Optima Problems

[Blkdawdg]

I installed a Yellow Top Optima on my truck and after letting it idle in a parking lot one day, I noticed a smell like that of a rotten egg. Well I just thought that it was the parking lot or something, but it's been doing it had been doing it for about a week, so I opened the hood and saw that the Yellow Top on the passenger side of my truck was smoking, and some clear fluid was leaking where the top of the battery and the case attach. Also the battery gets really hot. Has anyone else had the same problem?

------------------
'01 BLK QUAD-CAB, ETH, 6-SPEED, HX-40, DD BOOST MODULE, STAGE III INJECTORS, ATS MANIFOLD, 4" EXHAUST, BED LINER, CLARION PPD KICKER FOCAL STEREO

 

[Motorhead]

By your signature, did your OEM batteries take a dive right away? Check your charging rate with a battery/charging system load meter. You could be over charging. How old were the Optimas(on the shelf)before you installed them? You could very well have a bad battery from the start. I would also load check each battery individualy(completely disconnected from each other and the chassis). Finally, check all of your cable connections for each of your batteries(grounds ect. ). I had this happen to me once(smell and hot battery)with a wet cell battery. The battery had been let run low on water to a point where it was internally shorting. I know the optimas are gel but maybe it is a bad battery. I hope I may of helped. CHRIS

 

[HEMI®Dart]

BLKDEMON
I agree with Chris. I think you got a bad battery from the factory. Maybe it leaked its gel. The only time I ever got that bad sulfer smell was when I had a cracked battery case and all the water had drained out of it. Do you see a crack anywhere in the case. Maybe it got dropped somewhere during shipping.

Pull the battery at once. ( truck will be alright with one for a few days)

Get on the phone to Optima or where you bought it ASAP.

This is the FIRST problem I`ve ever heard with an Optima. They are very high quality batteries.

------------------
Bill R
94 2500 SLT 4x4 5 Speed, 3. 54 LS, JRE 4" exhaust, Autometer Pyro, Boost & Water temp gauges, Bosch 215 HP injectors, Timing @ 14. 7 º, JRE Stage III #4 plate 270/675, AFC spring kit, Scotty Air, Bully Dog Propane Injection, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Optima Red Tops, Geno`s Exhaust Blanket,Espar Heater (won it!), Synthetic lubes throughout.

[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 12-05-2000). ]

 

[illflem]

I agree with the above except that I've heard of Optimas with cracked or missing cases preforming for years. I think a cell is shorted out,it happens. I bought a $152 NAPA battery for a Mercedes a few weeks ago(Optima wouldn't fit)that had the same problem. With one shorted cell you basically have a 10. 5 volt battery,it will be getting overcharged all the time. Warranty will replace for free.

 

[Loren]

BLKDEMON,

I suspect that I am reading too much into this, but just in case I'm not I'll give you my 2 cents worth.

Your post says that you installed A yellow top Optima battery. That would be a single battery. If you didn't install two at the same time, that is probably the source of your problems. The batteries in dual systems should always be changed in pairs. They should also be identical batteries. Otherwise one will do all the work, or take all the charge, or both, and mess up at least one of the batteries.

Again, if you did install two new ones and just typed the post wrong, I'm sorry to have jumped on it.

Loren

 

[John]

I was thinking the same thing Loren!

------------------
John Treibel
'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4 Sport, Glasstite Vision II, 285 BFG A/Ts on M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares & tow hooks, NW Custom s/s-rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover & trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Reese Titan V hitch, SPA gauges (3), Dynamat, '00 Sport grille and headlights/PIAA Super White bulbs, PIAA Dual Sport 900 aux. lights, BD exh. brake and TorqLoc, Amsoil Dual Remote Bypass, Optima Yellow Tops, DD3s/DD Boost Module, Aeroquip AQP braided s/s fuel hoses, Banks High-Ram intake manifold and 14 cm2 turbine housing w/Big Head wastegate actuator, ATS 3-piece exh. man. , Banks 4" dia. s/s exh. sys. , BD V10/Cummins hybrid TC & mod. trans. frt. pump, BD VB & PressureLoc, Air Bulldog induction hood (with NACA ducts), plus MANY other trick modifications

Recycle Bin: Prime-Loc fuel filter relocation kit (due to flow restriction), Bosch 275s & VA CPC (upgraded to DD3s... WOW! what a difference!), '00 Dodge/Cummins valve cover (going back to my OE '98. 5 valve cover... tricked out though)

 

[Blkdawdg]

I did install two yellow tops at the same time. Sorry for the typo.

------------------
'01 BLK QUAD-CAB, ETH, 6-SPEED, HX-40, DD BOOST MODULE, STAGE III INJECTORS, ATS MANIFOLD, 4" EXHAUST, BED LINER, CLARION PPD KICKER FOCAL STEREO

 

[Motorhead]

Good eye John and Loren, That one went right over me. Would make sense. Chris

 

[Honcho]

Had exactly the same problem with one of my blue-tops on my extreme offroad Jeep. Dual setup as well. All related electronics checked out so sent the battery back. Optima changed the battery and haven't had a problem since.

 

[Patrick McMahon]

Just a thought here- check your ground wire and your voltage regulator-You could be overcharging if the regulator is bad. I cooked a red top in my truck last summer-The OEM ground wire was loose or too small, but I got the same symptoms as you descricbed-went to a separate LARGE guage wire for each of my batteries and no more problems. Good luck.

91 D-350 banks exhaust and turbo, K&N air filter, power wagon injectors, preluber, snug top shell, Borgeson shaft, Power lock diff. , dual optima red tops w/ isolator, tweaked pump @1. 44mm, Warn 9K winch and custom bumper, Custom springs and overloads, American Racing 16X8 alum wheels.

 

[Bill Lins]

OK- dumb question here. When you installed your batteries, did you make sure to have the driver's side one cover the sensor in the battery tray?

The Optimas are considerably smaller than the OEM batteries. When I installed mine, I wanted to move them to one end of the tray to make room for other stuff. I was cautioned to be sure the left battery covered the sensor which tells the PCM how much charge to give it. I'm not sure HOW it works, I just didn't want to chance messing up with these VERRRRY expensive batteries.

------------------
Bill Lins Wharton, TX 98 2500 QC SLT,12 (the CORRECT # of)valves,NV4500,3. 54 LSD,Manik grille guard,Semi-Psychotty Air,Amsoil everywhere, Reading aluminum utility body and bumper,Optima yellow tops- silencer ring & muffler stolen.

 

[Dave B]

The rotten egg smell IS a battery that is being COOKED by over charging!!! Trust me, I found this out the hard way... ... .

 

[Blkdawdg]

Actually the battery was bad. I called Optima and talked to the battery manager. He is sending me TWO NEW yellow tops. Now that's customer service. I'm very impressed. The trucks been checked out and it's not overcharging. Thanks for all of the help guys.

BTW, anyone know how to change a signature?

------------------
'01 BLK QUAD-CAB, ETH, 6-SPEED, HX-40, DD BOOST MODULE, STAGE III INJECTORS, ATS MANIFOLD, 4" EXHAUST, BED LINER, CLARION PPD KICKER FOCAL STEREO

 

[illflem]

just click profile at the top of this page then rewrite it

 

[Bad Brad]

I have had a Yellow Top Optima in my camper for 3 years. It gets charges by the solar panel. It has bee a great battery. It is also great to hear the company has integrety and respects it's customers enough to provide customer service. To bad DC can't do the same... ... .