SDVette

I noticed some leaking on my 3 year-old Redtop so I removed it today and here is what I saw:



It looks like it failed at the bottom seam of the front-left cell. I'm wondering if using the hold down puck put too much stress on that bottom seam?

I replaced it with a Costco Kirkland battery for $40. I'm done with designer batteries! It must be 10 lbs lighter than the Redtop too!

Dave68

It seems like no one battery is bulletproof. There is no "best" type, as many $50 batteries last as long, if not longer than the $100 versions. However, I still believe that there is less of a chance that an AGM battery will leak vs. a standard lead acid battery. That being said, I must also mention that in my 31 years of driving, I've yet to see a leaking battery (in person). To me, this means that my chances are good that if I purchase any old battery, I will not have a leakage problem with it over its lifetime.
BTW, my ACDelco AGM from the factory is still doing extremely well after more than 4.6 years.

spdislife

It looks like it failed at the bottom seam of the front-left cell. I'm wondering if using the hold down puck put too much stress on that bottom seam?

Possibly the puck combined with a slight manufacturing flaw caused this. Probably will never happen again to you.

pcfred

Still under warranty???

Mike Mercury

looks like the Exide Orbital case is beefed-up in that area:


thank God there is competition in this spiral-wound cell technology.

DeeGee

You can still get someting from Optima. here's the warranty info from the website:

Warranty Info
12V Passanger Vehicle / Light Truck (noncommercial) 36 Months Free Replacement, Remaining 36 Month Prorated

jrose7004

Wow that's the first I've heard of that!

rws.1

hmmm
liquid inside plastic, subject to temperature extremes and vibrations... would would have thought it would ever leak?????

BiggieBoy

Humm.....So much for that "Optima batteries don't leak" belief..

c5BlackBeauty

Warranty or not I would go back to them........especially if they consider all the positive press Optima gets on this Forum.

Vetteman Jack

From the pic, it looks like a little acid at the top too - or maybe that is just from picking it out of the car. I have heard of other Optimas leaking a bit, but compared to the stock batteries, it is a rare occurrance. I've had mine for a little over four years now and have not noticed any leaking (hope it stays that way for a lot longer). Good thing that you caught the leak when you did though.

peter p

If you say "WOW" to the 72 month (6 years) Optima Battery warranty, I'd like to hear what you'd say about the Exide Orbital and identical Sam's Club "Nascar XLT" warranty which like Optima is fully warranted for 3 years but then prorated up to 108 months (9 years)!

1997C5

Sorry to hear it happened you too. I call Optima and they pointed to a local store to pick up a free replacement. Mine was leaking a gel-like fluid. Lucky I caught it in time. Mine was leaking from the positive post. Hope it didn't leak on the wires. -Ed

Dave68

This may very well be the best built battery - period, but dang, is it expensive (as are the Optimas)! My theory is that if you live and drive in an area that features smooth roads, then any old battery will do. Extreme roads, however, call for extreme batteries and the Orbital does look extreme!

screw991le

I am a sears diehard battery fan myself.

SDVette

I guess I just have bad battery luck.. My stock Delco leaked too (from the positive terminal). No harsh conditions for either of these batterys! San Diego climate - garaged at night - 10 mile commute to work - never discharged or jump started.. These batterys have been pampered!

As for warranty: I wrote Optima an email describing what happened with a photo. I will post if they reply. But I don't have my recipt and not even sure what month I purchased the battery.. I (foolishly) figured the battery would last a long time!

screw991le

The battery should be stamped with a date, somewhere, most do

CAJUNY2KC5

I had one start leaking before I could even install it. Optima stood up, replaced the battery and my rear cargo carpet (it went through the cardboard I had set it on).

I had to ship the battery back to them (through the retailer). Optima called me and said they had confirmed that the battery had been cracked in shipment.

Even though many said I was incorrect and that Optima's couldn't leak - they stood behind their product and made good on my carpet. So I'm happy with them.

edensknight

DeeGee

These threads can tend to degenerate into a "my batterry's better than your battery" type discussion.

There are lots of good batteries out there and Excide seems to be popular as well as Optima. I went with Red Tops. I realise that not all members are happy with Optimas but it seems to do pretty well.

Bottom line is that the AC Delco is just not up to the job. Seems like GM spotted that and went for the AGM in 01. Even so, there are just too many failures with the Vette. My recent poll, even though I accept it was not a scientific sample, proved that to me.

JMHO.