Problem with ret top optima :/
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Esher, Surrey
Problem with red top optima :/
Hi
I have problem with brand new optima in my 98 c5.
I had problem with charging i had to buy a new alternator with voltage regualtor. Before i`ve done that i drained the delco battery twice. So after about week- week and half it had problem with starting.
I thought - new battery = optima red top.
I got one , but then it got worse. The battery lasts max 5 days in car kepst in garage. After 5 days votage is 10 or less. Now i noticed that after 1-2 days the voltage drops to aroung 10.3 :/ Took the battery to have it replaced but they sasid it`s fine , on the bench it didn`t lose any power.
Now the key to the story . When i had optima getting checkt ( about 1,5 week) i put old ac delco in. And after those 10 days it still had 12.4 volts and started the car .
So what the h... is wrong with this optima :/ Shall i force them to replace it with new optima ?
Andy
I have problem with brand new optima in my 98 c5.
I had problem with charging i had to buy a new alternator with voltage regualtor. Before i`ve done that i drained the delco battery twice. So after about week- week and half it had problem with starting.
I thought - new battery = optima red top.
I got one , but then it got worse. The battery lasts max 5 days in car kepst in garage. After 5 days votage is 10 or less. Now i noticed that after 1-2 days the voltage drops to aroung 10.3 :/ Took the battery to have it replaced but they sasid it`s fine , on the bench it didn`t lose any power.
Now the key to the story . When i had optima getting checkt ( about 1,5 week) i put old ac delco in. And after those 10 days it still had 12.4 volts and started the car .
So what the h... is wrong with this optima :/ Shall i force them to replace it with new optima ?
Andy
Last edited by felga; Feb 5, 2008 at 03:27 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
I have a '98 as well. I put in a red top and have had no issues. BTW, my car is a daily driver, the most it sits is a day or two at the most. If your car is sitting for weeks I'd look into a battery tender. Bottom line - if the car sits and isn't driven any battery will drain.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
I put in a Optima Red top in my '98 last summer and haven't had any issues. It is my second car and sits for weeks at times and always starts up fine. FWIW, the first two batteries - both AC Delco's - never had any issues either under same circumstances - both lasted about five years before dying. I'd talk nicely to the Red Top folks, asks their suggestions/ thoughts. Sounds like you have something wrong going on.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,307
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
I put in a Optima Red top in my '98 last summer and haven't had any issues. It is my second car and sits for weeks at times and always starts up fine. FWIW, the first two batteries - both AC Delco's - never had any issues either under same circumstances - both lasted about five years before dying. I'd talk nicely to the Red Top folks, asks their suggestions/ thoughts. Sounds like you have something wrong going on.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Something else is wrong. Get is checked out.
On another car, my battery could never keep the charge. Finally got fed up, took the battery in and was told it was fine. Didn't believe them, so bought another one. The new battery did the same thing
When all was said and done, it was a computer module that was draining things. Go figure!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Esher, Surrey
That`s why i`ll try to replace this optima with new one. The guaratee sais that it should keep enought voltage to start it after year :O
If the my old delco would act the same then it`s voltage drain in a car, but because 10 year old battery keeps the power better than 2 month optima it`s not right.
Thanks, I`ll let You know asa i`ll have new optima.
Andrew
If the my old delco would act the same then it`s voltage drain in a car, but because 10 year old battery keeps the power better than 2 month optima it`s not right.
Thanks, I`ll let You know asa i`ll have new optima.
Andrew
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,329
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daily driver w/red top - will start everytime - however,,,,, if I sit and listen to the radio for 20 minutes with the car off - it won't start. If I leave the cell phone and its charger in overnight - it won't start.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
AGM batteries have a slower self-drain rate than wet cell batteries so it sounds like something is still wrong with your car. Do a search on "dark current" and investigate why your car is draining batteries so fast. In the meantime the best way to charge an AGM battery is a slow 2-amp charge. If you keep charging it over and over again with 10 or 20 amps because your car keeps killing it you will fry it. I think that is why some people think Optimas aren't good batteries. If you treat them right they will last much longer than a conventional wet cell but most people don't know how to charge them properly.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
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From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
optima red-top owner here:
the red top has a rather crappy standby time by battery standards. It specializes in applications that need strong cold cranking amps, unusual mounting positions and that need vibration resistance.
The yellow top has significantly better standby time and will last much longer sitting than a red top. I'm thinking about switching to a yellow top soom, but it's not a high priority since my car's a daily driver.
the red top has a rather crappy standby time by battery standards. It specializes in applications that need strong cold cranking amps, unusual mounting positions and that need vibration resistance.
