....Overpriced POS that has a long history of premature cell failure. Buy anything but an Optima 
Battery advice please
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: lorain Ohio
Battery advice please
Went to start the car and go figure needs a new battery. My quesiton is I know in the past I have read many posts about kinds of batteries to use. For some reason optima red top rings a bell but just curious if anyone could please chime in and mention what battery to get or just the same one that came in it from the factory. It's an 04. Thanks for any help.
Matt
Matt
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 20
From: FLORIDA
I have the Optima Red top in my '99 and I'm very happy with it.
It's been in for 3 years and all I do to it is but a battery tender on it for the winter when I'm in Florida. I purchased the tender at Harbour Freight for $8.oo on sale.
It's been in for 3 years and all I do to it is but a battery tender on it for the winter when I'm in Florida. I purchased the tender at Harbour Freight for $8.oo on sale.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
Since last summer I've tried 3 different batteries. The Red top was installed last summer. It just didn't keep the charge,,, Then I tried 2 other brands still same problem. I took the vette to the dealer to have it checked. What they found was that the cable bolts that attach to the battery were just a bit longer so it was not making a tight connection. I replaced that battery with a GM Delco battery 720.
Haven't had a problem since. If you are worried about the Delco leaking... I bought a battery pad just in case.. So I recommend you get the Delco battery, at least 720 amps..
Haven't had a problem since. If you are worried about the Delco leaking... I bought a battery pad just in case.. So I recommend you get the Delco battery, at least 720 amps..
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Take a look at this thread to decide how the various batteries perform
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1469503
My assessment for what its worth. I honestly think that many of the problems you see here are car not battery problems. The Vette is a power guzzler even when its switched off.
The AC Delcos have a very high failure rate although they are by far in the majority as the stock battery. The older ones leak and the damage is significant as the computers are under the battery tray. People say that the newer batteries have been improved. I've had a leaker and a early failure (at 8k miles) so they are not my favorite batteries.
The Optima Red Top is a great AGM battery (wont leak) but does not like being discharged. If you go for that get a Battery Tender. the Yellow Top should cope better with irregular use as its a deep cycle battery. Optima have a good warranty.
The Exide gets a good press and seems to have a low failure rate.
In any event, if your Vette is not a DD get a tender.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1469503
My assessment for what its worth. I honestly think that many of the problems you see here are car not battery problems. The Vette is a power guzzler even when its switched off.
The AC Delcos have a very high failure rate although they are by far in the majority as the stock battery. The older ones leak and the damage is significant as the computers are under the battery tray. People say that the newer batteries have been improved. I've had a leaker and a early failure (at 8k miles) so they are not my favorite batteries.
The Optima Red Top is a great AGM battery (wont leak) but does not like being discharged. If you go for that get a Battery Tender. the Yellow Top should cope better with irregular use as its a deep cycle battery. Optima have a good warranty.
The Exide gets a good press and seems to have a low failure rate.
In any event, if your Vette is not a DD get a tender.
Last edited by DeeGee; May 4, 2007 at 02:42 AM.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
From: boston ma
I too have the Optima Red Top Battery and I also had a "Battery Brain" installed onto it. If for some reason your Optima dies out (sometimes mine will drain low from playing the DVD for hours) this "Battery Brain" is a button which is located on top of the battery itself, you just push it and you get instant juice, enough to kick the car over.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Hasn't missed a beat yet. It's on a battery maintainer all winter if that makes a difference.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 0
From: South Glastonbury CT
St. Jude Donor '06
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: lambertville mi
delco's ok with me
I've had great luck with delcos in corvettes and my z28. I disconnect battery on nov 30, and reconnect early april and it always restarts on its own power. no battery tender! still original in 03-works fine good luck
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
I have always had good luck with interstate batteries. I have had a interstate in my 01 for 3 years no problems. Use a battery minder when setting for long periods. Also have had great luck with sears diehards in my other cars. A vette shop in my area recommended the interstate and said to stay away from the red tops. They have nothing but problems with them. I checked at a local repair shop in my area that stopped selling the red tops. Alot of problems he also recommended the interstate battery. I called corvette mike for a recommnedation also he recommended staying with delco and against the red top.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 947
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From: MS
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 21,734
Likes: 0
From: Charleston/Lake Villa IL
Had a yellow top for over a year before someone forgot to disconnect it during a winter storage (my parents had to move it). It died that winter. But after charging it for 40 mins it started up again and has been working ever since.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Having watched these threads for a long tme I think its more aproblem with the Vette than the battery. The Vette seems to have a constant drain. Couple that with a lot of cars that sit idle sometime for weeks on end and they may have after market audio units, charging devices and all sorts of things that pull a little power. If the battery isn't hooked up to a battery tender it goes flat.
The Red Top doesn't like being discharged to zero and seems to die at that point.
I've had Red Tops on both mine and my son's Camaro. Both cars were shipped to England last year. My sons fired up straight away. Mine was a s dead as a doornail. I tried recharging but no joy.
As a daily driver, my Red Top ran fine for 2+ years. Idle for 2 months and it was terminal. I now have a battery tender hooked up to a new Yellow Top which should cope with irregular use better.
The main advantage for me is that even dead, a Red Top will not leak, unlike the AC Delco I took out of the Camaro which left a small present ( battery acid on the tray).
I could be way off but just my thoughts.