's everything that the others listed will be.

Not in a D4 it won't, good auxillary, but not as a main.

Baz.

[rrturboD]

I have been supplying two Varta batteries as replacements for D3 and D4 owners.
Varta Silver MF H3 @$297.00 inc GST & courier delivery
and
Varta Ultra AGM G14 @385.00 inc GST & courier delivery

more users have been going for the G14, I guess because it is a sealed AGM battery, but both do the job well.

Michael T

[rambada]

And now my confusion :confused:

Optima D31A - Pro Batteries (http://www.probatteries.com.au/optima-d31a.html)

So, are the Optima D31a not suitable as a cranking/primary battery? So consider the Varta G14?

[rrturboD]

Optima d31A is good battery, and fine for cranking, given its 1125 CCA
HOWEVER
look at the size ... I do not think you will fit it in your engine bay given that it is 240 mm tall.

[Redback]

I have been supplying two Varta batteries as replacements for D3 and D4 owners.
Varta Silver MF H3 @$297.00 inc GST & courier delivery
and
Varta Ultra AGM G14 @385.00 inc GST & courier delivery

more users have been going for the G14, I guess because it is a sealed AGM battery, but both do the job well.

Michael T

Michael, looking at the specs for these two batteries and forgetting the price difference and 20CCA, wouldn't the H3 be more suitable given that it is a starting battery??

Baz.

[rrturboD]

Difficult one really ...
Comparing Silver Calcium H3 to AGM G14
- G14 is dual purpose battery, starting and deep cycle applications, (just like running accessories when engine not running), H3 is considered starting battery only
- G14 should not experience corrosion issues, or leakage, even if case broken, while H3 has free liquid
- H3 considered 'dangerous goods' for courier transport
- G14 'should' last longer, but naturally .... depends on care and handling
- G14 better suited to vibration (but probably not an issue in a D3/4!)

[Redback]

OK G14 it is, forgot about the deepcycle thing, D4 definately needs good deepcycling while sitting around.

Thanks,

Baz.

[Tombie]

I had a battery over there also, as well as the one in front of the main battery, I removed it though, didn't really need a 2nd auxillary and didn't feel comfortable moving the suspension ECU.

Baz.

Transfer case ECU? :angel:

[jonesy63]

Difficult one really ...
Comparing Silver Calcium H3 to AGM G14
- G14 is dual purpose battery, starting and deep cycle applications, (just like running accessories when engine not running), H3 is considered starting battery only
- G14 should not experience corrosion issues, or leakage, even if case broken, while H3 has free liquid
- H3 considered 'dangerous goods' for courier transport
- G14 'should' last longer, but naturally .... depends on care and handling
- G14 better suited to vibration (but probably not an issue in a D3/4!)

In addition to what Michael wrote - LR are now supplying AGM batteries instead of lead/calcium/acid batteries. I'm guessing that will avoid a lot more batteries being replaced under warranty - improving reliability and customer satisfaction.

[LeighW]

... LR are now supplying AGM batteries instead of lead/calcium/acid batteries. I'm guessing that will avoid a lot more batteries being replaced under warranty - improving reliability and customer satisfaction.

I believe that AGMs are now being used in LR's products because of the quicker recovery times that the AGM exhibits. Power demands are much higher than they have been in the past (even for the D3) so much so that the D4 has an alternator that is different in its rate of initial power generation. But what I know is that since I fitted the Varta AGM last year to my D3 I feel it is more powerful when starting the vehicle, despite too many short runs (<5 km).

But I always have the CTek ready for the time when the battery says enough is enough...

[PhilipA]

As I had to leave for work and no time to find a good one, we asked RACQ to
replace for us even though the replacement they have only has CCA of 680.
I think the OEM one had about 720 written on, which lasted 7yrs

This is from a previous thread about D4 batteries.

If the required CCA is 720CCA then the most appropriate Optima is a BLUE top as it has 750CCA in the smaller size case and is a combination starter/deep cycle.
A D2 TD5 had the same requirement and I swapped battery positions so that the ARB second battery position became the starter battery. No problems after 18 months next to the turbo.
Regards Philip A

[phl]

This is from a previous thread about D4 batteries.

If the required CCA is 720CCA then the most appropriate Optima is a BLUE top as it has 750CCA in the smaller size case and is a combination starter/deep cycle.

The D4 needs more than 720CCA, closer to 900CCA although the AGM now supplies might be a touch less.

The Blue to is good for the Auxiliary, which is what I'm using it for, as you don't need adapters for the Traxide connectors.

[slug_burner]

The beauty of forums, I use a yellow top D31a in my D2 Td5 as a starting battery, has enough CCA and has been deep discharged many times as a result of standing for weeks/months with out a good run. It is a big battery (dimension wise), whatever battery you get check the dimensions to ensure it will fit.