2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Optima Battery's

[DLBurns]

I installed two new Optima Red tops in January of 2005 as they were touted to be the best of the best.

Went out to start my truck yesterday and they are dead as can be... 11. 30 volts as measured with my Fluke gauge. I put them on the charger to see if I could bring them back to life with hopes I don't have to replace them in a little less than four years. Now I don't drive my truck as a daily driver but these $100. 00 batteries should last more than 3+ years and less than 10,000 miles.

If I have to replace them I am not going to spend the big bucks on Optimas again if they won't last longer than this... what is everyone going to these days?

Dave

 

[Signal73]

interstate makes a good battery along with NAPA gold

 

[RSimmons]

Optimas have a 3 year free replacement and a 7 year pro-rated replacement. I bet you could replace them both fairly cheap.



I wonder if the truck has a problem placing too much load on the batterys when not running ? No battery will last long like that. It only takes about 15 deep cycles to kill the very best automotive starting batterys.

 

[WKruger]

10k in 3 years, what was the longest the truck sat?

 

[drag racer]

Optimas are all I use in every vehicle I own. Have had great service always. NEVER have one last less than 6 years, and often a lot longer.

Like was mentioned, how long does the truck sit, and how often do you charge them? I use my truck very sparingly, and I charge them every three weeks religiously. And at each charge, they are fairly low. These Dodges (or at least mine) seems to use a fair amount of juice for the electronic stuff when the truck is off, and I don't care what brand or type of battery you run, if you don't keep them charged regularly, they will fail fast.

 

[Curious Dave]

I have a Optima Red in my bay right now that I have had for 10 years. The other one is an Exide Orbital that is @ 9 1/2 years old. I had 2 other Orbitals that worked for @ 8 1/2 years before they gave out. I no longer need 4 batteries so when 2 went bad I deleted the extra cables and left the 2 good ones in the front. Will I get 2 more when the time comes? You betcha'. Exide or Optima? Whichever is available at the time. Liquid cell again? Never! Lithium Ions? Depends on size and cost.

 

[BEnglish]

I run the yellow top in all my autos (so five batteries) and with good results so far, however about a month ago I left an interior light on in a car that won't turn it off and then covered said car with a tarp for 3 days. When I uncovered it, the yellow top was dead and after days of trying everything to bring it back, I cant get more than 6 volts out of it, and it is about 3 years old so no warranty. Pretty sure they only have a 1 year warranty.

Then last weekend a friend and I were going to put some better speakers in my wife's truck (yellow top is only a couple of months old) gave up on the speakers and went to pull it out of the garage and the gauges went haywire and click, click from the starter. But we didn't even pull apart a single connector, so it just died! I put a meter on the bat and it was only putting out 12 volts. And I think that was messing up the computer. So then I trade it out with the one in my TJ and it cranks up fine (puts out 13 volts). Then I charged it (2 amp slow charge) and tried it in another '03 vehicle and same thing gauges go haywire and no start.

I sure am glad that happened to me in my garage and not my wife out in the big bad world, then I would have been mad.

So now I have two dead yellow tops sitting in my garage.

 

[SSell]

If your redtop will hold 11. 3V, I'd think you might be able to "wake it up" by discharging/ charging it couple times... I had a set of redtops couple years ago that didnt want to hold a charge initially but worked great after few attempts. I currently am the proud owner of a 38 month old redtop from my boat, charges to 14. 5V in matter of minutes, drops to 10. 5Volts within seconds of load applied (1 dead cell?). My cost to replace it will be $120 with the pro-rated portion of the warranty (cost $127 new). Leaning towards buying wally-world batteries from here on out, personally...



good luck!

