Battery: What wrong with A/C Delco...Why Optima??
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Battery: What wrong with A/C Delco...Why Optima??
I think my battery is going.......
I see all these posts about battery replacement but nobody seems to recommend the stock AC Delco replacemnet ??? It has 690 cold cranking and has worked for almost 4 years on my car. Cost is $119
The Optima Redtop is 720 cold cranking and costs $179 and seems to be frequently recommended.
DH
I see all these posts about battery replacement but nobody seems to recommend the stock AC Delco replacemnet ??? It has 690 cold cranking and has worked for almost 4 years on my car. Cost is $119
The Optima Redtop is 720 cold cranking and costs $179 and seems to be frequently recommended.
DH
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 2
From: Haymarket VA
CI 7-8 Veteran
There was an issue with the AC Delco batteries that came with the cars where they would leak onto the cluster of wires just beneath the battery, really fracking with the electrical system. I believe that they fixed that with the 04s on up but the Optima Red Top became the de facto standard around here because of it.
If you do a search on leaking battery here on the forum I'm sure you'll find lots of info on it.
If you do a search on leaking battery here on the forum I'm sure you'll find lots of info on it.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
There was an issue with the AC Delco batteries that came with the cars where they would leak onto the cluster of wires just beneath the battery, really fracking with the electrical system. I believe that they fixed that with the 04s on up but the Optima Red Top became the de facto standard around here because of it.
If you do a search on leaking battery here on the forum I'm sure you'll find lots of info on it.
If you do a search on leaking battery here on the forum I'm sure you'll find lots of info on it.
DH
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I just posted up asking what others are using in their '04's. My stocker has died at least 6 times over the past five months, and when it does stay charged, I notice little electrical things that aren't right, like my HUD display will keep resetting to the default page, and the averages continue to reset to 0.0, as well as the battery guage will fluctuate whereas it did not before. The Red and Yellow Tops have been known to hold a charge through long gaps in use. The Yellows are particularly good when you have a monster stereo that you like to run while the car is off, like at shows or even regular cruises. They can drain and recharge many, many times with little effect to their longevity, unlike the stock Delco. Red Tops seem to have been the preferred daily replacement, and I do have one in my '71. It will sit for months and crank like it came off the road yesterday. I checked today at Sam's (Red top is $142 btw) but could not find the '04 Corvette in the battery catalog. I'm hoping several will reply to my thread with what they have used in their '04's, since we have that odd cable set-up for the top post batteries...
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Davisburg MI
I just posted up asking what others are using in their '04's. My stocker has died at least 6 times over the past five months, and when it does stay charged, I notice little electrical things that aren't right, like my HUD display will keep resetting to the default page, and the averages continue to reset to 0.0, as well as the battery guage will fluctuate whereas it did not before. The Red and Yellow Tops have been known to hold a charge through long gaps in use. The Yellows are particularly good when you have a monster stereo that you like to run while the car is off, like at shows or even regular cruises. They can drain and recharge many, many times with little effect to their longevity, unlike the stock Delco. Red Tops seem to have been the preferred daily replacement, and I do have one in my '71. It will sit for months and crank like it came off the road yesterday. I checked today at Sam's (Red top is $142 btw) but could not find the '04 Corvette in the battery catalog. I'm hoping several will reply to my thread with what they have used in their '04's, since we have that odd cable set-up for the top post batteries...
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
I just posted up asking what others are using in their '04's. My stocker has died at least 6 times over the past five months, and when it does stay charged, I notice little electrical things that aren't right, like my HUD display will keep resetting to the default page, and the averages continue to reset to 0.0, as well as the battery guage will fluctuate whereas it did not before. The Red and Yellow Tops have been known to hold a charge through long gaps in use. The Yellows are particularly good when you have a monster stereo that you like to run while the car is off, like at shows or even regular cruises. They can drain and recharge many, many times with little effect to their longevity, unlike the stock Delco. Red Tops seem to have been the preferred daily replacement, and I do have one in my '71. It will sit for months and crank like it came off the road yesterday. I checked today at Sam's (Red top is $142 btw) but could not find the '04 Corvette in the battery catalog. I'm hoping several will reply to my thread with what they have used in their '04's, since we have that odd cable set-up for the top post batteries...
