View Poll Results: How Has Your Battery Performed?
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 778. You may not vote on this poll
Whats Your View On Battery Performance?
08-14-2006, 09:04 AM
#21
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Originally Posted by BiggieBoy
No--it's certainly not 
.
As part of the "Anti Red Top Gang" I voted, but, I had to vote "I have another battery and it is working well." As you know, you don't have a catagory for 'Former Optima Owners who dumped their batteries due to problems, and now have another brand." Therefore, these unhappy former Optima owners cannot vote in your pole (or perhaps, voted as I did). So, unfortunately, we're not getting the full picture here. Nevertheless, your pole is still interesting. Good luck...BB
. As part of the "Anti Red Top Gang" I voted, but, I had to vote "I have another battery and it is working well." As you know, you don't have a catagory for 'Former Optima Owners who dumped their batteries due to problems, and now have another brand." Therefore, these unhappy former Optima owners cannot vote in your pole (or perhaps, voted as I did). So, unfortunately, we're not getting the full picture here. Nevertheless, your pole is still interesting. Good luck...BB
Interesting results this time around
A lot more happy AC Delco owners despite the known problems. Also not as many people who had catastrophic failures.
These polls are never very scientific but it puts some of the battery threads in context.
08-14-2006, 09:08 AM
#22
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I've had my Red Top for almost 2 years with no trouble.
09-02-2006, 12:32 PM
#23
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I'm still reading threads of Red Tops that are dying but thats not borne out here
A 30% failure rate on AC Delcos doesn't look too good.
Come on you guys with bad Red Tops VOTE
A 30% failure rate on AC Delcos doesn't look too good.
Come on you guys with bad Red Tops VOTE
09-02-2006, 12:50 PM
#24
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2004 AC/Delco died in less then 2 years with less then 5k miles. Probably died from lack of use. Optima Red Top now and will go with a baterry tender if I do not drive the car more.
09-02-2006, 03:44 PM
#25
Race Director
My Red Top started to act like it was in it's death throes - after 32 months. I went to Costco - bought a brand new one and took the old one back to them. They refunded my full purchase price, plus the recycling fee - and I have a brand new one with another three years of warranty.
I am very pleased with the Optima and so much so that I bought one for the DD - Blazer.
Desert heat really takes a toll on batteries....ALL BATTERIES! I don't care which one we talk about, Delco, Exide, Optima, Die Hard...I've had them all and not one has ever lasted more than about three years, and most much less than that. Spare me the lectures on battery maintenance - I have responsibility for two large Diesel gen-sets (1250KW Detroit Diesels) and the batteries for a large 10K square foot data center - I'm no expert on batteries but I do understand what causes failures, and heat is the leading cause.
The first thing I did when I bought my car almost 3 years ago was get rid of the Delco and bought a Red Top. I didn't want to take a chance with the Delco leaking. The Red Top never did, and it never left me stranded. My car gets driven about once a week, and the Red Top never failed to start the car. It sits in a garage where in the summer time, the ambient temps are over 120 degrees.
Take what you will from my story - but I'm sticking with Optima.
I am very pleased with the Optima and so much so that I bought one for the DD - Blazer.
Desert heat really takes a toll on batteries....ALL BATTERIES! I don't care which one we talk about, Delco, Exide, Optima, Die Hard...I've had them all and not one has ever lasted more than about three years, and most much less than that. Spare me the lectures on battery maintenance - I have responsibility for two large Diesel gen-sets (1250KW Detroit Diesels) and the batteries for a large 10K square foot data center - I'm no expert on batteries but I do understand what causes failures, and heat is the leading cause.
The first thing I did when I bought my car almost 3 years ago was get rid of the Delco and bought a Red Top. I didn't want to take a chance with the Delco leaking. The Red Top never did, and it never left me stranded. My car gets driven about once a week, and the Red Top never failed to start the car. It sits in a garage where in the summer time, the ambient temps are over 120 degrees.
Take what you will from my story - but I'm sticking with Optima.
