It's guys like you that caused Costco to ammend their return policy on computers. 
Down On Red Tops
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,437
Likes: 59
From: Bay Area (Danville) CA
If someone told you that you could exchange your battery for a free one no questions you would jump on it in a heartbeat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I've had 2 redtops leak battery gel on me and now I'm on my 3rd... they're replaced them for free everytime which is why I keep using them. This one's lasted over a year.
The first one was leaking on the shelf of Autozone... I pointed it out, they said they'd get one from another store and to come back the next day... well they just put the damn thing back on the shelf, cleaned it up, and sold it to me.... man was I hot when I saw it eventually leaking in the same place... I have the store manager a piece of my ear and called corporate... they agreed to potentially pay any repair costs to the PCM if it was damaged. Luckily I had no issues, caught it early, and thing the gel might not be an issue like normal battery acid.
Then the 2nd one leaked... well turns out I was over cranking the batter pedestal mount... the pressure would stress the battery case at the bottom and cause it to seem.
Now I'm on my 3rd and took care not to overtighten the side post terminals or the base mount and all is perfectly fine.
The first one was leaking on the shelf of Autozone... I pointed it out, they said they'd get one from another store and to come back the next day... well they just put the damn thing back on the shelf, cleaned it up, and sold it to me.... man was I hot when I saw it eventually leaking in the same place... I have the store manager a piece of my ear and called corporate... they agreed to potentially pay any repair costs to the PCM if it was damaged. Luckily I had no issues, caught it early, and thing the gel might not be an issue like normal battery acid.
Then the 2nd one leaked... well turns out I was over cranking the batter pedestal mount... the pressure would stress the battery case at the bottom and cause it to seem.
Now I'm on my 3rd and took care not to overtighten the side post terminals or the base mount and all is perfectly fine.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente CA
Well, I'll post up a good story about the Optima Red Top. Bought mine in October 2001 and it is still working just fine. Keep a battery tender on it when the car sits for a while. Optima has had its share of problems according to the forum lately, but mine has served me very well. Some forum members have made the switch to the Exide Orbital.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,437
Likes: 59
From: Bay Area (Danville) CA
"just buy a new one" suggests that i don't fuss and go buy a new one
you didn't say i can't afford one but i did , regarding the "just buy a new one comment"
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
C5 General
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,391
Likes: 0
From: Boosted in Manhattan & Round Rock TX. President of the Non Club Club of Kansas and Round Rock , Not the flat part.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 6
From: Lake Oswego, Near Portland Oregon
The Red TOp is designed for high cranking power, but does poorly with constant drain and discharge. The Yellow Top and competing Exide Orbital are much better at holding up with discharge and re-charging from a heavily discharged state. i'm on my 2nd Red Top, but never again, will go Exide when this RedTop fails....C5s are always on, the radio receiver for the key fob, alarm, etc, and they will discharge a battery in a few weeks. A trickle charger 'Tender' left on the battery if the car is lto left un-run for more than a week is a good solution.....good for most batteries, and esential with RedTops. THis can be a rela problem if the car goes into the bodu shop for a few weeks...If you have them disconnect the battery, it won't suffer from drain-discharge, but the back-up memory in the radio will likely die and and then you should expect to reenter the the security code in your radio to have tunes! What a hassle!!!!
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
I replaced my leaking OEM Delco with a RedTop three years ago and have had no problems with it. I also never considered that I had paid a "premium price" for it. $110 doesn't fit my definition of premium price. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville Georgia
Well count me as a disappointed Optima Red Top Owner. I bought my 2000 coupe in October of 2005. Stored it for the winter with no battery tender and the original Delco Battery. Would start the car every couple weeks and let it run till the engine was warm. It never even gave a hint of not wanting to start. Spring of last year when the car came out of storage checked the battery and found it beginning to leak at the posts. Went out and got a red top as many said it was the best. Car ran fine all summer and put it back in storage in November. I have been doing the same thing I did last winter as far as starting the car every couple weeks. This afternoon I went out to start it and there was not enough juice in the Red Top to start the car. Looks like I payed a premium price for an inferior product 
. If anyone asks me for battery advice I would not recommend Optima Red Tops!!
. If anyone asks me for battery advice I would not recommend Optima Red Tops!!
I was gonna consider the Yellow Top because It's more powerful- so I hear, but It doesn't match any of the Red under my hood. That stinks about your battery..I hope you get the Issue resolvedBest of luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,595
Likes: 59
From: Along the St. Johns
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '16,'22,'24
I've got 2+ years on my Red Top.
Just one point to consider, a leaking battery is very bad for Corvettes since the computers and major harnesses are below it. The Red Top routes the side terminals OVER the side of the case, not through it. It is therefore very unlikely to ever leak.
Just one point to consider, a leaking battery is very bad for Corvettes since the computers and major harnesses are below it. The Red Top routes the side terminals OVER the side of the case, not through it. It is therefore very unlikely to ever leak.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,587
Likes: 0
From: Redding, CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
My 02 Corvette is not a daily commuter and I’m out of town a lot, so unfortunately she sits for a week and rarely two weeks at a time.
The original Delco went **** up last February after about 3 ½ years. I replaced it with an Optima Red top for the no-leak feature and because it had such a good warrantee and reputation. That battery only lasted 11-months with the same routine as the Delco. I was very disappointed with that lack of performance.
I took it back to AutoZone earlier this month and they put it one the tester. Of course the voltage dropped off the table and I was given a new one with only one question asked - my phone number.
Maybe the first red top was defective – I hope so.
The original Delco went **** up last February after about 3 ½ years. I replaced it with an Optima Red top for the no-leak feature and because it had such a good warrantee and reputation. That battery only lasted 11-months with the same routine as the Delco. I was very disappointed with that lack of performance.
I took it back to AutoZone earlier this month and they put it one the tester. Of course the voltage dropped off the table and I was given a new one with only one question asked - my phone number.
Maybe the first red top was defective – I hope so.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
[QUOTE=Blowtorch;1558612429]I have had mine for going on 3 years and it has performed flawlessly...............
QUOTE]
Same here. In the red top variety, the one to have is the 34/78. Better than the 35/75.
QUOTE]
Same here. In the red top variety, the one to have is the 34/78. Better than the 35/75.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
#1 is the warranty
~3 years
30,000miles
100F to -40F (in a sunfire).
daily driver with a ~65 Amp power draw potential stereo.
No problems.
Parked it one winter, never started, 6 months, up to -40F....then it died.
Got a new one for the Z for around 1/2 price due to 10 year prorated warranty. (3 year free replacement)
IMHO can't beat that!
30,000miles
100F to -40F (in a sunfire).
daily driver with a ~65 Amp power draw potential stereo.
No problems.
Parked it one winter, never started, 6 months, up to -40F....then it died.
Got a new one for the Z for around 1/2 price due to 10 year prorated warranty. (3 year free replacement)
IMHO can't beat that!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
[QUOTE=LoneStarFRC;1558707639]These two part numbers for what looked like the same battery application caught my eye when I purchased my 35/75 red top. Can you explain the difference. I had thought the 34/78 was replacing the 35/75.