Took the RedTop dive today
#1
Racer
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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…
#2
Drifting
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.
#3
Former Vendor
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
#4
Racer
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.
#6
Former Vendor
#7
Team Owner
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
#8
Racer
Any type of "AGM" battery. You only have to repair one acid leak on your vacuum line to never by acid batteries again.
#10
Le Mans Master
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!!!
#11
Burning Brakes
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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.
#13
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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.
#14
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I am on my second Red Top and haven't had any problem.
#15
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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
#17
Instructor
#19
Corvette C5 Enthusiast
I had the same situation with my yellow top Dennis notes above, however I replaced mine with a Sears Platinum. Never looked back.
#20
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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.