[xj-s] Optima Battery

[Harry Trafford <traff@ICON.HMSD.UFL.EDU>]

Well, we bought the Optima battery for the '86, from Batteries Plus. $119.95. I installed it Monday. Even though it has a built in carrying strap, you can still push the battery hold-down on. It's a bit shorter than the battery I removed, but it's a perfect fit. 
The Optima is rated at 800 CCA. and comes with top terminals only, or top and side terminals. The plates are wrapped in a spiral and there is no maintenance to it because it's "sealed". The Interstate mega-zapper was 650 CCA. 

The primary reason we replaced the battery, was that the DPO let the Jag dealer in Miami install a new one. The dealer installed a standard Interstate mega-something and charged him $150 US for a $59 battery! The thing out-gassed into the boot and now I have a MAJOR rust repair job ahead of me. And no, the little red plastic Jaguar vent cover does not work.

There are large rusted out areas up in the buttresses and along the boot area on either side of the lid, including the area between the rear glass and boot lid. The only thing keeping out the rain is the paint. Push a finger into any of those places and you'll be looking at the spare tire. We're not talking pinholes here. 

Poor Adrianne. When the weather gets cooler, I will break out the grinder and start tearing it up. It's really gonna look bad for a long time as there is no budget for a proper paint job, only Rustolium red primer.

Harry & Adrianne
'86 daily driver.

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