 

[Road Dog]

Lead acid batteries need to be stored fully charged. A partially charged battery leads to sulfination -- sulfer crystals on the lead plates. When I storing my truck in the barn I charge it up every month. A "smart charger", one that monitors the state of charge, is best. Trickle chargers can boil the battery if left for months.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

If your redtop will hold 11. 3V, I'd think you might be able to "wake it up" by discharging/ charging it couple times... I had a set of redtops couple years ago that didnt want to hold a charge initially but worked great after few attempts. I currently am the proud owner of a 38 month old redtop from my boat, charges to 14. 5V in matter of minutes, drops to 10. 5Volts within seconds of load applied (1 dead cell?). My cost to replace it will be $120 with the pro-rated portion of the warranty (cost $127 new). Leaning towards buying wally-world batteries from here on out, personally...



good luck!

I second that. I just bought 2 wally world batts for $70 a pop. They are made by excide and carry the 3 year free replacement and 108 proration warranty. Sometimes you will catch grief from the techs there if you need to trade, but that's just cuz they are idiots... . make them call a manager. Best warranty I have seen for batteries and you can get it honered anywhere there is a wal mart.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Had my red tops for about 6 years and no problems so far; I probably should not have said that!!! I am easy on the batteries though so I am guessing that helps.

 

[robbiesworld]

I always run redtop Optimas. They last plenty long and I never have to deal with battery acid allover the engine compartment of my truck. I hate to say this but I had a Nissan truck with an Auto Zone battery in it and I swear that battery sat for a year and still started the truck. A couple nights I left the parking lights on to keep thieves away from my shop all night and it started up in the morning.

 

[NMcCoy]

I have the exide oribitals in both my car and truck, the one in my car just gave it up ( 3 yrs old ) and decided to try the new die hard platinum as it has a 4 year free replacement and 100 month prorated. Also over 800cca and a very good reserve.



I've been switching driveing between truck and car every month and after the one died I checked both batts in the truck. They were low and would not charge up to 100% (sulfated) so I started to use a battery minder on them and after a week they would hold 90% charge, now I'm at 99%.



If the platinum does good I'm getting some for my truck as checker auto could not make up there mind if my old battery was good or not. at 12. 20 volts I would not think so.



If anyone lets there truck sit for over a week make sure its fully charged, at least 12. 65 volts or higher because it will start to sulfate.

A battery maintainer will do wonders, more so with a pulse maintainer.

 

[DLBurns]

My truck sits for months at a time not days and previous to the Optimas, the OEM batteries never had a problem with this. I also have two Wal Mart batteries in my fifth wheel that sit for months at a time without a charge, no problem there either.

I know I should pull them and top them off on occassion, just never seem to get around to it.

The Optima red tops were running about $130. 00 each at Costco yesterday, I can get two wally world batteries for that and they seem to hold up just as well.

What size battery are you guys getting from Wal Mart?

 

[Missouri Mule]

I'm on my second pair of Optimas the first set of Optimas lasted 5 1/2 years(6 year batteries). The oringinals lasted 3 years(5 year batteries)

 

[VHolloway]

WALMART has fine batterys just as good 3 year replacement. and hell no matter where you go there is a walmart. on a trip and you have a bad battery not a big deal find a nearby walmart

 

[Skydiver]

My Red tops are now 6 years old. Due to high fuel cost the Cummins only gets used every 7-10 days. I even left my key on will working away from home and killed the batteries 4 years ago. They came back fine.

I think you will find it is never a good idea to take a 12 volt below 12. 3 volts.



Good info. LONG.



Batteries -- and Other Electric Stuff by phred

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Are you SURE there isn't something sucking the life out of them in the dark of night?? My optimas installed 9/11/01 are still great—but they were going dead, because the KC DAYLIGHTERS were switched on under their covers. The optimas were so good only a prolonged park period would run them down eceb with the lights on!! I'd troubleshoot the truck first.

 

[Drewhenry]

Knock On Wood

My truck was assembled in August of 03 as an early 04 model and I still have the original maintenance-free batteries. I am going on 95k miles and no problems. Have left headlight on for a few hours and interior light over night on 2 occaissions. My first diesel------beginner's luck????

 

[Hammer]

Optima's... .

Some of the best money I have ever spent for my truck. No more acid vapors corroding the terminal posts and they sure make your charging system alot less stressed... ... Andy