Another day, another 51R battery swap.
 

Winter is coming, and the trusty little Yuasa battery has lasted me a good 4 1/2 years. Morning starts were taking a few extra chugs and my HID headlights started to look dim, so I decided to pick up a new battery.

Did a lot of reading and considered a lot of brands/models including Optima Yellow Top, Braille "No Weight," Deka / Big Crank, Odyssey, Kirkland, Die Hard, Duralast Gold, and Interstate. To make a long story short, I ended up going with the Interstate due to the great reviews, low price, and CCA. The Braille was too expensive, Deka had to get shipped, Odyssey too low CCA, Kirkland unavailable, Die Hard was considerable, and Duralast no longer comes with a 7-Year warranty. The Interstate was the cheapest and had the best CCA, even more than the ever so popular Optima (which Interstate also makes).

Interstate Mega Tron MT-51R
$107 OTD from Firestone
500 CCA
625 CA

The install was easy. Had to slightly modify the battery tray by cutting the right side off. And what everybody else said is right, the 51R does fit, but there's absolutely no gaps on either side. It fits 102% snugly against the left side intake box and the right side fuse cover(?).

So far morning start ups have been super fast, just like when the car was new. When under load, such as rolling down the windows, the headlights no longer dim. I still do see the RPM need raise just a tad bit, but not as much as it used to. Interior lights are also brighter too. I'm satisfied. Hopefully I'll get 5 years out of this brick.

Dirty Stock Engine w/ Stock Battery - (moved to to a new place with no garage and I have to street park, so I haven't been able to upkeep or detail the car :/ The girlfriend's new Prius get's the assigned parking spot)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps85c25519.jpg

Dirty Stock Engine w/ New Battery (Ooooh, green :hyper:)
Attachment 22700

Stock Fitment
Attachment 22701
Attachment 22702

New Fitment
Attachment 22703
Attachment 22704

Cut the battery tray with a 99 Cent Store Hacksaw. Left the top cover off when installing new battery.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps07a20c6b.jpg

Side by Side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psf818d6f5.jpg
Attachment 22705

Good show-and-tell! :)
...and smart move... :D

Thanks. Nothing new or exciting to see :popc:but I haven't posted in a little while so I figured I'd share.

The Prius is now the luxury car and my Fit's the beater, lol.

Even tho I have a new ge8, I was wondering when someone would post a better battery choice for when I have to replace mine.
Nice to see someone doing a mod and actually improves original, but going from maintenance free to reg lead acid it will mean taking off hold down bar that is blocking water fill, hopefully San Diego weather doesn't evaporate water like here in Florida.

You cannot go wrong with Interstate. I've used Optimas in My Pathfinder, my Red Top lasted 8 years, replaced it with a yellow top (have a winch), it lasted 2. Never again. Interstate or Die Hard all the way. There are no other batteries.

I'm just amazed your stock battery lasted four years. The longest I was able to take mine was two and a half years before one of the cells went bad.

Glad to know a slightly larger battery will fit the engine bay, if not the stock bracket.

I've had my original Yuasa battery in for 5 1/2 years now. I did notice if I don't drive my car for 2 or 3 days, the first crank is a little slow. I should probably replace this. I need to check though if a wider battery will work in mine. I had to tilt my fuse box slightly to clear my hood damper. I'll need to check the space.

Going to +1 the Interstate Megatron, truly BA battery. Had one survive for 4 years or so in the Vegas heat and cold and was still chugging strong when my car met an untimely demise.

I was thinking about an Optima when the time came but I think I will go with an Interstate Megatron again :) Is there a thread on here for 51R into a GE?

Edit:

Oh here:
https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...y-gds-ges.html
Guess not as easy with stock airbox in GE but can be done...

On 11/2 I sopped at a local grocery store, and saw a Tidewater Blue '08 Fit parked with its hood up, and an old beater pick-up being used for a jump start. They were still trying to get the Fit started when I left the grocery store, so I asked the Fit owner if he needed help. The pickup had a bad charging system and an old battery, and could not generate enough amps to start the Fit. I told the Fit guy that I could start his car. Got out my jumper cables from the top of my spare tire, pulled up next to the GD and connected the cables. One second of cranking, and the '08 Fit was running fine. All thanks to the 500 CCA Kirkland battery in my '09 Sport GE.

While I was working, the Fit owner was looking at my GE from every angle, and told me when I was leaving, "Man, I LOVE your car! All of that space and luxury features that I don't have, and a REAL battery to boot. I'm going to look into trading my Fit in on a new model". I warned him that he wouldn't get a real battery the new one, but he could obviously put a real battery in it when needed (at a bargain price).

To Wanderer:

I used to be an Optima fan until they stopped manufacturing in the U.S. Lots of on-line quality complaints on the foreign-made versions of yellow and red tops. The price of the Kirkland was so low, and the Consumer Reports rating so high, that my choice was easy and I haven't regretted it. You will have to tie down the pos. cable with a long zip tie because the sock factory clip lock won't reach properly with the wider 51R size battery. But Interstate is also a great choice. (Ratings for Kirkland and Interstate are the same).

SuperMario what year is your fit?

reason I ask is I have a 2009 and the battery placement looks a bit different mine's more to the front.. just wondered if maybe it's the same scenario I can modify it to fit the better interstate battery. Interstate makes a 151R that will fit fine in the FIT but it's got less CCA, like 350. I'm not to eager to go with that, especially since it's $30 more as well. More CCA would make me happy. lol

My Fit's an '08. I can't find it at the moment but I believe I've seen some GE8 members change their battery. Definitely don't settle for another puny battery, especially if it costs more. It'll work.

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...o-problem.html

Yuasa batteries in my Toyota Yaris is original -9 years old . It's just a baby : son's is 12 years old and original.

I wish there was a way to avoid removing the red + lead (and main fuse) when checking battery acid...


That's a major downer.


PS The OE Yuasa batteries need to be topped-off with distilled water after each summer, just like the Interstates. I just cut the sticker off the top so I could unscrew the plugs.

Just registered this account to say Thank you for the run-down and pics! You've helped a friend in need.

My Yuasa battery dieded so I replaced it with a 51r as per this DYI. Thanks buddy!

I chose a costco (kirkland brand) battery. Costo calls the 51r: battery #11. It cost me 70$. However, know that using the costco brand 51r in a Honda Fit voids the waranty. However, the gentleman on the phone was kind enough to suggest that if I have problems, I can just return the battery and they don't need to know which car I used it in! Warranty: 3 year 100% refund then 5 additional years with a pro-rata refund depending on age.

Good-bye 350 CCA, hello 500 CCA! This upgrade is a must for Fit owners that live in cold climates.

a side benefit i discovered is that the yuasa battery, once removed from the fit, will work PERFECTLY in my craftsman riding lawn mower that was in need of a replacement.

51R in my 2008 fit sport
 

Replacement was a snap, got a 51R Duracell from SAMs Club with a full 3yr replacement warranty for $66.23, easy to install. Make sure you push the positive terminal down tight and far before using your 10mm to secure. Now I'm at 500 CCA. This is the first replacement battery on my garage kept 2008 Fit. Just turned 50k miles, and when it sits out all night, the Michigan winters caused it to crank slower. Now to the dealer to get my Radio Code!

Check your owners manual, our code was written in there by the dealer.

And the code is also on the wall of your glove compartment.