Optima Batteries - Who has had problems with them?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 55,394
Likes: 1
Optima Batteries - Who has had problems with them?
I'm begining to see some posts indicating problems with Optima batteries. i myslef have had one for abou 18 mos and I have been getting a low voltage message on the DIC when starting the car.
A friend of mine tracks his car and after 2 weeks, his car is completely dead if he had not started it in that time frame. And right now there is a post in the technical section about an owner with starting problems who also has an OPTIMA Battery.
Your thoughts? Experiences?
A friend of mine tracks his car and after 2 weeks, his car is completely dead if he had not started it in that time frame. And right now there is a post in the technical section about an owner with starting problems who also has an OPTIMA Battery.
Your thoughts? Experiences?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,372
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
No problems with mine, but I suppose a few bad ones could pop up with anything, Of course it could be a problem with something other than the battery too. I would have an electrical check done to pinpoint it.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,010
Likes: 1
From: SE Idaho
St. Jude Contributor
I have, but not on the Vette, it still has the stock Delco AGM battery. I have had two Optimas fail, one a red top, one a yellow top, both installed in off-road vehicles. One failed 35 miles into the White Rim Trail last year...like the middle of nowhere. The yellow top was about a year old. Lucky, I run a dual battery setup and the second battery; an Odyssey got me home. The bad yellow top was replaced with no questions asked.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
I've owned one Redtop. Had it in a off-road jeep.
What I DO remember is the owner information that came with it STRONGLY recommended the battery be removed from the vehicle every 6mos. and trickle charged for 24 hours whether it 'seemed' to need it or not.
I followed that advice religiously. Never had a problem with the $99-from-COSTCO battery.
During the period of ownership with Redtop installed I probably drove the car about one day per month, maybe two.
..rickko..
What I DO remember is the owner information that came with it STRONGLY recommended the battery be removed from the vehicle every 6mos. and trickle charged for 24 hours whether it 'seemed' to need it or not.
I followed that advice religiously. Never had a problem with the $99-from-COSTCO battery.
During the period of ownership with Redtop installed I probably drove the car about one day per month, maybe two.
..rickko..
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by C5naples
I have had an Optima for a year now with no problems. What's the alternative? A leaky Delco?
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I've had an Optima Red-Top 75/35 for about 18 months. there are times that my car sits for about a week at a time without starting. I've never had a single problem with the Optima.
Next time I have to replace any of the batteries in the other household vehicles, I won't hesitate for a minute to buy another Optima.
Next time I have to replace any of the batteries in the other household vehicles, I won't hesitate for a minute to buy another Optima.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,974
Likes: 6,773
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
I think I have 6 of them now--just put one in the '01 C-5 daily driver in Jan when the original Delco went belly up. My oldest Red Top is pushing 8 years old and still seems as strong as ever.
The only problem I ever had was one damaged somewhere enroute, since the factory packaging has deteriorated over the years (far less ultra-high density foam in the bottom of the box).
Any massed produced product will occasionally be faulty. But, it allows the product to be cheap enough to buy. I've bought all mine from Summit Racing (no Costco, etc. where I live) and a call to customer svc on a Friday night (really!) got a replacement for the damaged one shipped the next morning without question, only about a 15 second pause for a supervisor's approval. Some know how to do business!
Overall, I could not be more pleased with Optimas.
All the best.
The only problem I ever had was one damaged somewhere enroute, since the factory packaging has deteriorated over the years (far less ultra-high density foam in the bottom of the box).
Any massed produced product will occasionally be faulty. But, it allows the product to be cheap enough to buy. I've bought all mine from Summit Racing (no Costco, etc. where I live) and a call to customer svc on a Friday night (really!) got a replacement for the damaged one shipped the next morning without question, only about a 15 second pause for a supervisor's approval. Some know how to do business!
Overall, I could not be more pleased with Optimas.
All the best.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: burbank ca
I bought a costco redtop(made sure it was a fresh one) and it went totally dead in 3 months. I had a battery tender on it as well. It would not take a charge and acted like it was shorted out when I tried to charge it. I am on my second one now and I hope I do better this time around. The warrenty is good, but I just want something I don't have to mess with. I feel like the Michael Jackson jury, theres some strange stuff going on here! 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,404
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
I've had one of the "smaller" Optimas in my Camaro for 3-4 years. It, as well as my 2001 C-5, is stored in the winter. I put a charger on them for an hour or so every week, and start both cars every 2-3 weeks and let them warm up.
The Camaro's Optima started getting a little weak toward the end of last year. I just replaced it with a DieHard Gold. I realize that leaving the battery in the cars and connected probably isn't the best thing to do. However, disconnecting, re-connecting to start them, dis-connecting again, and reprogramming the radios, is just too much hassle. Hopefully, the red-top in the C-5 will last for a few more years.
The Camaro's Optima started getting a little weak toward the end of last year. I just replaced it with a DieHard Gold. I realize that leaving the battery in the cars and connected probably isn't the best thing to do. However, disconnecting, re-connecting to start them, dis-connecting again, and reprogramming the radios, is just too much hassle. Hopefully, the red-top in the C-5 will last for a few more years.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,522
Likes: 24,821
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I've had my red top for three and a half years now with no problems. If I know I'm not going to drive the car for a while, I do hook it up to a battery maintainer.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Topsham Maine
Red Tops
I'm on my third in two years. (great return policy) I have to go two weeks or longer sometimes due to business or weather, severe battery drain caused by proximity lock/unlock setting on the key fob. Every time it sat more than three days the battery was drained. (I now keep my keys somewhere more private) 2nd battery was just a dog, problems from day one. 3rd battery has been going strong for many months and seems to be the charm. I was never stranded, but it's very frustrating to be looking forward to the ride after a long trip and/or stretch of bad weather, only to hear nothing when the unlock button is pushed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
I reply on all the Optima posts with my troubles. I have 3. One red, one yellow, and one blue. The yellow cost me the most, but they don't make anything but a yellow top for this car. The problem came at 13 months and suddenly on a road trip it would not start after being turned off. No warning such as battery or alt. light. I then found out that yellow tops are only free replacement for 12 months and had to pay $70 for a new one. DO NOT BUY A YELLOW TOP UNLESS YOU WANT A SHORTER WARRANTY. Doug