Took the RedTop dive today
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Palmetto FL
Took the RedTop dive today
Actually, my battery replacement started out with me originally deciding against the optima series since I keep hearing that they are problematic and die right after the 3 year warranty period, so after doing research settled on a Duralast Gold and picked one up at Auto Zone. While the folks there were very helpful, I did not have a good feeling since the first battery they put on the counter for me had acid right on top of it. They went back and found that “another” brand was leaking all over the Duralast ones under it.
I reluctantly took one of these batteries and stopped by the grocery store on my way home. I wiped off the battery before going into the store and when I came out 30 minutes later, the Duralast was leaking a bit right in the trunk of my family vehicle!
At that point, I realized that the lesser of evils was to go with a battery that won’t leak and take a chance of it dying early.
I can only hope that this optima will do good for me, noting that I will be using a trickle charger since I don’t get to drive the vette often. Time will tell…
I reluctantly took one of these batteries and stopped by the grocery store on my way home. I wiped off the battery before going into the store and when I came out 30 minutes later, the Duralast was leaking a bit right in the trunk of my family vehicle!
At that point, I realized that the lesser of evils was to go with a battery that won’t leak and take a chance of it dying early.
I can only hope that this optima will do good for me, noting that I will be using a trickle charger since I don’t get to drive the vette often. Time will tell…
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 3
From: Round Hill, VA
Well I have an optima yellow top for the last 6 years and it's been working great. I just came back from a year deployment and it still works. I think it will need to be replaced soon, but it still works for me. I'll still end up getting another yellow top since I plan to upgrade my sound system at some point in the near future.
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,293
Likes: 137
From: Hazel Green, Wi www.doubledmods.com
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Good luck
had a yellow top Optima
worst battery i ever had
went through 2 in a year
took it back and got an autozone gold plus 110.00 back in my pocket.
never had a problem since
had a yellow top Optima
worst battery i ever had
went through 2 in a year
took it back and got an autozone gold plus 110.00 back in my pocket.
never had a problem since
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area/Central Valley CA California
My redtop has been in the car since April 06, so more then 3 years before I bought the Z. I've kept it on a BatteryTender since parking it for the the first time in the winter of 09/10. No problems here. Took her for a drive today, fired right up.
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,293
Likes: 137
From: Hazel Green, Wi www.doubledmods.com
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Still as a suggestion you can use a battery tender and I always recommend it 
Enjoy the new battery!
Thanks,Matt
Enjoy the new battery!
Thanks,Matt
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 7,825
Likes: 0
From: Manassas VA
Another long-term red top user here, no problems in 5+ years. My first one failed because I failed to turn off the interior light. I didn't realize it until returning my 2nd replacement and driving home at dusk, realizing it was awful bright in the car... DOH!!! 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
I put in a Red Top Optima last year shortly after buying my car when I inspected under the non leaking 2 year old non AGM "Energizer" battery and found a broken A/C vacuum line and damaged paint.
Luckly my Silverado used the same battery and had a 5-6 yr old battery in it that was weak.
I won't buy a non AGM battery for the Vette again.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Have had two Red Tops in my last two C5s. In the '00, the battery was 7+ years old when I sold the car and it was working fine.
In my '03, the previous owner had bought the Red Top and a little over 3 years later the battery went south.
Last October I went with the DieHard Platinum - so far, so good, but it is pretty expensive.
In my '03, the previous owner had bought the Red Top and a little over 3 years later the battery went south.
Last October I went with the DieHard Platinum - so far, so good, but it is pretty expensive.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Like you I suffered from a leaking battery, although it damaged the garage floor not the car.
My son has a Red Top that has been in his Camaro since 2004 and its still going strong. It survived 8 weeks in transit from the US to UK on a ship and his car isn't a DD. It sits for weeks between use and starts first time.
The reason I use that as an example is because the Corvette has a drain but the Camaro doesn't. You've probably read all about it.
You dont say how you use your car but it's relevant. If its a DD you should have no trouble. If not, all you need to do is lookafter the battery. If the car will sit longer than 2 weeks at a time invest in a tender.
If more of us understood he characteristics of our cars and batteries there would be less posts about dead batteries.
BTW I have a 5 year old Yellow Top
Best of luck with the Red Top
My son has a Red Top that has been in his Camaro since 2004 and its still going strong. It survived 8 weeks in transit from the US to UK on a ship and his car isn't a DD. It sits for weeks between use and starts first time.
The reason I use that as an example is because the Corvette has a drain but the Camaro doesn't. You've probably read all about it.
You dont say how you use your car but it's relevant. If its a DD you should have no trouble. If not, all you need to do is lookafter the battery. If the car will sit longer than 2 weeks at a time invest in a tender.
If more of us understood he characteristics of our cars and batteries there would be less posts about dead batteries.
BTW I have a 5 year old Yellow Top
Best of luck with the Red Top
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
Had 2 Red tops in 3 years, went to a yellow lasted 3 days loner than the warranty. Optima "customer service" told me "TS". Last dime they'll get from me or anyone I can influence.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 240
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From: Tucson, AZ
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Hmmm, I thought the C5 had a 15 minute timer to turn off the light just in case they were left on?
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
I had the same situation with my yellow top Dennis notes above, however I replaced mine with a Sears Platinum. Never looked back.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
I'm on my 3rd red top. It's about 3 1/2 years old. If the car sits for more the a week, I will have a dead battery. I bought a large charger, 225 amp starting power, then 65,45,20 and 2 amp normal charge. It has a timer built in too. If I let the Vette sit for more then 4 days I just put it 2 amp charge for 45 min and she fires right up. I'm going to get every bit of life out of this red top.