Good advice. If your redtop won't hold a charge there might be a drain or charging problem. They're pretty good batteries.
Help!!! Dead Opitma
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 938
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From: Madison MS
Cruise-In III Veteran
Help!!! Dead Opitma
I haven't drive the car in a week or so, and my Optima Red Top is dead. I am not familiar with these batteries. I had it on a 1.5 AMP charger for a couple hours, I just don't think that my charger is big enough to give it enough juice. I hate to ask, but can the car be jumped off? If so, can I attach the cables to the top of the battery, or do they have to be where the connection is made on the side?
Thanks
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
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From: San Diego CA
AGM batteries like to be charged with 10-20 amps. In fact, AC Delco recommends 20 amps for their AGM batteries. You can jump the battery (top terminals are probably okay), but it's unlikely that a drive will charge the battery completely. If you don't have a strong enough battery, you should take it out of the car and to a place that does. Then, you should have your charging system and any possible drains checked for proper function/existance.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,217
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From: Introducing teh Offical Car of your dreams
Gotta be a drain or charge system problem.
Not to hijack your thread....but what is the difference between the Red Top and the Yellow Top Optimas ?
Price ? Amps ?
Not to hijack your thread....but what is the difference between the Red Top and the Yellow Top Optimas ?
Price ? Amps ?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by Dave68
AGM batteries like to be charged with 10-20 amps. In fact, AC Delco recommends 20 amps for their AGM batteries. Good luck!
But the Optima is not a Delco AGM. Optima's should not be charged at more than 10 amps with a battery charger.
"Battery charger:
13.8 to 15.0 volts, 10 amps maximum, 6-12 hours approximate."
"All limits must be strictly adhered to"
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publi...cal_specs.html
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Depending on how discharged it is, it could take up to 2 days to get a full charge with a 1.5 Amp charger. I have a Battery Tender Plus and it can take 12 hours or more to regain a full charge if the car has been sitting for a week or more. It once went dead after about a month of no use with the alarm set and it took over 2 days to get a full charge. The low amperage is the main reason for the slow charge.
If I leave the alarm off, I have minimum battery drain so I leave the charger on it if I plan on not driving it for a while with the alarm set. Let the charger do it's job before you take it back for replacement. Optima will honor the warranty if you find it is defective.
If I leave the alarm off, I have minimum battery drain so I leave the charger on it if I plan on not driving it for a while with the alarm set. Let the charger do it's job before you take it back for replacement. Optima will honor the warranty if you find it is defective.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
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C54-the red top is their regular battery. The yellow top is for cars with higher drains--stereo add-ons, etc. Go to Optima's webpage and they'll explain it all. The red top is good enough for most of us here, myself included.
Willsco--I agree with the earlier posts regarding your battery. Good luck.
Willsco--I agree with the earlier posts regarding your battery. Good luck.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Whitefish Bay Wi
dead optima battery
I have a friend whose red top battery regularly went dead when parked for more that 2 days (98 C5 vert). He finally found out the cause. He left the keys in the ignition in the garage and apparently the interior lights remained on. Removed keys..problem solved. Has anyone else had this same issue? 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 938
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From: Madison MS
Cruise-In III Veteran
Thanks for the advice. I took it to Advance Auto Parts, they told me it was dead, and wouldn't take a charge. I am not sure what has drained it.
Now the bad news, I couldn't find my receipt. I took it back to the same location I bought it, which at the time was a Discount Auto Parts. Discount got bought out by Advance Auto Parts. My record of purchase is not in the system any longer since the buyout a year and a half ago. The manager wouldn't exchange it. I even decribed what the Optima display in the front of store looked like, and one of the salesmen remembered that. I sent an e-mail to the corporate customer service department explaining everything, so I should be getting a call from the regional manager soon. Hopefully he will make it right.
Now the bad news, I couldn't find my receipt. I took it back to the same location I bought it, which at the time was a Discount Auto Parts. Discount got bought out by Advance Auto Parts. My record of purchase is not in the system any longer since the buyout a year and a half ago. The manager wouldn't exchange it. I even decribed what the Optima display in the front of store looked like, and one of the salesmen remembered that. I sent an e-mail to the corporate customer service department explaining everything, so I should be getting a call from the regional manager soon. Hopefully he will make it right.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,084
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From: Stop staring at my azz!!!! IL.
Originally Posted by willsco
Thanks for the advice. I took it to Advance Auto Parts, they told me it was dead, and wouldn't take a charge. I am not sure what has drained it.
Now the bad news, I couldn't find my receipt. I took it back to the same location I bought it, which at the time was a Discount Auto Parts. Discount got bought out by Advance Auto Parts. My record of purchase is not in the system any longer since the buyout a year and a half ago. The manager wouldn't exchange it. I even decribed what the Optima display in the front of store looked like, and one of the salesmen remembered that. I sent an e-mail to the corporate customer service department explaining everything, so I should be getting a call from the regional manager soon. Hopefully he will make it right.
Now the bad news, I couldn't find my receipt. I took it back to the same location I bought it, which at the time was a Discount Auto Parts. Discount got bought out by Advance Auto Parts. My record of purchase is not in the system any longer since the buyout a year and a half ago. The manager wouldn't exchange it. I even decribed what the Optima display in the front of store looked like, and one of the salesmen remembered that. I sent an e-mail to the corporate customer service department explaining everything, so I should be getting a call from the regional manager soon. Hopefully he will make it right.
Glad to hear that it turned out to be the battery,good luck getting it replaced
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 447
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Are you in Ms? I didn't realize Discount had any stores in Ms?
Call the store that wouldn't help you and ask for the phone number to their regional office. You will reach a regional secretary and explain to her that you have a battery that you purchase from Discount etc and you cannot get it warrantied. Ask her to speak with the Division Manager responsible for that store, if he will not satisfy you then contact the regional office again and ask to speak to the RVP which is the Regional Vice President. Be polite and courteous...it always gets you farther than asking like a jerk in my opinion.
PM me if you have any problems reaching someone.
Call the store that wouldn't help you and ask for the phone number to their regional office. You will reach a regional secretary and explain to her that you have a battery that you purchase from Discount etc and you cannot get it warrantied. Ask her to speak with the Division Manager responsible for that store, if he will not satisfy you then contact the regional office again and ask to speak to the RVP which is the Regional Vice President. Be polite and courteous...it always gets you farther than asking like a jerk in my opinion.
PM me if you have any problems reaching someone.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 6,516
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From: One Hour From Boston!
The website says:
"In the event of failure, retain your original receipt for proper issuance of credit. Claims without proper identification of purchase date will result in adjustment from the date of manufacture."
I would think if it was manufactured less than 3 years ago, you should still be able to get a free replacement.
"In the event of failure, retain your original receipt for proper issuance of credit. Claims without proper identification of purchase date will result in adjustment from the date of manufacture."
I would think if it was manufactured less than 3 years ago, you should still be able to get a free replacement.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,407
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From: HONOLULU HAWAII
Originally Posted by sharpvet03
Glad to hear that it turned out to be the battery,good luck getting it replaced
BTW, the Yellow top is a deep cycle battery which can withstand many discharges and charge right back up. As already mentioned it is ideal for vehicles with aftermarket stereo systems requiring more power. I use it as my car sits for several weeks sometimes between drives. It has started up every time sometimes after 5 weeks of sitting.