[Mike57]

I have a 2009 Jimny with the ABS so I can only put one battery in the engine bay. I am thinking of replacing the main battery with an Optima D51. The width and length of this battery will be no problem but I am a little concerened about the height. Despite taking lots of measurements and having formed an opinion that it will probably fit it will be quite close so to touching the bonnet so I would like to ask if anyone else has fitted this battery to a Jimny.

The quick search shows a few of this fitted to other cars but not to a Jimny. If anyone has done this I would like to know if there were any issues fitting it. Thanks

Mike

[christover1]

My Sierras battery was from a commodore or similar and was a very tight fit.
To save possible bonnet contact I used insulators on the terminals.
.

[christover1]

[Bugsta]

I think that is the battery I have. I just chcuk c piece of ruber over the battery and tuck it front and back.

This battery is great. Runs my winch with no dramas even for a short time with the engine stopped. Runs my Engel overnight with plenty of start capacity the next morning.

[Mike57]

Thanks guys.

[squibby]

Mate - good choice on the Optima D51 - you have obviously done your homework. There is an alternative though that might fit better and is possibly an even better battery.

Look up Odyssey batteries, like the Optima yellow tops they do Deep-cycle & starting batteries, have a look at the Odyssey PC1200MJT. Might fit better check out the dimensiosn and measure it up. They offer a few different shapes and sizes too, so they will likely have one that fits like a glove.

[Mike57]

squibby wrote:

Mate - good choice on the Optima D51 - you have obviously done your homework. There is an alternative though that might fit better and is possibly an even better battery.

Look up Odyssey batteries, like the Optima yellow tops they do Deep-cycle & starting batteries, have a look at the Odyssey PC1200MJT. Might fit better check out the dimensiosn and measure it up. They offer a few different shapes and sizes too, so they will likely have one that fits like a glove.

Squibby - Thanks for that. They certainly have quite a range. The PC1200MJT is too wide for the standard spot in my Jimny though. I can only fit up to 130mm without mods and 140mm with some minor cutting. That one is 169mm did you fit that one in your Jimny? What year is yours and did you need to move the fuse box to fit it in?

Mike

[squibby]

Nah it was for my auxilliary tray and I was mostly concerned about height, forgot about the width. I made a cardboard box to the dimensions of each of the two batteries and checked to see if the box fit first. Might be worth doing. Try out a mock up of the D51 and if you have to drop down from a 41Ah to the next size down...

[christover1]

Are these any help to ya?
Found on facebook.



Light Weight Race Battery 16 Volt 425CCA Turbostart
__________________________​__________________________
New Low Profile design is only 6" high, perfect for limited space mounting. At only 32 pounds, TurboStart's light weight 16 volt battery is among the lightest AGM types in the industry. It puts out 425 cold cranking amps at 0°F. Reserve capacity is 48 minutes @25 amps. Part No. TSS16VL

Only $315.00 plus freight!
Free EMA T-Shirt if this ad is mentioned upon purchase!

[Mike57]

squibby wrote:

Nah it was for my auxilliary tray and I was mostly concerned about height, forgot about the width. I made a cardboard box to the dimensions of each of the two batteries and checked to see if the box fit first. Might be worth doing. Try out a mock up of the D51 and if you have to drop down from a 41Ah to the next size down...

Squibby

That was exactly what I was thinking today. I did this to work out where to put the compresor as well.

Chris

That one is a 16 volt battery and does not have the same capacity as the Optima. Don't know how you just come across this stuff though. Facebook? Not the place I would look for a battery.

Mike

[christover1]

It found me, I wasn't looking for it, but yes it was Facebook.

[Bugsta]

You need to be careful with AGM batteries. Some will not like being near a hot engine. Its mainly due to the cases not being designed for high temps. When I was researching, I'm pretty sure the Odyssey's fell into this category. Might have changed though. That was over 2 years ago.

[Mike57]

I think I am going to stay with the Optima at this stage.

[christover1]

Mike57 wrote:

I think I am going to stay with the Optima at this stage.

I had go check them out on ebay.
I think thats what I will get after this battery's demise

[bigdogdazza]

Hmm I found similar dramas so decided to get a 400cca for engine bay and 120ah for rear of car to run all other garbage, my 9500lb winch is hooked to small engine bay battery and struggles a little on a hard uphill winch with say a pootrol or cruiser but apart from that just fine, I use a winch block on the hard pulls and no probs!

[Mike57]

So I took up Squibby's suggestion and made up a cardboard model of the Optima D51 battery today. It is a perfect fit in the battery tray and I was just a little concerned about the height. I worked out that it is just going to fit.





By the way this seems to be a fuse on the feed from the alternator. Am I right, is this just a fuse or does it serve some other purpose?



Mike

[squibby]

Looks like it clears from this angle. Worth comparing the D51 with the D51R. The terminals are reversed between the two models. It's a shame the Posi leads won't reach the rear of the battery or you could have the posi nearer the firewall where there is more clearance to the bonnet. It's less critical how close the negative term gets to the bonnet obviously.

