Freakin' Optima Red Top! [vent]
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: 2 miles from Jim Beam Kentucky
I was gonna ask about Diehard. I have used them for years and every one of them has been great.
I have an old Ford lawn tractor, built in the 80's. The Diehard battery in it is 7 years old and cranks everytime.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I put in a re-mand battery just as a stop gap solution until I purchased a brand name one but 6 months later and that re-mand battery that I paid $45 for has given me zero problems. Sometimes brand name items aren't the only solution.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 22,663
Likes: 943
I've never bought into the optima hype. When my GM battery went on vacation I got an Napa Spiral Glass whatever made by Exide (same as Exide Orbital). I went with it because of all the stories of acid leaks into the computer and wiring harness, no other reason. I drive the car about every other week, when I don't need to be in my truck. Never charged it, no trickle charger connected, nothing. No problems whatsoever.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
You are, indeed, correct! It is well known that the voltage can drop on any battery if the vehicle is allowed to sit without being started and driven on a regular basis. In fact, such an incident may occur when a vehicle is out of commission whilst undergoing lengthy automotive services, such as that experienced during extensive auto-body repair that may begrudgingly encompass many weeks. Consequently, the depleted battery (low voltage signature), may then induce, not only the undesirable "Column Lock" gremlin, BUT, also cause the BCM and DIC to display numerous unwarranted Trouble Codes, again, due simply to only the low voltage. Advice: Get a good fresh battery. And, if you are to keep the vehicle inoperable for any extended length of time, be sure to start the car up periodically to maintain the charge in the battery. Lastly, I have Red Top Optima Batteries in all my vehicles. And, the Red Top Optima in my 2001 C5 is SIX YEARS OLD, and, still going strong. Good Luck to You!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 2
From: San Diego California
The Optima Red for has been in my Vert for 5 years and I leave the car sitting for weeks at a time (even months). I ask family or friends to start it up weekly but they forget sometimes. When I get home that baby starts up right away! So far I've been lucky. Thanks for the info, I've been lucky
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 955
Likes: 4
From: Union City, CA
My Optima Red Top died after 2.5 years of service in my 1988 IROC. I had purchased it from Sears and took it in to be replaced.
I learned that they no longer sell Optima. They gave me about 90% of what I paid for the old battery, so I could not complain.
I was bummed that they no longer carried Optima, thinking they are the "best" batteries out there.
The Optima was replaced with one of their new Platinum series' batteries that YO-EL mentioned. The IROC (which is a bitch to start) fires up like it did back when I bought in 1999.
Not that it is a controlled test, but I can say without a doubt that the Platinum battery fires up the car every time instantly. By instantly I mean it fires up A LOT quicker than the Optima ever did.
So far, so good.
It looks like my Z06 has the factory battery from 2004. It looks spotless and it fires up with no issues. I'll probably replace it in a few months just to be on the safe side.
From what I've been reading, it's not a bad idea to pick up a battery mat (dunno what they're called exactly).
Your guys' thoughts?
I learned that they no longer sell Optima. They gave me about 90% of what I paid for the old battery, so I could not complain.
I was bummed that they no longer carried Optima, thinking they are the "best" batteries out there.
The Optima was replaced with one of their new Platinum series' batteries that YO-EL mentioned. The IROC (which is a bitch to start) fires up like it did back when I bought in 1999.
Not that it is a controlled test, but I can say without a doubt that the Platinum battery fires up the car every time instantly. By instantly I mean it fires up A LOT quicker than the Optima ever did.
So far, so good.
It looks like my Z06 has the factory battery from 2004. It looks spotless and it fires up with no issues. I'll probably replace it in a few months just to be on the safe side.
From what I've been reading, it's not a bad idea to pick up a battery mat (dunno what they're called exactly).
Your guys' thoughts?
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
From: CA
I have a nearly new Wallyworld battery in my car. Don't snicker- batteries don't seem to last long in C-5's, and I think I know know why. WM is everywhere and they have a good warranty policy. Anyway, my new battery "died" last week, even with the trickle charger on it. Heres what I found. When I clamp the trickle charger clip on the terminal it only touches the cable. Well I found out the wire on the terminal bolt was loose even though the bolt was tight in the battery. Guess what, napacruzerc5 that was it exactly. I then cranked down the bolt and behold everything works as it should after months of screwing around with LDCM's and BCM's, taking the doors apart, banging on the doors, and much cussing, etc!!!