The yellow top has significantly better standby time and will last much longer sitting than a red top. I'm thinking about switching to a yellow top soom, but it's not a high priority since my car's a daily driver.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Monrovia California
I had similar isues with a 2 week old red top I bought at pep boys they took it and charged it and tested it said it was ok I asked them to load test then re test on there system and bingo it failed gave me a new one repeated the test and that one was good I've had no issues played tunes wile changing out the shocks front & rear then a car wash and wax about 4 hours total sterio with sub at a moderate listening level and when i fired it up she cranked over like no tomorrow fired emediatly 6 months old now still no issues..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
Hi
I have problem with brand new optima in my 98 c5.
I had problem with charging i had to buy a new alternator with voltage regualtor. Before i`ve done that i drained the delco battery twice. So after about week- week and half it had problem with starting.
I thought - new battery = optima red top.
I got one , but then it got worse. The battery lasts max 5 days in car kepst in garage. After 5 days votage is 10 or less. Now i noticed that after 1-2 days the voltage drops to aroung 10.3 :/ Took the battery to have it replaced but they sasid it`s fine , on the bench it didn`t lose any power.
Now the key to the story . When i had optima getting checkt ( about 1,5 week) i put old ac delco in. And after those 10 days it still had 12.4 volts and started the car .
So what the h... is wrong with this optima :/ Shall i force them to replace it with new optima ?
Andy
I have problem with brand new optima in my 98 c5.
I had problem with charging i had to buy a new alternator with voltage regualtor. Before i`ve done that i drained the delco battery twice. So after about week- week and half it had problem with starting.
I thought - new battery = optima red top.
I got one , but then it got worse. The battery lasts max 5 days in car kepst in garage. After 5 days votage is 10 or less. Now i noticed that after 1-2 days the voltage drops to aroung 10.3 :/ Took the battery to have it replaced but they sasid it`s fine , on the bench it didn`t lose any power.
Now the key to the story . When i had optima getting checkt ( about 1,5 week) i put old ac delco in. And after those 10 days it still had 12.4 volts and started the car .
So what the h... is wrong with this optima :/ Shall i force them to replace it with new optima ?
Andy
The power seats some times can stay stuck on causing a drain or turning on your hatch area light if you have one by mistake.
I would not look at the battery as the problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 16,105
Likes: 473
that's good to know, thanks! i bought my red top because it was, well, red! (matches the car... 
) it wasn't a scientific decision...
red car + yellow battery = orange?
) it wasn't a scientific decision...red car + yellow battery = orange?
optima red-top owner here:
the red top has a rather crappy standby time by battery standards. It specializes in applications that need strong cold cranking amps, unusual mounting positions and that need vibration resistance.
The yellow top has significantly better standby time and will last much longer sitting than a red top. I'm thinking about switching to a yellow top soom, but it's not a high priority since my car's a daily driver.
the red top has a rather crappy standby time by battery standards. It specializes in applications that need strong cold cranking amps, unusual mounting positions and that need vibration resistance.
The yellow top has significantly better standby time and will last much longer sitting than a red top. I'm thinking about switching to a yellow top soom, but it's not a high priority since my car's a daily driver.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
The OPTIMA batteries are easy to paint any color you want. Just mask off the terminals and the round "vents" on top. I've painted them in the past because the oem red/gray didn't go well with the white/green of my car.
Doing so would probably cause problems with warranty, but I've never had that problem in any OPTIMA batteries I've owned.
Doing so would probably cause problems with warranty, but I've never had that problem in any OPTIMA batteries I've owned.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Esher, Surrey
But if the problem is in the car electrics the 10 year old ac delco wouldn`t last much longer , but it lasts 2 weeks easy ( remember it`s been draind fully when i had voltage regulator fault)
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
But if the problem is in the car electrics the 10 year old ac delco wouldn`t last much longer , but it lasts 2 weeks easy ( remember it`s been draind fully when i had voltage regulator fault)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Red Top in both my Tahoe and Corvette. Delco batteries crapped out on both vehicles, replaced with an Optima and never looked back. The Tahoe has sat for at least a month while I was gone, and the vette has sat untouched for at least twice that on one occasion routinely sits for 1-2 weeks, never had an issue with them, never used a charger or anthing.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Esher, Surrey
Ok. I asked optima guys to replace it. They agreed and since last saturday i have new 4.2 red top under bonnet. I didn`t touch car since. I checked today and it has still 11.5v 
SO it was faulty optima.
Thanks for attension.
Andrew
SO it was faulty optima.
Thanks for attension.
Andrew
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,466
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From: Fort Wayne IN
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I bet you still have something going on. 11.5v is too low. That battery should be maintaining 12.3-12.5 volts. Give it a couple more days and I bet you're down in the 10's again.