[Mike57]

Good point Squibby. I didn't think of that option. I put some grease on the top of the fake positive terminal and it did not touch the bonnet. I swapped it around and with the terminal closer to the edge it did touch. Where it is now the positive terminal fits inside the bonnet strengthening steelwork. The 51R would be an option though with just a bit of work to lengthen the cables but I am pretty sure it will clear the bonnet where it is now.

Is that last photo just a fuse?

Mike

[christover1]

Yes that is a fuse. I did a search, and sx4's and other suzukis have them, too

[Mike57]

Thanks Chris.

[squibby]

Mike57 wrote:

...Where it is now the positive terminal fits inside the bonnet strengthening steelwork...
Mike

awesome, that's pretty much how my optima fits in the auxilliary tray, and I've had no problems even without an insulated shroud over the top.

[Mike57]

I can now confirm that the Optima Yellow Top D51 is a perfect fit for the late model Jimny. You will need to fit new battery terminals but apart from that no clashes and adequate clearance from the Bonnet.

[Scales]

Pics or it doesnt exist.... LOL,
nah im interested on seeing final product anyway.

[Mike57]

OK, I will take one on the weekend. I took a movie under the bonnet with it closed just to make sure there was clearance and it is fine, but I have never used You tube so I will put up some stills of it with bonnet open. Thanks for looking for a handbook info for me Scales.

[-QIK-]

Funny isnt it, you look at the spec sheet on the Optima website and it says 500CCA, but all the adds on evilbay say 450CCA?

I wonder who is right?

[Mike57]

Did not read what it actually said on the battery but I will check that also and post it up. The Optima spec sheet defintely says 500 CCA.

[-QIK-]

That would be great Mike57 as Im just about to buy one of these to power my winch......

[Scales]

QIK, did some research for you this morning re: battery and winch, deep cycle and winching is bad ju-ju (i suspected this, just wanted to confirm before mouthin off).

the deep cycle is more suited for a continuous low amperage supply to a low charge level then recharged. IE perfect for dual battery and fridge usage for a few days... If used for winching it MAY ruin your nice expensive new battery before its time, and not operate the winch as well as it could either as it would struggle to give up the amps compared to a cranking battery.

A bit of reading i discovered that most winch manufacturers say to use a leadacid battery.

I suggest if you CAN get a dual batt tray made up, or buy one from pirhana... do so. then stick a 2nd Lead acid in there like I have (with a 200amp redarc) and you should have more than enough between the 2 lead-acids to get you out of trouble without having to mess around with alternators or big single batteries. More cost effective also, and less risk to your existing electrics.

as a plus you have a auxilary jump-start setup from this also. and a good power source for your fridge if you ever feel the need to use it.

Id only consider one of these Optima's as my aux battery personally. As Mike hasnt got room for a AUX, its the next best thing i guess. but you have room for one QIK so i'd utilise it.

[squibby]

Scales wrote:

QIK, did some research for you this morning re: battery and winch, deep cycle and winching is bad ju-ju (i suspected this, just wanted to confirm before mouthin off).

the deep cycle is more suited for a continuous low amperage supply to a low charge level then recharged. IE perfect for dual battery and fridge usage for a few days... If used for winching it MAY ruin your nice expensive new battery before its time, and not operate the winch as well as it could either as it would struggle to give up the amps compared to a cranking battery.

A bit of reading i discovered that most winch manufacturers say to use a leadacid battery.

I suggest if you CAN get a dual batt tray made up, or buy one from pirhana... do so. then stick a 2nd Lead acid in there like I have (with a 200amp redarc) and you should have more than enough between the 2 lead-acids to get you out of trouble without having to mess around with alternators or big single batteries. More cost effective also, and less risk to your existing electrics.

as a plus you have a auxilary jump-start setup from this also. and a good power source for your fridge if you ever feel the need to use it.

Id only consider one of these Optima's as my aux battery personally. As Mike hasnt got room for a AUX, its the next best thing i guess. but you have room for one QIK so i'd utilise it.

Awesome post, but totally wrong on the last paragraph. The Optima Yellow top IS a Deep Cycle AND starting battery - as discussed above it handles 450 - 500 CCA depending on what specs you read. It's not a regular type of deep cycle. So if you do have to compromise a little and can only fit one type of battery to do both starting(or winching) AND a bit of Deep /Cycle - then the Optima Yellow top is one of the best options.

Thats why the Optima Yellow tops RRP are about twice the price of a simiar AH regular Optima Deep Cycle battery.

[Scales]

ah okay, my bad. im not really up-to-date with the optima battery tech.

I still stand by my post though, for QIK he is better off with dual batt's IMO and yeah i guess if you can only have ONE battery the optima would be a go-er if what you say is true. But that would still be a compromise for not being able to have 2 in my eyes.