Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance Need a new battery...optima or not?

I need a new battery, and was wondering whether I should get an optima or just regular old battery? I went to Walmart to get a Everstart, and they stated they don't make one for the contour/mystique. I was certain they did, and was hoping to get an everstart maxx. I than went to Costco to see if they had an optima or regular battery for the contour/mystique, only to find they don't have one.

Where can I get a battery first off besides the dealer?
What model optima red top?

And in your opinion is it worth getting an optima or just a regular battery?

I have an Interstate battery. Most Jiffy Lubes sell those.

The main difference, and probably why so many places have a hard time finding a battery for our cars is that the posts are reversed.

They make an Optima, ask for a 34R red top, it used to be orange, but they converted it to red to match the rest of the line.

I put one in my SVT at about 3 years old and have loved it since. I piad about $120 at a Beattery's Plus. This was ~$5-10 more than online with shipping and I figured if I did need to warranty it, it would be easier to do in person and no shipipng.

Surely they make normal replacements too, probably just need somone with a clue, try Autozone, their website shows a Duralast w/ 7-year warranty for $70 + $8 core charge. That is Duratec, but I am sure Zetec could use the same.

Good luck!

I have had an optima for quite the while in my 99 se and to install a regular red top or any other optima for that matter i had to take out the plastic battery tray (there are 2 10 mm bolts and you have to slide the tray towards the engine to release the locking tab/slots) and just move the + and - cables.... plenty of slack in them to do this and you should b able to find an optima red top for around $100.00.

i got the exact same motocraft battary that was in there to begin with. The first one lasted 160K miles and repeatedly started up when it was 30 to 40 below, so why not get another one?

Be aware that some aftermarket places might have the wrong battery listed as being compatible with the Contique. I just got an Exide from my local tire place, and it's too wide to fit, despite being listed as fitting.

I went to Napa and got one from them off the shelf so to speak.

Works fine and fits great.

Just curious, did you get the Motorcraft battery at a dealership, and how much did you pay for it?

I plan on eventually stashing my battery in the trunk, at which time I will go for the Optima. However, I killed the original battery about 2 years ago (my roomie left my dome light on after dropping me off at the airport. It was left that way for almost a month). It would never hold a charge well after that so I replaced it.

I got a standard replacement from Checker (Autozone, Kragen, name your parts store) because of the warranty. The warranties are generally very long, long enough that you are almost guaranteed to get a free replacement at least once. I did the same thing when I had my F-150, and got like 1 or 2 free replacements when I had that. Its pretty nice just to go in there and swap them out!