95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Optima Yellow Top Question....Please Humor Me...

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Old 07-21-2005 | 07:14 PM
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LSUMatt1514's Avatar
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Optima Yellow Top Question....Please Humor Me...

I'm on call this week and I've got to get in the bed soon because at any friggin moment I might get called into work. I want to get an Optima Yellow Top, but I'm not sure which model to get. The place that I will get it at is here....

http://www.batteriesplus.com/(qfyrux31rsqueq55mv33wnfg)/findBattery.aspx?sid=5A3A2437323850242424242424242 42424242424

You can see that is the search results for a 2001 4Runner. I get a 15% discount there so I think I can pick one up for around $100. However, the model number they reference for the Yellow Top is 34R RT. I'm not real sure if that's a model number or not. Two questions...

1. On Optima's product spec sheet page for the Yellow Top, they reference a model D34 and a model D34/78. Which one of these should I use or have ya'll used?
2. I measured the height of the stock battery to be right at 8". The Yellow Top is 7.8" tall. Any need for a plywood spacer, or will my stock bracket still work ok even with 2/10" difference?

Thanks gusys. I know there's been a million posts on here about these batteries. Later.

Matt
Old 07-21-2005 | 07:29 PM
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Talking

I have the Optima Yellow D34/78 as it has side posts for accessories! Acutally I have THREE of them!

There is not a "size" for 4Runners per se, whatever will fit up front w/ a spacer. Not sure what is needed on the 3rd gen, but my 1st gen needed a spacer up front in the battery tray.

Old 07-21-2005 | 08:09 PM
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you want the 34R, the regular 34/78 posts are on the wrong side for 3rd gens/taco's
Old 07-21-2005 | 08:38 PM
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I just went itno Napa, and said "Gimme an Optima for an 87 4Runner" and walked out with whatever it was they handed me in return, Stuck it in with teh adapter I had from the last Optima, and VRrrooommm!
Old 07-21-2005 | 08:54 PM
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i dont remember about which way they go.....but, get the mammoth one anyways, cause its big, and you'll look...cooler with the big one, u know how that goes....
Old 07-22-2005 | 05:38 AM
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the group 31 optimas wont fit in the 2nd gen's bay - well not as easily as the factory battery did. Group 34 (smaller) will however fit with few issues.
Old 07-22-2005 | 06:51 AM
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Hey just curious why did you get a Yellow top instead of a Redtop for a starter battery?
Old 07-22-2005 | 07:04 AM
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Probably for his lights and maybe a system.

I ended up getting a pretty small yellow top...I believe it was the 51R...something like that. It's a tiny battery but even with all the stuff that I've got it keeps on running so...for now, this one is working. I'm going to wait until this winter to see how it does and it if it doesn't work well enough, I will be going with the huge Yellow Top that they use in commercial vehicles and then upgrade all my wiring at that time.

But for now, I think a 51R (I think thats it, its a 50 something series) would work for you.

I got mine at Sears for like $119.99

Fink
Old 07-22-2005 | 08:06 AM
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I'm getting the Yellow Top for two reasons...

1. I've got alot of accessory lighting (not all of which is run at the same time of course) but on occasion I have run my headlamps, Piaa 1000X driving lamps in the lower valence, the stock fog lamps, and the Piaa 540s that are mounted on the brush guard. That's alot of lighting. Ususally at night, I'm running my headlamps, the stock fog lamps, and the Piaa 1000Xs. If I turn my system up at night (and it may just be my eyes playing tricks on me, but I don't think so) I believe I can see the headlamps kind of blinking a tad. This would indicate a lower voltage because of the large draw on the battery. I've got two pretty hefty amps to run my system.
2. When I'm tailgating, I hook a 20" TV into my inverter and I can only get about 30 minutes of playing time with the truck off before the low voltage alarm in the inverter and in my voltmeter start to sound. It's then a mad dash to try to start the truck in time to charge back up. I can probably go well over an hour with the Optima before having to crank it up and re-charge.

I think I can get away with cutting a piece of 1/4" plywood to make a spacer if necessary. We'll see once I get it. I may not even need one.

Matt
Old 07-22-2005 | 09:18 AM
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They'll give you a free spacer w/ the batt...or Optima will send you one...again for free. I had a link on a post about it somewhere.

