View Poll Results: My Optima Battery has:
Voters: 137. You may not vote on this poll
Optima Red Top Poll
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 1
From: Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Optima Red Top Poll
It seems to me that the only people who chime into the battery threads are the ones with defects, but I want to know how many people are happy with theirs because I am still considering one...
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
ChevyGuy, they don't leak all over your PCM and TACH module...that makes them worth more than other lead acid batteries that do leak.
I am on my second red-top so far....they only last about a year for me. I talked to a few of the guys at Advance Auto where I got mine and they said that the batteries don't like the cold. It makes sense since a gel-cell style (AGM) battery is usually more of a deep cycle type. Deep cycle don't like large drains and then high amperage charging (400+ amp start in cold weather and then XXXamp alternator charge on the way to work each day).
i have found that clipping a battery tender/low amp charger once a week in cold weather keeps the battery topped off.
I am on my second red-top so far....they only last about a year for me. I talked to a few of the guys at Advance Auto where I got mine and they said that the batteries don't like the cold. It makes sense since a gel-cell style (AGM) battery is usually more of a deep cycle type. Deep cycle don't like large drains and then high amperage charging (400+ amp start in cold weather and then XXXamp alternator charge on the way to work each day).
i have found that clipping a battery tender/low amp charger once a week in cold weather keeps the battery topped off.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Ringgold GA
I replaced an old battery w/ Optima 9 months ago. Over the past few weeks it got so it would not hold a charge. Last Saturday I got in the car and it wouldn't start. It had been driven 30/40 miles the day before.
Good news, free replacement. Brand new one installed, we'll see how this one does. With free 36 month replacement policy don't see how you can go wrong.
Good news, free replacement. Brand new one installed, we'll see how this one does. With free 36 month replacement policy don't see how you can go wrong.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 22,185
Likes: 65
From: NJ
The new Delcos don't leak either. And as far as a 160+ dollar battery only lasting a year.......HOLY CRAP!!!
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
Don't get me wrong, I hate the red tops...I'm just not putting in a lead-acid style battery right above my PCM...end of story.
As far as the new GM batteries not leaking...what style are they and what do they cost? I'll definitely consider them if I ever get out of my 3yr warranty free replacement stage with these red tops.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
3YR WARRANTY.
Don't get me wrong, I hate the red tops...I'm just not putting in a lead-acid style battery right above my PCM...end of story.
As far as the new GM batteries not leaking...what style are they and what do they cost? I'll definitely consider them if I ever get out of my 3yr warranty free replacement stage with these red tops.
Don't get me wrong, I hate the red tops...I'm just not putting in a lead-acid style battery right above my PCM...end of story.
As far as the new GM batteries not leaking...what style are they and what do they cost? I'll definitely consider them if I ever get out of my 3yr warranty free replacement stage with these red tops.
The AC Delco Professional battery carries a 50-month free-replacement warranty and is priced at approx. $90-$100.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
Especially with the number of postings I have seen from guys with problems with them along with the fact you need to go back to the original seller to get any warranty service. When was the last time you had a battery fail near the original sellers place of business??????I cant take my chevy car under warranty to ford
Why should i be able to take my diehard battery i bought at sears to walmart and let walmart eat the shipping cost back to diehard?
That makes no sense at all.
You always have to return to whom you bought it or the same chain of store.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 1
From: Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I haven't voted
The C5 is tough on batteries. There's a constant drain when its idle.
I had a great Red Top when it was a DD. It died when it sat on the ship for 2 months en route to England but I guess I wasn't surprised. It wouldn't recharge and again, I wasn't surprised. These batteries don't like being run right down. The Red Top in my sons Camaro did the same trip and fired right up on arrival.
I'd say if you look after it with a Bettery Tender, a Red Top will give you good service. Most importantly it wont leak.
Take a look at the stats on this poll I've had running for 18 months
Of 244 votes, 44 had problems or about 18%. Not great but not bad.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1469503
My Yellow Top has been great and its been in for about a year, only used at weekends normally.
The C5 is tough on batteries. There's a constant drain when its idle.
I had a great Red Top when it was a DD. It died when it sat on the ship for 2 months en route to England but I guess I wasn't surprised. It wouldn't recharge and again, I wasn't surprised. These batteries don't like being run right down. The Red Top in my sons Camaro did the same trip and fired right up on arrival.
I'd say if you look after it with a Bettery Tender, a Red Top will give you good service. Most importantly it wont leak.
Take a look at the stats on this poll I've had running for 18 months
Of 244 votes, 44 had problems or about 18%. Not great but not bad.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1469503
My Yellow Top has been great and its been in for about a year, only used at weekends normally.
Last edited by DeeGee; Jan 11, 2008 at 12:51 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 22,185
Likes: 65
From: NJ
All the time
I cant take my chevy car under warranty to ford
Why should i be able to take my diehard battery i bought at sears to walmart and let walmart eat the shipping cost back to diehard?
That makes no sense at all.
You always have to return to whom you bought it or the same chain of store.
I cant take my chevy car under warranty to ford
Why should i be able to take my diehard battery i bought at sears to walmart and let walmart eat the shipping cost back to diehard?
That makes no sense at all.
You always have to return to whom you bought it or the same chain of store.
They get reimbursed for warranty, the battery company pays, not the retailer.
Last edited by Chevy Guy; Jan 10, 2008 at 06:19 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 16,105
Likes: 473
My Red Top will go kaput if I accidentally leave the interior lights on overnight (8-10 hours). Ask me how I know this....
Wouldn't think the interior lights would kill the battery, but I guess it does.
That said, after a jump, it fires right back up and works perfect until....I leave the lights on again...
^!%$!^@@!! low light parking garages! I sometimes turn the lights on whle searching for something before getting out of the car. Duh.
My battery is ~3 years old now, FWIW. The Red Tops have lousy cable connections for jumping. Again, ask me how I know...
Wouldn't think the interior lights would kill the battery, but I guess it does.
That said, after a jump, it fires right back up and works perfect until....I leave the lights on again...
^!%$!^@@!! low light parking garages! I sometimes turn the lights on whle searching for something before getting out of the car. Duh.
My battery is ~3 years old now, FWIW. The Red Tops have lousy cable connections for jumping. Again, ask me how I know...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
From: DFW tx
My first red top lasted me 5.5 years, I replaced it with another one since my car would not start. I just assumed it was the battery since it was over 5 years old. Turns out it was the starter, so it would have lasted me longer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
The parasitic drain current is only 20 mA. A healthy battery should be able to sit in the car about a month with no problems. Anything longer than that and a battery tender should be used to keep the charge up and to prevent battery damage from a deep discharge.
I had two back Red Tops and the current one is going strong. The first one lasted about 3 months, and the 2nd one discharged when I got it home to the store so I took it back and demanded one with a good charge and a recent build date.
If you buy one, take a voltmeter with you. It should be showing 12.5 ~ 12.6 volts while on the store self. If not, don't buy it.
I had two back Red Tops and the current one is going strong. The first one lasted about 3 months, and the 2nd one discharged when I got it home to the store so I took it back and demanded one with a good charge and a recent build date.
If you buy one, take a voltmeter with you. It should be showing 12.5 ~ 12.6 volts while on the store self. If not, don't buy it.
Last edited by ZeeOSix; Jan 10, 2008 at 07:59 PM.