Optima question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Optima question
Got a question about my two year old red top Optima -
Installed in 99 DD. All systems appear good with voltage on gauge and message center in mid 13s to 14V.
Battery ops generally fine but occasionally recently the battery has run down and will not start the car. This occurred on two occasions after listening to the radio for 10 min or so with engine off. On one occasion it ran down after a couple of short trips.
It recharges quickly and then is fine for a couple of weeks.
Your thoughts, please on what's going on.
Tks
Installed in 99 DD. All systems appear good with voltage on gauge and message center in mid 13s to 14V.
Battery ops generally fine but occasionally recently the battery has run down and will not start the car. This occurred on two occasions after listening to the radio for 10 min or so with engine off. On one occasion it ran down after a couple of short trips.
It recharges quickly and then is fine for a couple of weeks.
Your thoughts, please on what's going on.
Tks
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 110
Likes: 4
From: Southeast Michigan
I stopped using optima batteries always had issues with cars being parked over winter even tho i had battery tenders on them . You should still have warranty try to exchange it or get a regular battery .
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,063
Likes: 104
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
completely with 8vette7. gel batteries don't take kindly to being discharged. the one i had in my 78 pace car went dead when the glove box light switch failed and took it all the way down. it was so discharged that my high tech charger didn't even recognize it as being there when connected and wouldn't automatically switch itself into charge mode. i would up hooking it by battery cables to my running second car for about 15 minutes to get a minimum charge into it and then i could get the charger to switch to charge mode. it took well over 12 hours to bring it back to life (admittedly it was the only time it happened and the battery worked perfectly after that for almost 4 years). unlike some other members here, i am a big fan of them and have had great success with the several i have bought over the years.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 420
From: Taildragers rule! USA1
Optima is not a "gel" battery. It is AGM. Completely different.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
Here is one at a good price.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BatteryMINDer-12-Volt-2Amp-Battery-Desulfator-Charger-Maintainer-2012-AGM-/121321354120?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item1c3f50f388
You may be able to revive your Optima with a BatteryMinder if you keep it on for a month. What everyone said about parasitic loss is true.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
Here is one at a good price.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BatteryMINDer-12-Volt-2Amp-Battery-Desulfator-Charger-Maintainer-2012-AGM-/121321354120?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item1c3f50f388
You may be able to revive your Optima with a BatteryMinder if you keep it on for a month. What everyone said about parasitic loss is true.
Last edited by ztheusa; Apr 21, 2014 at 05:16 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
AGM batteries have different recharge specs too, make sure the charger your using is rated for AGM batteries.
Here's one article:
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/g...a_agm_battery/
Here's one article:
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/g...a_agm_battery/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
You're supposed to hook up another battery in parallel with the optima when you're recharging from a discharged state
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 2
From: Holland Landing Ontario
[QUOTE=ztheusa;1586713562]Optima is not a "gel" battery. It is AGM. Completely different.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
I disagree with this statement. I have used my Battery Tender Pro for many years on my Optima with no issues. The battery is in its 9th year.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
I disagree with this statement. I have used my Battery Tender Pro for many years on my Optima with no issues. The battery is in its 9th year.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
[QUOTE=4 KRUSIN;1586719173]
Me too BUT, the issue is how to recharge a DISCHARGED AGM battery. Read the article I posted above, a regular battery tender won't revive a low voltage AGM without some "dancing".
Optima is not a "gel" battery. It is AGM. Completely different.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
I disagree with this statement. I have used my Battery Tender Pro for many years on my Optima with no issues. The battery is in its 9th year.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
I disagree with this statement. I have used my Battery Tender Pro for many years on my Optima with no issues. The battery is in its 9th year.
Me too BUT, the issue is how to recharge a DISCHARGED AGM battery. Read the article I posted above, a regular battery tender won't revive a low voltage AGM without some "dancing".
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 20
From: FLORIDA
[QUOTE=4 KRUSIN;1586719173]
I also had Optima Battery for 7 years and used a cheap Harbor Freight battery tender and never had any discharge or other issues.
Optima is not a "gel" battery. It is AGM. Completely different.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
I disagree with this statement. I have used my Battery Tender Pro for many years on my Optima with no issues. The battery is in its 9th year.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
I disagree with this statement. I have used my Battery Tender Pro for many years on my Optima with no issues. The battery is in its 9th year.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 718
From: Black Forest CO
I've used a regular Deltran Battery Tender on my Optima and it has lasted fine. That Optima Red Top now 9 years 3 months old and counting.
[QUOTE=4 KRUSIN;1586719173]
[QUOTE=4 KRUSIN;1586719173]
Optima is not a "gel" battery. It is AGM. Completely different.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
I disagree with this statement. I have used my Battery Tender Pro for many years on my Optima with no issues. The battery is in its 9th year.
Also, a "Battery Tender" is poor choice to keep on an AGM battery, or any battery. Much better would be a BatteryMinder AGM, which is highly sophisticated and will keep a Optima fresh for a decade.
http://batteryminders.com/details.php%3Fprod%3D2012-AGM
I disagree with this statement. I have used my Battery Tender Pro for many years on my Optima with no issues. The battery is in its 9th year.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
[QUOTE=7LitreC5;1586719500]I've used a regular Deltran Battery Tender on my Optima and it has lasted fine. That Optima Red Top now 9 years 3 months old and counting.
AGAIN, as long as the battery never gets too low, a regular tender is fine, it's when it get's too low the tender won't work.
AGAIN, as long as the battery never gets too low, a regular tender is fine, it's when it get's too low the tender won't work.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
My Sears battery charger has a switch for selection of AGM or Standard battery types. AGMs like a bit more current when charging from a discharged condition.
That being said, I must also remind everyone that any non-AGM battery you buy, today has a strengthened case, especially near the terminals. As such the chance of having a leak is extremely slim. The Walmart MAXX battery, at less than $100 is a great battery for our C5s. Why spend more?
That being said, I must also remind everyone that any non-AGM battery you buy, today has a strengthened case, especially near the terminals. As such the chance of having a leak is extremely slim. The Walmart MAXX battery, at less than $100 is a great battery for our C5s. Why spend more?
Last edited by Dave68; Apr 22, 2014 at 06:00 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 718
From: Black Forest CO
Actually I have accidently completely trained this Optima twice in its life and it still works fine.
The 6V Optima in my wife's Model A has been completely drained 4 or 5 times and it also still works fine. I've had to tinker around with it to get it to accept a charge and have always been able to do so. This one is only about 5 years old though.
[QUOTE=3boystoys;1586720648]
The 6V Optima in my wife's Model A has been completely drained 4 or 5 times and it also still works fine. I've had to tinker around with it to get it to accept a charge and have always been able to do so. This one is only about 5 years old though.
[QUOTE=3boystoys;1586720648]