Your opinion/experiences with an "optima" battery

[Beelzeburb]

I've got three Red Tops and never had a problem with any of them. In fact, the four year old one in my DD has been through three Phoenix summers and one 6000' elevation winter without a single hiccup. My roommates and co-workers in Pheonix were replacing regular lead acid batteries on practically a yearly basis.

I have a 2 year old Optima in one of my classic vehicles, and even if I do let it sit for weeks (or even a whole month) at a time it still has plenty of juice to crank the engine while waiting for fuel to get to the carbs.

Just bought one for the Suburban and I don't really expect any less of it.

[70cst]

I find this thread interesting as we have those who like and those who like not.

[1971short4X4]

optima - junk
odysea great
normal lead acid great

[falvarez12001]

I had a red top battery, had the truck in storage for a year in Southern CA, so no harsh weather. Every once and a while we would crank it up When I finally had it shipped to TX and got it running again I had to replace the battery I took it back to Auto Zone and the mysteriously could not find my warranty information. So I got screwed and bout another battery. That was my experience with a red top

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by rwolf9653

It seems as though these batteries are either good or bad, with no in between. I guess it is just a crapshoot as to which one [you] get and if you will be happy or pissed about it. I wonder if it is a difference in manufacturing, storage, care, etc.

I read through all of these responses & this one sums it up fairly well.

Optimas sound like a standard battery..... or a set of tires, shocks, springs, women, beer, soda . . ..... What's great for one might not be so for another. How's that old quote go: "one mans trash is another mans treasure".

[wwotr]

Nothing like Diagnosing a problem over the Internet!

My problems started 4 weeks ago, when the Horn in my 72 GMC Fleetside Shortbed went off. Went down and "rapped" on the Steering wheel and it stopped.
5 minutes later, the same thing.
Went down and disconnected the plug from the Horn.
Back to sleep.
After 3 weeks the Truck started cranking over more slowly, until one morning...NOTHING.
I threw in a new Optima Yellow top Battery last Thursday.
Drove the Truck for half the day on Friday without any problems/hesitation in starting.
Go down this morning and BARELY a crank!
Taking it to my Mechanic in awhile.

My thought is that the Horn contacts in the Steering wheel are broken and touching/grounding out (but I'm no mechanic).

So I thought I'd get YOUR opinions to pass the time before I take it in.

Roger
"RATIKLE"

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I read through all of these responses & this one sums it up fairly well.

Optimas sound like a standard battery..... or a set of tires, shocks, springs, women, beer, soda . . ..... What's great for one might not be so for another. How's that old quote go: "one mans trash is another mans treasure".

Probably easier next time to do a poll

Originally Posted by wwotr

Nothing like Diagnosing a problem over the Internet!

My problems started 4 weeks ago, when the Horn in my 72 GMC Fleetside Shortbed went off. Went down and "rapped" on the Steering wheel and it stopped.
5 minutes later, the same thing.
Went down and disconnected the plug from the Horn.
Back to sleep.
After 3 weeks the Truck started cranking over more slowly, until one morning...NOTHING.
I threw in a new Optima Yellow top Battery last Thursday.
Drove the Truck for half the day on Friday without any problems/hesitation in starting.
Go down this morning and BARELY a crank!
Taking it to my Mechanic in awhile.

My thought is that the Horn contacts in the Steering wheel are broken and touching/grounding out (but I'm no mechanic).

So I thought I'd get YOUR opinions to pass the time before I take it in.

Roger
"RATIKLE"

Sounds like a hot wire is trying to ground itself on something.

[MickMc]

The old Optima's were good.

New Optima's have some sort of internal discharge problem.

I have all three, red, yellow and a blue. Blue has been the best, but my next battery will be a warranty or an Odyssey battery.
Everything is going on a Deltran trickle charger, because of the Optima problem.
I have an Odyssey in my bike and in my Impala SS, best battery ever.

PS Optima is now made in Mexico, It shouldn't matter but I'm just saying...


Mick

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by wwotr

Nothing like Diagnosing a problem over the Internet!

My problems started 4 weeks ago, when the Horn in my 72 GMC Fleetside Shortbed went off. Went down and "rapped" on the Steering wheel and it stopped.
5 minutes later, the same thing.
Went down and disconnected the plug from the Horn.
Back to sleep.
After 3 weeks the Truck started cranking over more slowly, until one morning...NOTHING.
I threw in a new Optima Yellow top Battery last Thursday.
Drove the Truck for half the day on Friday without any problems/hesitation in starting.
Go down this morning and BARELY a crank!
Taking it to my Mechanic in awhile.

My thought is that the Horn contacts in the Steering wheel are broken and touching/grounding out (but I'm no mechanic).

So I thought I'd get YOUR opinions to pass the time before I take it in.

Roger
"RATIKLE"

Took the Truck into my Mechanic and thats what was wrong.
The contacts in the horn switch broke (or some **** like that) and drained the battery through the Horn relay.

All is good and "RATIKLE" will be back on the road tomorrow!

Roger
"RATIKLE"

[lt704]

i work for the post office. We switched to red tops a few years back. with all the starting and stopping we do they held up great

[FLDBRED]

Don't know why some people give them a bad rap,every one I know loves them!

[Camper Power]

bought the truck with a red top already in it two years ago, the truck sat like 7 mounths in an unheated garage during the winter where it tends to stay -30C for two weeks, was started probably 5 times through this and always had power. last winter when we had -40 and the truck still fired up (block heater was plugged in of course). accidentally left the sterio on overnight and still got the engine fired up. has been overcharged and discharged from bad alternator wiring and still works!!

[Strut]

I have a Red Top in my mini truck....have had it in my truck since 05 havent had any problems out of it. Run my system off it, have ran it down and needed a jump repeatedly. Would put one in any thing!