Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

Jump start an Optima?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 10:12 AM
  #1  
Batmbl's Avatar
Batmbl
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: MS
Default Jump start an Optima?

I've been told by a reputable mechanic that jump-starting an Optima red top will fry the insides of that particular battery. Input?
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 10:16 AM
  #2  
diviniti's Avatar
diviniti
Drifting
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 0
From: AnnArbor Michigan
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Ive jump started a friends optima using a battery charger set on 'jump start'. Didnt seem to hurt it at all. Do you still have a warranty on the battery? Mine has a 3 or 4 year warranty, something like that from the auto parts store. If anything happens to it or it just doesnt hold a charge, they replace it for free.
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 10:17 AM
  #3  
Yoggi's Avatar
Yoggi
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,678
Likes: 34
From: Fayetteville GA
Default

I had to jump mine once. No problems for me yet.
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 10:24 AM
  #4  
MyVetteDream's Avatar
MyVetteDream
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Default

I won't hurt it buuuuuut...

There is a difference in the Yellow and Red Top though...
The Yellow is a deep cycle,.. it can be completely drained and recharged over and over. The Red one does not fair as well after having been drained completely. BTW, fully recharging one takes a long time.

FYI, per a Optima Rep.: It's a good idea to charge the battery once every 6 months, for about an hour. He sis to hook it up while vacuuming the car or such. Doing this, he told me he had one go 10 years.

$.02 deposited

Dave Q.
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 10:56 AM
  #5  
pewter99's Avatar
pewter99
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
St. Jude 15 Year Donor
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,216
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Default

hmmm.....interesting info
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 12:28 PM
  #6  
VRROOOM2's Avatar
VRROOOM2
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 0
From: Omaha Nebraska
St. Jude Donor '06
Default

Ok, on the subject of Red-tops... and not to steal the thread, ok...

How long does the charge hold in a Red-Top vs. a standard...

My standard is dead in 30 days or less... A red top will go how long before charging of any kind?? (I do use a tender when I think to put it on...lol...)
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 12:41 PM
  #7  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 366,679
Likes: 24,422
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 '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

I've jump started mine before - no problems with it and it is four years old.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2005 | 07:03 AM
  #8  
vettecop1125's Avatar
vettecop1125
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 2
From: Noblesville Indiana
CI 7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Default

I have to jump mine every spring the first few times I drive it.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Jump start an Optima?

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?

 Brett Foote
story-5

9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made

 Brett Foote




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:38 AM.

story-0
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE
story-1
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

Slideshow: Breaking down the 2027 Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Stingray, and LS6 V8.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-26 13:48:45


VIEW MORE
story-2
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

Slideshow: 5 reasons bad drivers crash sports cars & 5 ways to avoid a costly shame!

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-25 16:32:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

Slideshow: Check out these easy-to-install upgrades from Extreme Online Store that reshape the look and feel of the C6 Corvette.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-03-23 17:00:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?

There may be some big changes on the horizon.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-18 06:55:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)

Slideshow: 9 best Corvettes you can buy for half price (and 1 you shouldn't!)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-17 10:20:26


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026

Slideshow: 8 best Corvette of Amelia Island 2026

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-11 09:28:52


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!

Slideshow: Top 10 worst Corvette engineering failures

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-10 17:38:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)

Slideshow: 10 records the C8 Corvette generation has SMASHED (& 1 glaring failure).

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-02 11:16:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made

Out of the many Corvette concepts that exist, these are by far the wildest of the bunch.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-02 11:03:54


VIEW MORE