09-02-2006, 04:01 PM
#26
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '05
Just purchased an Optima Red Top from Costco a few months back. Yes, even after all the negative threads here. Battery has been flawless so far and it is not a daily driver. It sits sometimes for a week or more (approx. time most here seem to see problems) before I can get to go for a cruise. No issues whatsoever.
I am a little skeptical with most of the negative reports here, as much as we mod our cars. From what I understand these batteries (Optima) are prone to weakness due to parasitic voltage drainage. I'm very curious to know how much hacking was done to the electric systems (due to stereo systems, alarms, etc.) on the cars experiencing problems with the Optimas
I am a little skeptical with most of the negative reports here, as much as we mod our cars. From what I understand these batteries (Optima) are prone to weakness due to parasitic voltage drainage. I'm very curious to know how much hacking was done to the electric systems (due to stereo systems, alarms, etc.) on the cars experiencing problems with the Optimas
09-03-2006, 05:56 PM
#27
Burning Brakes
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After buying my car I had the delco battery pulled and the Optima red top put in just as a precaution. No problems with the Optima. Works great even after winter storage.
09-09-2006, 09:19 AM
#29
My car came (used) with a Delco which I thought was working just fine. After seeing all the posts here about the Delco I proactively replaced mine with a redtop. Later my car was in an accident and the right front fender was replaced. The dealer showed me where a battery had been leaking and the redtop wasn't the culprit.
09-09-2006, 09:20 AM
#30
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Originally Posted by Blue Lion
My car came (used) with a Delco which I thought was working just fine. After seeing all the posts here about the Delco I proactively replaced mine with a redtop. Later my car was in an accident and the right front fender was replaced. The dealer showed me where a battery had been leaking and the redtop wasn't the culprit.
09-09-2006, 10:18 AM
#31
Team Owner
I'm happy with Delco batteries. I got 10 years, 10 months out of the Delco battery in my 85 Oldsmobile. The Delco battery that is in my 65 Corvette is right at 6 years old.
09-22-2006, 08:15 PM
#33
Burning Brakes
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Replaced the delco in my 02 right after purchasing the car last year just to void any potential problems. Bought a Optima Red Top. Store the car five months a year due to winter - car started right up in the spring. No problems.
09-23-2006, 05:31 AM
#35
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Our 03 Anny still has the original Delco with no leaks and no issues. I do keep a battery maintainer on all of the toys during there winter nap. Each spring the toys come back to life with no issues at all. In fact I must be real lucky when it comes to batteries. My 1995 S-10 still had its original Delco in it when I sold it last year, and my 2000 S-10 also still has its original Delco in it and running strong.
The only battery issues, I've had are with the water toys, was using Die Hards, but they only last one season, even with all same care the Delco's get, so I've switched away from the Sears junk. They used to be real good years ago.
The only battery issues, I've had are with the water toys, was using Die Hards, but they only last one season, even with all same care the Delco's get, so I've switched away from the Sears junk. They used to be real good years ago.
09-23-2006, 09:12 AM
#36
Burning Brakes
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Just put in a Optima Red top a few days ago. It was even made Sep 06. The battery that was in it was the Delco from the factory in 99 & was still going strong.
09-23-2006, 10:40 AM
#38
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '03
Mine is rather strange because the car wasn't put into service for almost 2yrs after manufacture. It sat in a shop during that time and had the battery replaced under warranty (delco for delco). I'd had it about 2 1/2 yrs when it went out again. It went out on a Sat after the service dept had closed. I bought the Optima and GM reimbursed me for the entire amount. Here in AZ heat batteries only last about 2 yrs on average.
09-23-2006, 11:16 AM
#39
Safety Car
The original Delco, in my 2000, never leaked and had my first hard start (slow crank, but did start) just shy of 6yrs. Recharged, and was fine, but replaced 1 month later, as it was 6yrs old. Replaced with a DieHard Gold, been perfect for the last year. Only driven about 4k this last year.
I went with DieHard for convenience, and warranty (100/36). I've used them over the years and have always had good luck.
I went with DieHard for convenience, and warranty (100/36). I've used them over the years and have always had good luck.
