Optima batteries... Alternatives???
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Atascadero Ca
Optima batteries... Alternatives???
Optima must have the smartest people alive working for them. My warrantee expired just 3 months ago on my red top. My battery is officially dead. It wouldn't hold a charge, it dies even with the alternator running. And the people at sears tested it bad for me. Should I buy another optima? What other brands are there? I run a big stereo (1 400 watt amp, and 1 600 watt amp), and a msd 6AL and MSD blaster 2. What other batteries are out there? I can't go any bigger in size than the optima. Thanks, Mike
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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Optima has the worst warranty ever. My battery which I hardly used just went dead sitting on a shelf, I did periodically charge it with a professional charger. The valve in mine went bad so half of the cells went dead. They kept saying I overcharged it but that's impossible with the charger I have.
They are good batteries as long as they are OK, just don't expect Optima to step up when it comes to warranty
They are good batteries as long as they are OK, just don't expect Optima to step up when it comes to warranty
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Atascadero Ca
Originally Posted by DJ Dep
Since you have a heavy drain on the battery with all that stereo stuff,
why not get a SECOND battery with a switchable charging system to power the boom box?
Dep
why not get a SECOND battery with a switchable charging system to power the boom box?
Dep
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,508
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From: Wisconsin
Originally Posted by i885744
Where do i suggest putting a second battery? The other bin houses my emergency equipment. Fire extinguisher, hydraulic jack, tire iron, small tool kit, some wiring accessories. I'm not getting rid of any of that stuff.
Optimas aren't that great. Mostly just marketing. I don't really know what to get to hold up to the increase strain from a stereo. I usually try not to get anything with less than a 72 month warranty and a 2 year free replacement.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
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St. Jude Donor '08
I'm guessing that even with the 100 amp altrenator that the system is underpowered. An even bigger alt. may be necessary. The local state police have a Camaro (i should add this car didn't leave the factory as a police car it was convered into one) pursuit car that has the same problem. With all of the lights, radios on, and the engine running, the battery dies in about 20 minutes. The alt isn't putting out enough amps to run the epuipment so the system draws from the battery. Total system voltage went from 14v to 9.5v in about 20 minutes, engine running. It has left the car stranded at many stops and accident scenes. We told them it needs a higher amp alt., Chevy dealership said a bigger battery. Even though we had tested the entire electrical system and conclusively shown it was the alt., they went with the dealers desicion. Well, four months and 3 batteries later. They put on a high output alt. no more power problems.
P.S.The Chevy dealer here in town couldn't diagnose a bad knock sensor in an LS1 either.
P.S.The Chevy dealer here in town couldn't diagnose a bad knock sensor in an LS1 either.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
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St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by i885744
My optima won't even take a charge. I put it on my charger and it reads full. Even when the battery is totally dead
I have had a very good luck with interstate batteries, they have a great warranty.
Stay away from Napa batteries. We sell both at my parents shop, for every inerstate battery that goes bad, we get four or five bad napa batteries.
Last edited by jn76vette; Sep 16, 2004 at 01:15 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,921
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From: York PA
Originally Posted by i885744
Optima must have the smartest people alive working for them. My warrantee expired just 3 months ago on my red top. My battery is officially dead. It wouldn't hold a charge, it dies even with the alternator running. And the people at sears tested it bad for me. Should I buy another optima? What other brands are there? I run a big stereo (1 400 watt amp, and 1 600 watt amp), and a msd 6AL and MSD blaster 2. What other batteries are out there? I can't go any bigger in size than the optima. Thanks, Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,320
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From: Salem Oregon
;I have had a very good luck with interstate batteries, they have a great warranty.
Stay away from Napa batteries. We sell both at my parents shop, for every inerstate battery that goes bad, we get four or five bad napa batteries.;
Just a side note, Interstate, and optimas are made by the same company, johnson controls, and napa batteries are made by excide.
We picked up the sears account sometime back, because they had to many returns from excide. The plant I work at does not make the optimas but they go through our shipping dept, but I do make the Interstate. randy
Stay away from Napa batteries. We sell both at my parents shop, for every inerstate battery that goes bad, we get four or five bad napa batteries.;
Just a side note, Interstate, and optimas are made by the same company, johnson controls, and napa batteries are made by excide.
We picked up the sears account sometime back, because they had to many returns from excide. The plant I work at does not make the optimas but they go through our shipping dept, but I do make the Interstate. randy
Thread Starter
Pro
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From: Atascadero Ca
its not that huge of a stereo (or as dep would call it, my ricer "boom box"). I only have 1 8" sub, and 6 speakers. The front 4 speakers all fit in the dash and kick panels. The sub and the rears tuck nicely away in the back. I removed my 400 watt amp and am now driving them off of the head unit, they sound just about the same and draw less power. Anyway, even with running 400 watts less of power the car still has the same symptoms. I looked at yellow tops at sears, and they look like a good deal, but I'm concerned about their warrantee. The red top has a 3 year, while the yellow has 1 or 2, i can't remember. I have the same alternator in my 71 el camino, which has even more of a stereo with the same ignition setup, and it runs fine, so I'm pretty convinced its not the alternator.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Perhaps before tossing everyone's suggestions, you might MEASURE how much amps that boom box (and I never said RICER boom box) is drawing down. Take you car in to a reliable repair shop and ask them to check out the problem.
And a second battery with an automatic switchable relay is NOT brain surgery to install (Schmucker took the extreme route). Certainly a lot easier than installing all that audio stuff.
Dep
And a second battery with an automatic switchable relay is NOT brain surgery to install (Schmucker took the extreme route). Certainly a lot easier than installing all that audio stuff.
Dep
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Dayton Oh
[QUOTE=jn76vette]I have had a very good luck with interstate batteries, they have a great warranty./QUOTE]
I've got Interstates in my vette, two trucks, wife's and daugher's cars. They're about 3 years old and no problems yet. 
I've got Interstates in my vette, two trucks, wife's and daugher's cars. They're about 3 years old and no problems yet.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: parsippany nj
I think the Sears Die Hard gold battery has a better warranty than the optima and it costs a lot less. The die hard has either a 2 or 3 year free replacement and after that it is prorated for up to 5 years. It opnly costs $85. Th optima costs what---$130.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Viva Nash Vegas! TN
my optimas red top is just fine 
. I have a ten disc cd player and an amp running to the spaeker bar and front speakers. I ran through batteries like a champ every 12-18 mo.
then I changed the alternator...
. I have a ten disc cd player and an amp running to the spaeker bar and front speakers. I ran through batteries like a champ every 12-18 mo.then I changed the alternator...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
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From: Fremont CA
Optimas SUCK! I had 2 go bad after pro-rated warranty period of 2 yrs (red top batteries) but, luckily for me, the manager of the Speed Shop where I bought them, warrantied them anyhow. I currently use deep cycle racing batteries and have had great luck with my Odessey brand of race cell (they will even recover if you don't trickle charge them during storage.) I would install a high output alternator if I was into high output stereos, or EFI in my Vette. Here is a link to their site:
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/default.htm
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/default.htm