I'd like to upgrade. Our cars demand too much from the stock battery. When the car is awaken, after sitting more than a few days in the winter, voltage draws down by close to a volt, and we have to start with a nearly dead battery.
I've researched the subject of replacement to death and understand how to protect the electronics and restore any lost settings if I install a battery myself. It's access where I need advice, particularly for the vagon. Has anyone replaced the battery through the access door in any model? The vagon has the largest opening but possibly still too tight a fit. The factory manual describes removing the side panel after removing two moldings, a frame, compartment cover,and sill plate. Is this necessary and does it require special tools? Any tricks to removing fittings? The sedan requires removing the back seat. If I can't do it I guess the dealer is the only one with enough experience to trust and I'll have to live with the OEM battery.
If I can perform the service myself I'd like to install an Odyssey 1200. The website says this may require some modification though. Anyone have one? With all that's involved I should be good for at least five years and can dispense with the Tender. I don't see the advantage of an Optima but it's an option as the Yellow Top may handle draining better than the AC Delco unit. Optima appears to have declined in quality since they moved production to Mexico. Some think they don't require venting, but that's not true. They do offer batteries with ports for venting. All batteries, even AGM, vent gas if they get hot or are charged over 15V. Location under a fuse box in our cars invites corrosion and possible explosion if the battery is not vented properly.
In short I'm asking if anyone has installed an aftermarket battery that they feel is superior to OEM, pitfalls, fitment, venting?
I've researched the subject of replacement to death and understand how to protect the electronics and restore any lost settings if I install a battery myself. It's access where I need advice, particularly for the vagon. Has anyone replaced the battery through the access door in any model? The vagon has the largest opening but possibly still too tight a fit. The factory manual describes removing the side panel after removing two moldings, a frame, compartment cover,and sill plate. Is this necessary and does it require special tools? Any tricks to removing fittings? The sedan requires removing the back seat. If I can't do it I guess the dealer is the only one with enough experience to trust and I'll have to live with the OEM battery.
If I can perform the service myself I'd like to install an Odyssey 1200. The website says this may require some modification though. Anyone have one? With all that's involved I should be good for at least five years and can dispense with the Tender. I don't see the advantage of an Optima but it's an option as the Yellow Top may handle draining better than the AC Delco unit. Optima appears to have declined in quality since they moved production to Mexico. Some think they don't require venting, but that's not true. They do offer batteries with ports for venting. All batteries, even AGM, vent gas if they get hot or are charged over 15V. Location under a fuse box in our cars invites corrosion and possible explosion if the battery is not vented properly.
In short I'm asking if anyone has installed an aftermarket battery that they feel is superior to OEM, pitfalls, fitment, venting?
Regarding pulling the side panel...on my sedan there were a couple screw in anchors on the side then it just pulled away from the battery. You could do it with just the access panel but it was much easier with the whole panel pulled to the side.
