Second Optima Battery Went Bad!!!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jun 12, 2006 | 06:36 PM

#41

TEXHAWK0

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 8,847

Likes: 795

From: Longview Texas

Convert to top post and go back to a Delco battery.

Get rid of the cheap (not inexpensive) Optima!

Since the 2004 models went back to top post, at least that solves the problem with leaks. Except for leaking terminals, I have had good luck with Delco batteries.

Jun 12, 2006 | 09:27 PM

#42

ken-rx

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 970

Likes: 3

From: brooklyn ny

Where is it written that these things are so great?Mine died in a year. Sear diehard lives on, and on and on.

Jun 13, 2006 | 05:44 AM

#43

leadfoot4

Team Owner

Joined: May 2001

Posts: 87,321

Likes: 1,586

From: Western NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave68

Nooooooo! Your 2001 came with a leakproof AGM battery. I hope you didn't trade it in! I remember when I bought my 01 - I was always reading about how everyone should immediately scrap their factory battery and get an Optima. Fortunately, I checked my factory battery and found it to be an AGM (glass mat), which happens to be leak and vibration-proof. I guess it's a good thing I didn't scrap it, as it is still doing fine, 5 years later.

I gave it to a friend...He used it for a 12 volt source in his snowmobile/ATV trailer. It lasted a year or so for him.

Jun 13, 2006 | 11:48 AM

#44

Laguna Blu

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 7,155

Likes: 154

From: The Arid Sunny Desert

My uncle owns a marina and after speaking with an Optima Rep he ordered their deep cycle batteries. If they sat for more than a week they were stone dead!! Needless to say it was back to the conventional batteries for him.

Jun 13, 2006 | 01:40 PM

#45

Togo

Race Director

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 14,604

Likes: 3

From: Glendale, AZ

took this excerpt from another post here http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...1&postcount=18
because i'm lazy!

Quote:

2 cents - i just bought another optima for my 92! i even had to midify my cruise contol bracket to get it to fit!

i have optimas in ALL my vehicles - the reason - well i live in Arizona - and we all know how heat kills a battery - you'd be lucky to get 2 years out of a battery here in AZ - that being said, i had the optima in my truck for 7 years - and i had run it dead several times cuz i'm an idiot and left my lights on and such - with a jump, and my 50 mile commute home, the battery was charged and ready to go and started up under its own power - no external charger necessary.

not to mention - on any vehicle i have had an optima, i have never had to replace a battery cable due to corrosion (that green powdery substance that overtakes the positive cable on conventional lead acid batteries) - i had to replace a battery cable on my mustang due to corrosion - $200+ for a cable - dealer only item -
so with that in mind - ask again what battery i swear by!

and as mentioned - buy them at costco - i paid i think $109 just 2 days ago for a red top!

perhaps you guys that are killing your optimas have bad alternators????
i don't get it

Jun 13, 2006 | 01:42 PM

#46

C5 Curmudgeon

Race Director

Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 11,073

Likes: 0

From: South Joisey

I don't know if this is funny or sad, but I'll bet that a lot of the battery "experts" who were quick to recommend Optima Red Tops every time someone asked for a replacement battery recommendation are now whining about how the Optima sucks.

Conclusion? Take any advice on this forum with a BIG grain of salt.

Jun 13, 2006 | 01:56 PM

#47

hotwheels57

Race Director

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 10,554

Likes: 33

From: Not on either liberal coast.

The 34/78 OPTIMA red top in my '55 Chevy hotrod lasted almost seven years for me and is probably still being used by the new owner. I had four years on the 34/78 OPTIMA in my '57 Chevy hotrod when I sold it.
I've never had the failure that some have experienced. I used a BATTERY TENDER specific for OPTIMA batteries during the winter months of storage to maintain a full charge.
OPTIMA specifies a charging rate of no more than 1 amp as the heat from higher amp will damage the battery. OPTIMA suggests that in most cases, a "failed" OPTIMA is more likely just severely discharged rather than defective. Follow their recommended procedure and it'll bring it back to life.

Take any advice on this forum with a BIG grain of salt.
That's sage advice for anything on the internet...

Jun 13, 2006 | 10:02 PM

#48

ROJ#79

Drifting

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 1,484

Likes: 20

From: FLORIDA

I believe the people that are having problems with there red tops is because they bought them from retailers that had them in stock for a long time. I bought mine from a distributor 2 years ago and never had any trouble at all with it. I do keep a battery tender on it in the winter months
I my opion they are a great battery!