Another dead Battery
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,764
Likes: 5
From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Another dead Battery
4 years out of this Optima Red Top. I might drive 500 miles per year 
Car usually gets the miles 1/4 mile at a time. 
When it's in the garage it's on a battery tender.
Can anyone tell me if this would be normal to kill a battery even with a tender on it?
Thanks
Car usually gets the miles 1/4 mile at a time. When it's in the garage it's on a battery tender. Can anyone tell me if this would be normal to kill a battery even with a tender on it?
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 4
From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Doesn't sound normal to me.........I also keep my red top on a phase charger. It's a 4yr. old battery also. Perhaps you have a dead cell?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,764
Likes: 5
From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
From: sedona az
I have had the same issues with Optimas. I keep them on trickle chargers now. Rarely get two years out of them. Had two die a few months ago. Put the red top from the vette in the DOA Jeep. Put a yellow top in the C5. Will see if it lasts longer. I put an Exide Orbital in the DOA Pantera. I am sick of DOA Optimas.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,655
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From: Jeffersonville In
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I just replace a four year old Red Top last Monday. Had fought with the damn thing for a year. If it sat for more that four days, get the charger out. In mho they are very over rated. I bought a Sears Gold for $100.00 with three year full replacement.
If you are going to stick with Optima, move up to the Yellow Top. Much better battery than the Red Top.
If you are going to stick with Optima, move up to the Yellow Top. Much better battery than the Red Top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
My stock battery is 4+ years old now. I drive my car about 3K a year and it sits unstarted with no charger for weeks and sometimes a month or more at a time. I have several other vehicles that are driven even less and go 3-4 months without being started or tender charged and all my batteries last at least 4-6 years and 2 of them are 8+ years old. Ive yet to have a battery be dead when I went to start one of my cars after sitting for up to 4 months at a time.
I can tell you id no way in hell ever buy a Optima. Everyone I know has to put a charger on them if they aren't started and charged every week or two. Thats just BS to have to do that with a battery.
I can tell you id no way in hell ever buy a Optima. Everyone I know has to put a charger on them if they aren't started and charged every week or two. Thats just BS to have to do that with a battery.
Last edited by briann510; Oct 2, 2007 at 08:49 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 1
From: Tigertown Ohio
Gotta agree here even though I have a red top ...Next will be exide when needed.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
Thats just not right. You have a amp draw somewhere and need to get out the ohm meter and track it down. Some stereos/amps draw enough with car off to drain battery over a few weeks.
Last edited by briann510; Oct 2, 2007 at 10:18 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
From: Mount Juliet Tennessee
My car was doing the same thing after letting it sit there for almost two weeks O would try to start it and the battery ws dead. Then I found out that my glove box was bent to where it was always on you just couldnt see it. so look around and make sure that everything is working properly you just never know.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 2
I went through 3 red tops, and a yellow top...would never buy another Optima. I've had a Delco now for almost 2 years....no problems.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,764
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From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Funny how things go. When I purchased the Optima red Top a few years ago, almost everyone said it was the best battery out there. Today the complete opposite is true And not just here on the forum. I wonder what changed at Optima 
I have a buddy at Chevy, that will hook me up with a new Delco.
Since I race the car more than I street drive it, the Sears battery is out due to the extra 11lbs of weight. I'll pick it up Thursday when I have a few minutes to play.
Thank you all for your input. I appreciate it and will STAY AWAY from the Optima. 
Today the complete opposite is true And not just here on the forum. I wonder what changed at Optima I have a buddy at Chevy, that will hook me up with a new Delco.
Since I race the car more than I street drive it, the Sears battery is out due to the extra 11lbs of weight. I'll pick it up Thursday when I have a few minutes to play. Thank you all for your input.
I appreciate it and will STAY AWAY from the Optima.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
From: Lower Lake Ca
I've been using Die Hards for years with great success. The one in the car is about 3 yrs old, sits for weeks some times and pushes a power hungry stereo when it's running. It always starts quickly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
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From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: San Diego CA
Funny how things go. When I purchased the Optima red Top a few years ago, almost everyone said it was the best battery out there. Today the complete opposite is true And not just here on the forum. I wonder what changed at Optima
I have a buddy at Chevy, that will hook me up with a new Delco. Since I race the car more than I street drive it, the Sears battery is out due to the extra 11lbs of weight. I'll pick it up Thursday when I have a few minutes to play.
Thank you all for your input. I appreciate it and will STAY AWAY from the Optima.
Today the complete opposite is true And not just here on the forum. I wonder what changed at Optima I have a buddy at Chevy, that will hook me up with a new Delco.
Since I race the car more than I street drive it, the Sears battery is out due to the extra 11lbs of weight. I'll pick it up Thursday when I have a few minutes to play. Thank you all for your input.
I appreciate it and will STAY AWAY from the Optima. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
At least, unlike my AC Delco in the Camaro, they dont leak all over the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Longview Texas