Delco 
Delco "Professional" vs. Optima Red Top
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Grand Ledge MI
Delco "Professional" vs. Optima Red Top
A friend of mine with an '03 convertible and I were comparing batteries the other day. Mine is an '00 convertible and I was concerned about replacing the battery to avoid the leak problem. We both have the Delco Professional 6-year warranty battery. We believe my battery was replaced before I bought the car, and will not give the problems the original Delco did. I was going to purchase an Optima Red Top. Anyone have experience with the Delco Professional?
BTW, I learned from my dealer that the problems with the original Delco's were due to the terminal bolt(s) they used being too long, thereby cracking the battery casing when tightened down.
BTW, I learned from my dealer that the problems with the original Delco's were due to the terminal bolt(s) they used being too long, thereby cracking the battery casing when tightened down.
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Not sure just how good the Delco battery is. I can say though that the Optima is very good.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: North Carolina
If that Delco doesn't say on the top that its an "AGM", then you have a wet cell. I'd change it out as soon as you can. If its a Delco AGM, then your faced with the unexpected problem of when will it crap out.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
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From: Naples Florida
Originally Posted by MAC5
If that Delco doesn't say on the top that its an "AGM", then you have a wet cell. I'd change it out as soon as you can. If its a Delco AGM, then your faced with the unexpected problem of when will it crap out.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 476
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From: Anchorage AK
The original Delco in my 99 lasted 5 years. It never leaked, but just wouldn't hold a charge anymore. From what I have heard, many of the leakage problems were caused by over tightening the terminal bolts. I don't know about the AGM other than there have been a lot of problems with them. I went to an Optima Red Top.
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From: Western NY
Originally Posted by mfh4
BTW, I learned from my dealer that the problems with the original Delco's were due to the terminal bolt(s) they used being too long, thereby cracking the battery casing when tightened down.
If, however, your dealer was correct, and the bolts were too long, what a screw up! Side terminal batteries have been OE in GM cars for how long....can you say almost 30 years???
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Joined: Mar 1999
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From: delmont pa
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Originally Posted by leadfoot4
This is kind of scary, because if the bolts are too long, they'll probably damage any other replacement battery also. However, if the threaded portion of the OE Delco battery's terminal was not of sufficient depth, that's a whole different scenario.
If, however, your dealer was correct, and the bolts were too long, what a screw up! Side terminal batteries have been OE in GM cars for how long....can you say almost 30 years???
If, however, your dealer was correct, and the bolts were too long, what a screw up! Side terminal batteries have been OE in GM cars for how long....can you say almost 30 years???
