Here's a new twist on a familiar topic... I wanted to put a fresh battery in my S-10 4x4, as winter is finally here, and I despise a vehicle that won't start. I went to my local AC Delco warehouse distributor, and discussed batteries with my good friend who works there.
He told me that they were geting good feedback from the field on the Delco Platinum sealed batteries (AGM). They had one in an 800 CCA version, so I bought it. I took it home, and just for grins, put the volt meter on it... 10.9 volts. I slow charged it for 35-40 minutes, it read 12 volts, so in the truck it went.
Get in truck, turn key, click..click..click. Put charger back on for another 45 minutes, this time truck starts. Drive around for 25-30 minutes, park truck. Next morning, truck turns over OK, but won't fire up. Charge battery for 30-40 minutes, truck fires up and is good for the rest of the day. Next morning, truck again turns over but won't start. Take AGM out, put OE battery back in, and truck fires right up. Take AGM battery back, and truck now has 770 CCA "conventional" battery.
At this point, all of the Optima fans will jump in and sing a chorus of "I Told You So". However, I have one major problem with an Optima. I don't care for the dual connection set up. I'm too concerned that I might somehow knock the cover off the secondary positive post and weld a wrench or pair of pliers to something under my hood. I've had Optimas in other cars, and they've performed in a satisfactory manner, but I've always been wary of the extra, unused posts. Secondly, there are no stores in my area that carry the regular sized Optima. One of the chain stores in my area has recently started carrying the "small" Optima, but they don't have the big one, plus they're $34 more than the Delco AGM.
Yeah, I know, you're thinking, "But the Optima works!!" I agree, but the Delco should also...they guarantee it for 8 years. When I took mine back, they said it was the first return they had seen. The only reason that I didn't try another AGM was beacuse they had run out of them. They sold 8 or 9 of them in two days.

 

I have read many comments expressing concern about the unused posts. When all cars had top posts, how often did people have problems? Not too often is my recolection. I, for one, am not concerned about the exposed posts - they come in handy for chargers, etc. They do look odd but I am now used to them. :thumbs:

 

I did with the chrome battery cover. Seems us Corvette guys like to dress up the engine bay. So I went with the AC/Delco AGM and have not had any problems.

Tom
USAF Retired

 

When GM first came out with the side posts, you could go into an auto parts store and they would always carry a no-name battery line that was considerably cheaper than rest. Among the corners cut to give the battery it's price advantage was its having top and side posts to save on the number of different models made. While the Optima is certainly a quality battery, the extra posts give it a no-name cheap look to my eyes.

 

Hey Leadfoot,

I don't want to burst your bubble, but it sounds like you did not charge the Delco AGM battery enough prior to putting in your truck. A reading of 12.0 volts (car not running) is less than 20% charged. A reading of 12.8 volts (car not running) is 100% charged. The AGM Delco battery is highly rated and will work fine if charged properly.




[Modified by ProDesign, 11:55 PM 12/4/2002]

 

ProDesign,
I could be wrong, but I would think that after driving the truck for a couple of hours with a fully functioning alternator, the battery would be "fully charged". At that point, the battery should be capable of holding a sufficient charge overnight, so I could start the aformentioned vehicle the next day. It didn't, and the "old" battery did, so it appeared that the battery was somehow "defective".

Secondly, if the battery was indeed "good", and fresh, it should have read at least 12 volts at the outset. It didn't. The place where I bought it is the warehouse distributor for AC Delco and Motorcraft parts in the Rochester, NY area. Their parts sales volumes are HUGE, nothing sits on the shelf for very long in that place, therefore nothing has a chance to get "stale". They had 9-10 of these AGM batteries on Monday, when I got mine, and none on Wednesday when I went back. They did a load test on the battery, and while it didn't fail the test, it barely passed. This is not acceptable for a brand new battery.

My bubble isn't burst, everyone makes a bad part now and again. This time, it was my turn to get the bad one.......

 

You weren't very fair to your AGM. You really need hours to recharge a rundown battery.

And, it is possible to get a bad battery (even a new one), so why condemn the whole line for what "may" have been one bad apple?

Also, if you are worried about the unused top posts on an Optima battery you can always cover them with liquid vinyl, or rubber.

Here is some information on recharging batteries!

http://www.batterytender.com/catalog...ingbasics.html

:cheers:


[Modified by wwashing, 8:54 AM 12/5/2002]

 

Wwashing,
I'm by no means a long time member on this forum, however in the year and half that I've been here, the Delco AGM battery has taken far more shots than the ONE that I gave it.
Also, I wasn't condemming the line. I'm all for new technology, and would have tried another one if the parts house had another in stock. They didn't, and they weren't positive on when their next shipment was due. I had already made up my mind that my truck was getting a new battery THAT WEEK, since I was off from work, so I took the next best alternative.

 

AC Delco model 78P7YR for 97 to 00 and 75P7YR for 01 to 03 Corvettes.

 

I have heard that if the AGM sits on the shelf for too long without being charged (we're talking months and months here) they will die. I have the AGM battery in my 99 Vette, and have been very pleased with it. I did NOT have to charge it when I bought it. The car has sat for close to 2 weeks and fired right up without any problems. Try another one, I'm sure you'll be happy in the end.

 

As JR Vette well said, "I did NOT have to charge it when I bought it". I kind of expected that from a new battery. Better yet, had I not owned a battery charger, like most motorists, I really would have had a problem.

 

Why would you be concerned about the top posts on a battery? When you buy the battery you get the post covers with it in case you don't want to use the top mount, no problem there. I for one need both top and side mounts for stereo and other electronics connections. I also happen to own three Optimas', two Yellow Tops and one Red Top. They all perform wonderfully. Oh btw, my Yellow Tops put out 1,497 CCA tested under load. :D

You did the right thing taking that battery back, you shouldn't have to charge a brand new battery just to start your truck.

 

I am happy with my factory installed AGM. The piece of mind in knowing it will not leak over the computer is warming. I play the stereo for an hour while cleaning car weekly, engine is off, and never fails to start.

 

I did a search on the subject and found more problems with the Optima than the Delco AGM. Consider that there are a thousand times more AGM's than Optima's. Maybe you did get a bad one or maybe you didn't charge it correctly. I don't know. Hope your new battery works out okay :cheers:

 

:iagree: