Optima yellow top
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Island British Columbia
Optima yellow top
Just picked up a new Optima yellow top for a great price. I brought it home and changed out the stock battery. Car wouldnt turn over enough to start. Charged Optima battery for 6 hours on trickle car until it was fully charged. Started car twice. Battery dead. Charged again and got it running. Drove around for 1 hour and watched the voltage readings on the DIC. Voltage was between 13 - 14.5. Parked car and started it 2 more times. Battery dead. Took battery out of car and through it on a charger. Charged for 5 minutes and showed full charge? Put back in stock AC delco started car 25 times before it showed any drain? Thought Optima was the King of Batteries. Thoughts.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 9
From: Morgan Utah
I have seen lots of Yellow Tops die early but that one is a bit premature to say the least, take it back and try again.
Though I have seen many failures over the years the ones that last seem to last a very long time, mine did for 10+ years and 160k miles and may of lasted longer if not subjected to a full winter of sitting without being charged.
I only buy Odyssey batteries now, lost one due to a run down state and cold weather, not the batteries fault then like when I lost the Optima, all the others have been incredibly good, I have the 1200 in my Vette now, works great but I may try one of my smaller ones to save some weight but a Vette needs a pretty stout battery so may have to stay with the 1200.
Rick
Though I have seen many failures over the years the ones that last seem to last a very long time, mine did for 10+ years and 160k miles and may of lasted longer if not subjected to a full winter of sitting without being charged.
I only buy Odyssey batteries now, lost one due to a run down state and cold weather, not the batteries fault then like when I lost the Optima, all the others have been incredibly good, I have the 1200 in my Vette now, works great but I may try one of my smaller ones to save some weight but a Vette needs a pretty stout battery so may have to stay with the 1200.
Rick
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: SW FL
I agree, I just installed a YellowTop about a month ago, started right up and I haven't had an issue since. I've had the audio system (headunit, amp & aftermarket speakers) running for about 15-20 minutes on just the battery to test it and still cranked up fine. Definitely return it!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 919
Likes: 1
From: Portland area OR
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Island British Columbia
Got and installed a new one. They bench tested the old one and it was junk. Funny thing is the new one has a date of 09/09 with a 3 year warranty on the label. Old one didnt have any date on it and label said 1 year warranty so I suspect bad one was on the self for a while.
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