it's looking like the battery I got with my 4kq is not doing so well... i.e. is probably beyond it's last leg. From what I can tell, it's about 4 years old, and a Napa battery. Soooo, I'm sure it's at the end of its life. I topped off the water (was about a pint low :-X) recharged it (dead as a door nail when I got it) and it's holding a charge... sort of. It lost about 2 tenths of a volt over a weeks period. I haven't tried to start the car with it yet, but something is telling me it's not going to work.

So I've been weighing some options here and need your opinions. At this point in time, I just want to get the car running and use it as a commuter, but within the next few years, I'd like to slowly start converting it into a track car. So with that said, I'm trying to figure out what kind of battery I should be getting here!

So here are hte options:

I can go the cheap route and just pick up another Napa battery for $65...

or

I can jump up a little and get a optima red top so I can later mount it in the trunk to accomodate the 10vt I'd be dropping in the car. I've seen these around $100 via ebay. If I go this route, which model # should I be looking at? I'm not sure of the cca and ca requirements for the 4k and not sure where to look honestly. The labels on the old battery are pretty much shot, and unreadable and I didn't get a chance to ask the napa guy when there.

And finally, I can go really high performance and get a optima yellow top. Again, not exactly sure on which model I should be getting, but this is on the higher end of the price range. Not sure if I really NEED to go this extreme, but figured I'd toss it out there anyway.

So, if you were me, what would you do? Go cheap (napa), middle of the road (red top) or all out (yellow top)?

Thanks for the help as always guys!

Been working well in my 4kq and has done her duty of jumping my other batteries:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12467/4kqjumpss4.jpg">

--morgan

but alas it's as useless as their employees in finding something in that store.

I'll have to check them out as well. I'm probably siding for cheap right now just so I can get the car on the road. I'll end up dropping the $$ on the better battery down the road, but I could probably get away with that wally world battery in the trunk too, just would need to toss it in a box just incase it leaked.

Thanks for the info, all of ya!

not as bad as jumpstarting a car with a tractor though ;)

I bought one from my FLAPS for $39.99. 2 year full replacement warranty, 5 year prorated. No it's not the exact right "group size" but it has more than enough CCA and fits fine, actually sits a little lower than the "right" one did. Just kae your battery in with you and compare sizes and CCA...find one that works...you don't HAVE to buy the exact one specified...and can save a bunch of $$...

Thanks for the info! Biggest problem I was having is that the old battery has no readable markings on it anymore, soooo that's why I wasn't sure what kinda CCA I need or other specs for that matter

From looking online, it looks like anything over 850 CCA will be suitable to fire up this puppy... so it's to the local wally world I go to see what kinda deals they can get me. Also, I will make sure to bring my battery along so they can take it off my hands and I don't have a 40 lb acidic paperweight laying aorund my garage ;)

where did you get it repainted? how much? what did you do before it was resprayed?

It never gets below 0 for an extended period of time. If it's cold there 60+ CCAs. Look at the batteries rated for Diesels... again only if it gets cold there.

lows stretched in the 10's this past winter, and that was as cold as I could remember it being here in the last 2 yrs i've lived here.

thanks for the tips!