DH
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I had an Optima but it died at 2 years old. I replaced it with an Exide Orbital which looks just like the Optima in that it has the spiral technology. I got it at Sam's last year for $99.00. I noticed that Sam's is now selling Optima but they are $159-179.
I am very happy with my Exide which has 1000 amps and is guaranteed for 9 years. I had never seen a warranty that long before.
I am very happy with my Exide which has 1000 amps and is guaranteed for 9 years. I had never seen a warranty that long before.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
The '04's went to a top post battery and have a different battery cable end that bends up and over the top edge of the battery. I'm trying to find out what the recommended replacement(s) are for the '04's. I can't seem to find out!
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 114
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
I went with an Optima even though some have had issues with it. The problem I had with getting an AC Delco replacement was that no supplier carried the AGM version, only the dealer. And if you think the Optima is costly, check the cost of a replacement battery from a dealer. I wanted AGM for the "spill proof" feature. Just take a quick look under your battery, an acid spill there would be a nightmare. For me the Optima has performed flawlessly, when it dies, I'll be replacing it with another one. YMMV
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 0
From: Broken Arrow OK
I also bought one of those $60 batteries from Wallyworld. Six months later it leaked and ate up my air conditioner vacuum lines. Cost to repair = $200. This was the second time it happened, the first time being with the original Delco battery. Then I bought an Optima Red Top, since I just couldn't afford any more of those cheap batteries.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,562
Likes: 1
From: (Temporarily) Colorado Springs Colorado
The Optima Red Top totally sucks ... do not ever buy one ... and I am saying NEVER! They claim a 3 year 100% replacement ... but try getting it replaced when you have moved and can't return it to the original place you bought it from. Even their web page says, "Take it back to where you bought it" ... if not call and we will tell you where to go.
I bought mine in Colorado Springs, Colorado from Advance Auto ... I am currently in New Mexico where there isn't an Advance Auto. I called their toll-free number and was told to take it to "so-and-so" in this town. I called them and I need to take the battery to them, they will send it to Interstate, they will charge it and tell me what they will do. I've already done that once, and the battery died in about one week sitting in the garage. DO NOT WASTE YOUR $$$$$ ON THIS BATTERY AND THEIR GUARANTEE go to Sears and buy their Platinum battery for $179.00 and have a 4 year 100% replacement and you can go anywhere to have it replaced.
I am so mad at this Optima Red Top I will make it my life mission to post this on every battery posting on this forum and every other Corvette Forum on the net.
I bought mine in Colorado Springs, Colorado from Advance Auto ... I am currently in New Mexico where there isn't an Advance Auto. I called their toll-free number and was told to take it to "so-and-so" in this town. I called them and I need to take the battery to them, they will send it to Interstate, they will charge it and tell me what they will do. I've already done that once, and the battery died in about one week sitting in the garage. DO NOT WASTE YOUR $$$$$ ON THIS BATTERY AND THEIR GUARANTEE go to Sears and buy their Platinum battery for $179.00 and have a 4 year 100% replacement and you can go anywhere to have it replaced.
I am so mad at this Optima Red Top I will make it my life mission to post this on every battery posting on this forum and every other Corvette Forum on the net.
Last edited by The Wanderer; Jul 6, 2007 at 08:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Well after shoping around and wanting to have one in hand as I needed a jump 2 days ago I stoped by the local GM dealership on the way home.
The guy sold me the 68-7yr ACDelco for $100 flat !!!! Thats $80 less than the RedTop.
I compared to my original and here is what I noticed.
1. Both say 68-7yr
2. The old one has a glass eyehole and what looks like 2 access lids on the top but says "NO Service"
3. The new one says 690 cold cranking the original 590
Now my car was bought in Dec 2003 so is the current battery waranteed? If so how does it work. I should check this out before I remove the wrapping from the new battery......
DH
The guy sold me the 68-7yr ACDelco for $100 flat !!!! Thats $80 less than the RedTop.
I compared to my original and here is what I noticed.
1. Both say 68-7yr
2. The old one has a glass eyehole and what looks like 2 access lids on the top but says "NO Service"
3. The new one says 690 cold cranking the original 590
Now my car was bought in Dec 2003 so is the current battery waranteed? If so how does it work. I should check this out before I remove the wrapping from the new battery......
DH
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,561
Likes: 33
From: Clark NJ
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