Old 07-22-2005 | 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by superjoe83
you want the 34R, the regular 34/78 posts are on the wrong side for 3rd gens/taco's

It is my understanding that the 34R is only for the Red Top. They don't have a duplicate Yellow Top model, hence the reasoning for a 34/78 like waskillywabbit said.
Old 07-22-2005 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by LSUMatt1514
I'm getting the Yellow Top for two reasons...

1. I've got alot of accessory lighting (not all of which is run at the same time of course) but on occasion I have run my headlamps, Piaa 1000X driving lamps in the lower valence, the stock fog lamps, and the Piaa 540s that are mounted on the brush guard. That's alot of lighting. Ususally at night, I'm running my headlamps, the stock fog lamps, and the Piaa 1000Xs. If I turn my system up at night (and it may just be my eyes playing tricks on me, but I don't think so) I believe I can see the headlamps kind of blinking a tad. This would indicate a lower voltage because of the large draw on the battery. I've got two pretty hefty amps to run my system.
2. When I'm tailgating, I hook a 20" TV into my inverter and I can only get about 30 minutes of playing time with the truck off before the low voltage alarm in the inverter and in my voltmeter start to sound. It's then a mad dash to try to start the truck in time to charge back up. I can probably go well over an hour with the Optima before having to crank it up and re-charge.

I think I can get away with cutting a piece of 1/4" plywood to make a spacer if necessary. We'll see once I get it. I may not even need one.

Matt
ahh good deal I personally got a red top under the hood and a yellow top in the rear, wired in parallel using an isolator. Im really happy with their performance, cant ask for much better. And of course if you are ever going to have a battery sitting inside it has to be a dry cell.

enjoy
Old 07-23-2005 | 10:18 AM
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Does anyone have the Optima part number of the D34 model that you use? Apparently there are several different ones out there that fall under that same model number. If you look on Optimas website under product spec sheets, it says "Group D34" for the model meaning there are a lot of different D34s for different vehicles. Batteries Plus is telling me that they show two possibly three different part numbers that will fit an '01 4Runner. If ya'll would, look at yours and see what the Optima part number is for it. Thanks a bundle.

Matt
Old 07-23-2005 | 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Bumpin' Yota
the group 31 optimas wont fit in the 2nd gen's bay - well not as easily as the factory battery did.

what needs to be done to make them fit?
Old 10-02-2005 | 12:45 PM
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Sounds like you guys had it easy I bought yellow top and firgured with the post turned to correct way my wire were not long enough to reach hmmm, so I turned it around and tried to cross them but no that wasn't going to happen either. ÅÅÅÅ I thought, then realized the "other" feature the optima offered sideways mounting so using the spacer and turning the batt on its side resulted in proper fitment, oh yeah had to bend the "L" shaped tab closest to the front flat so that it would clear the battery. Then I went to start it up and t almost didnt start... damn thinking I had shorted something out I went back checked all my connections and went back started it again and no problems. Drove to S. FL and went to go surfing 13 hourse later and again she had a weak start but since tis morning she's been ok.. Any ideas other than battery didnt have much of a charge when I bought it?

Aaron
Old 10-02-2005 | 09:48 PM
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Barely cranked again tonight on my 2 hours return trip,,,, any ideas? dead battery? she cranked fine with the stock panasonic battery!!

Aaron
Old 10-03-2005 | 12:59 AM
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Yellowtop

I managed to get the Optima Yellowtop D34/78 to fit in mines with the spacer without having to extend the power cable....not sure if you can see it in the pic but the Model number is 9151189 with 870CA, 750CCA, and 120Rc. Hope this helps
Old 10-03-2005 | 01:30 AM
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From: Nor*Cal
Originally Posted by 4x4Fink
it was the 51R.
thats the honda civic battery... tis like 4x8x8........ about the size of a motorcycle battery, but a 12 volt!
Old 10-03-2005 | 01:32 AM
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From: Nor*Cal
Originally Posted by xcmountain80
Barely cranked again tonight on my 2 hours return trip,,,, any ideas? dead battery? she cranked fine with the stock panasonic battery!!

Aaron


sounds like you got a bad battery or have jsut had otehr charging issues pop up
Old 10-03-2005 | 05:18 AM
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I had to take the battery back my truck killed it. Was a D3478950, dead in the water is what they told me but the funny thing was it started right up this morning, to my knowledge there is no listed battery for my vehicle from Optima or similar year tacoma. hmmm

Aaron
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