My battery was probably original. It'* about 5 years old now and it'* been having a tough time starting the car on these cold mornings, so i had it tested and sure enough, it was dying. Today i payed $109 at Pep Boys for an AC Delco 880cca/1000ca battery with a 72 month warranty. Advanced wanted $139 for an 880cca battery. I was like, frack that!

Wow...that is a good price. You did get the side vents right? Good deal to know for future needs.

No idea if it has side vents, but they said the battery was listed for my car. Where would the vents be if they're not on the side?

It has to have the side vents to fit the vent tube, or you'll be venting the corrosive gasses into the car. Did you put the battery in yourself, of did they do it? If they did, you may want to pull the back seat to check and make sure it was done properly. Here are the instructions.

Battery Replacement

I had Jiffy Lube do it. I'll check later today. Too damn cold!

So if you can indeed manage to fit an optima under the seat then you don't have to worry about the vent tube? i don't remember the red top on my 94 having one at all.

I would think the Optima is OK because they are sealed cells that don't vent.

I wouldn't use anything other than the recommended vented battery for 00+ Bonnevilles. The battery has to be vented to the outside (via the vent tube through the floor) because of its location in the interior of the car. Batteries located in the engine compartment do not require the external vent.

What Markwb said can not be stressed enough. Do not buy a battery that is not designed to be used for this application. The gases must be vented to the outside. Not only are they corrosive, but they can also be explosive. It'* not worth it just to save a few dollars.

That'* exactly why I didn't fork out for the optima. I couldn't get a good enough response as to if the battery would be safe. I preffer the idea of a solid core in an accident but would corrosive gasses silently eat the seat belts? what'* worse? My kids ride back there so I had to go with functional seat belts. IMO if the optima fits and is safe optima would list it as a replacement for the 2k bonnies.