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Make sure it's charged. I also have solar panels installed. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 71
From: St. Jacob Illinois
Nothing but good luck with red tops.
I think a problem some may have is sometimes they dont sell to well @ 150 bucks. So check the date codes, I know of several instances when the battery has sit on the shelf for a good year.
I think a problem some may have is sometimes they dont sell to well @ 150 bucks. So check the date codes, I know of several instances when the battery has sit on the shelf for a good year.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Port Washington Wi.
I will add my two cents to this thread. Two years ago I replaced my orignal AC Delco with a Red Top. The AC Delco was beginning to leak so I was glad I replaced it. The Red Top was fine for a year then one day I am out for a drive and stop at my sisters, jump in the car and it won't start, its completely dead and will not even take a charge. I was kinda po'd because I had been hearing bad things about Red Tops. I take the battery back to the place of purchase and it tests just fine. I put the Red Top back in and make sure all the terminals are good and clean and that the side terminals make very good contact. I have not had a bit of trouble since.
I use a battery tender through the long winter storage period but not during the summer.
Bottem line is make sure you have good connections and I cannot say anything bad about the Red Top.
Good Luck to all in your battery purchases.
I use a battery tender through the long winter storage period but not during the summer.
Bottem line is make sure you have good connections and I cannot say anything bad about the Red Top.
Good Luck to all in your battery purchases.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,466
Likes: 886
From: Fort Wayne IN
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I have two one seven year old and one 5 year old optima right now. The 7 year old one is holding a charge in my garage while my T/A is down, and the 5 year old one is pulling duty in my vette, no issues noted with either.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
They are JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK!!!! I can't tell you how many threads I've read on this forum about this poor excuse for a battery. I also personally know 3 friends that all had them, and all had problems and got rid of them. To have to put a Tender on a battery that sits more than a week or two is just plain stupid.My stock Delco battery lasted 6 years, and I used to leave it for weeks, sometimes even month without starting it, and it started up everytime. I since have switched to an Orbital Excide and have had that for 2 years and it has been perfect. I put the Tender on it during the winter when the car is going to sit for more than 2 months at a time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 955
Likes: 4
From: Union City, CA
All my hardcore mobile electronics buds use the yellow top and swear by it.
Optima market's the Yellow Top's as the battery to use when you've got a huge aftermarket sound system, etc.
When purchasing batteries when they did offer Optima's, they never had Yellow Top's.
When it's time for a battery, I plan on sticking with their Platinum line with a 5 year warranty.
Optima market's the Yellow Top's as the battery to use when you've got a huge aftermarket sound system, etc.
When purchasing batteries when they did offer Optima's, they never had Yellow Top's.
When it's time for a battery, I plan on sticking with their Platinum line with a 5 year warranty.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
...same here with the Pro. The current generation of AC Delco Professional batteries are top of the line, have strengthened cases (no worries about leaks) and have the best free-replacement warranty in the business (50 months). My OEM AC Delco was still going strong when I replaced it at 7 years of age and I fully expect my new one to do the same.
Summit has side-mount AC Delco Professional batteries for $99. THAT is a great bang-for-the-buck!
Summit has side-mount AC Delco Professional batteries for $99. THAT is a great bang-for-the-buck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 5
Optima was not sold. Optima batteries are Johnson Controls, Inc.'s top of the line battery and the only one that they put their name on; all the other batteries that they make have someone else's name on it like "Interstate", etc.. Johnson Controls, Inc. makes over 90 percent of all batteries sold in the United States...everything from Optima, Interstate, the batteries sold at Walmart, they used to make all of the Sears batteries but I think Sears has a new source, at least for their Platinum series (Sears no longer carries Optima), and a whole lot of "house" brands. There are only a few battery makers in the United States (Johnson Controls, Inc., Exide, the company that makes the Platinum battery for Sears, & maybe a couple of more.