Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Optima Yellow-tops - thumbs down

[JRihani]

I vocally supported these batteries in several posts in the past so I just wanted to chime in and say that I'm dissappointed in the batteries. More importantly, I'm disappointed with Optima warranty support.



The short story is that, 13 months after purchase, both batteries are shot but Optima will only replace one of them.



Kudos to the Interstate Batteries distribution center here in Indianapolis (not where I bought the batteries). They bent over backward trying to make it right working with Optima but Optima was not willing to come to bat.



No auxilliary charging, no over-charging alternator, no abuse, etc but somehow one of the batteries ended up being "consumer damage".



Just wanted to share the experience in case anyone was considering them.



Before everyone says it, yes, I should have bought the Odyssey's

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

... all of which is one reason I always like to wait a bit before jumping up on the bandwagon of any new "whiz-bang" product, and let the dust of reality settle and the over enthisiastic cheerleading die down a bit.



2 things wrong here:



1. The "bulletproof" batteries failed prematurely.

2. The maker refuses to back their stuff...



That's enough to moivate me to look elsewhere for my battery replacements...

 

[JRihani]

Based on the advice of the GREAT guys at Interstate I am going to give the following a whirl:



http://www.universalpowergroup.com/specs/D5751.pdf



I really want to stay with a "sealed" battery, but if these crap out as well I'll go back to the tried and true. At least I'll know these guys will stand behind what they sell.

 

[SGrasmick]

Must say i have had mine for 5 years with no issues, constantly leaving the radio on at job sites loud for over 7-8 hours 3 days a week

 

[CLamb]

I am a route manager for Interstate Batteries. I would love to find out why Optima recomends the yellow tops for these trucks. The ONLY time I see yellow tops hold up is when they are totally abused, be it stereos, winches, etc they work awsome when mistreated. They do however seem to croak pretty quick when used under normal conditions. The Solution is a red top IMO, they cost less and have 3x the warranty on top of that. All that bieng said I put just the regular MTP-27s in my truck one year ago and have had no issues. Bieng how my truck is stock I could see no reason to spend the money on some Optimas.



JMO but I would not run thos gell cell batteries you linked to. A true gell cell(which an Optima is not) is very sensitive to how its charged, they cannot stand up to bieng overcharged like an alternator does to a battery. They will typically either balloon or suck the sides in after awhile. %90 of the Odysey brand batteries I pick up are swelled to damn near round.



JMO not a total Guru, just 8 years of hands on.

 

[jelag]

I've been in this industry for years... . I just look for a battery that meets or exceeds the amp hour capacity..... or cold cranking amps of the equipment that I'm putting the batteries into..... We have an account with Interstate..... but often just grab a pair of batteries that meet our needs at Costco... . to be honest... we're at Costco every couple of weeks... . their very easy to deal with..... and give good service on the road... . We've never had a battery failure from them..... but have had to deal with 2 road hazzards on tires while traveling.....



Hope this helps...

 

[kscheffler]

Glass mat batteries (Optima) should also be "exersized" once per quarter and then full charged, with an accurate battery charger. I will put a small inverter on my optimas and run a trouble light until the batteries are down to 11. 5 volts. Do NOT go lower than 11. 5. Then put on a good battery charger the preferred charged voltage is 14. 7 so you will need an adjustable charger to reach this range. I do this 3 to 4 times per year on my truck and boat optima batteries and have no problems what so ever. It is hard on these batteries to not run the full voltage range. I. E. on start and take off charging with the alternator that will or should stop charging at 14. 4 volts. If you do not make long trips, more than 2 hours, you will never fully charge the battery and then you start having issues...

 

[JasonCzerak]

I have a red top in my jeep for the stereo. it's wired in parallel with the standard battery up front. Back in the day (1998-2000), the stereo was one of the loudest in the class. I have drained the Red Tops to the point that nothing would work stereo wise many times. Not one single issues once recharged.



I bet right now, 2 years since the battery has been used (unplugged, jeep parked). I bet it would start the jeep motor from the back (15 feet of 4 guage wire). if I were to wire it up such. Yeah, the battery is 8 years old now. .



Naturally, if you have a battery inside the car/truck/suv, you need a sealed gell type, or your just plain stupid.