Optima batteries SUCK...my first gripe.

[big86inthestixx]

So i have had 1 red top optima for 4 years, still works good. Holds a charge. Now since i have gotten the red top i have purchased 3 yellow tops....grr and again here i am, another yellow top bites the dust, must have an internal short. This yellow top isnt even 1 year old.

Yes i have been leaving a 2 amp trickle charger on them all the time. I have been charging through a regular battery.

Ready to go buy a Walmart special..any advise?

Btw both batteries are wired in the jeep...



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[bdd1469]

Johnson controls bought optima about 5 years ago.They are now built in mexico,and absolute junk.I called johnson controls with my concerns over a year ago.I was told that nothing had changed with them purchacing the company,and if I wanted more details some one would call me within 24hrs.That was over a year ago,noone called,as I expected.

Search for batteries made by deka,pen. You can dind them at oriellies,and napa sometimes.Sears diehard platinum is also a good batterie,built to military specs.
The regular die hards are johnson controls,it has to be the platinum.The platinum is made by odyysee.

[BlooMule]

Apparently, you need a special charger to properly charge an Optima battery. October HOT ROD magazine has a test of the Optima charger.

They don't have it posted on their site, but I did find a review here

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/...mance-charger/

It's $$$$, about $200

[cj65]

Ac delco are the best.

[itselliott]

Originally Posted by bdd1469

Johnson controls bought optima about 5 years ago.They are now built in mexico,and absolute junk.I called johnson controls with my concerns over a year ago.I was told that nothing had changed with them purchacing the company,and if I wanted more details some one would call me within 24hrs.That was over a year ago,noone called,as I expected.

Search for batteries made by deka,pen. You can dind them at oriellies,and napa sometimes.Sears diehard platinum is also a good batterie,built to military specs.
The regular die hards are johnson controls,it has to be the platinum.The platinum is made by odyysee.

I am a FORMER JCI employee..............Mexico has replaced Colorado as the place of Mfg for Optima...............Junk. The JCI attitude is among the reasons I quit.

[bdd1469]

Originally Posted by cj65

Ac delco are the best.

That depends on who won the contact to build them.If that batch was built by eastern/penn deka,I would agree.
If johnson controls built it,they will fail in a offraod environment,imho.
When I rebuilt my winch I spent hours researching batteries,johnson controls makes and rebadges almost every battery made.

[Ironman Offroad]

You should not put a battery on a constant low amp charge. It will cook it to death.
Buy a battery maintainer with the circuitry to shut itself off when the battery has reached full charge.

I have been using a lot of Opitima batteries in the last 5 years and have 0 failures. They do have special charging needs. Thay will not accept a very hig rate charge, and love a low a amp/long term recharge, just not forever.

Most GOOD battery chargers now have a special mode for spiral wound and gel batteries.

By the way, look for Ironman Offroad to come out with a line of high end Lithium automotive batteries in the next 6 months.

[cerial]

DieHard Platinum it has a 4 year direct replacement warranty and some impressive power. The thing is freaking huge though.

http://www.sears.com/diehard-platinu...p-02850090000P

[itselliott]

Originally Posted by bdd1469

That depends on who won the contact to build them.If that batch was built by eastern/penn deka,I would agree.
If johnson controls built it,they will fail in a offraod environment,imho.
When I rebuilt my winch I spent hours researching batteries,johnson controls makes and rebadges almost every battery made.

This.

[big86inthestixx]

Well thanks for all the info.
The batteries have been on a smart charger, runs 2 amp charge intil batteries are at full charge.
Seems like what is happening is the batteries are draining themselves.

Regardless looks like im going better battery hunting. Im done with batterys from optima..spent way too much $ for them not to warrantie, or last more than a year. A pos mebards battery should last a year..

Sorry done complaining..moving on. Just needed to vent about these crappy batteries..

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[slongfellowii]

Had 2 red tops puke in my Superduty DD. First one lasted 3 months. Second one just under a year. Both internal shorts. Went back to lead-acid.

[buttercr125]

Originally Posted by Ironman Offroad

You should not put a battery on a constant low amp charge. It will cook it to death.
Buy a battery maintainer with the circuitry to shut itself off when the battery has reached full charge.

I have been using a lot of Opitima batteries in the last 5 years and have 0 failures. They do have special charging needs. Thay will not accept a very hig rate charge, and love a low a amp/long term recharge, just not forever.

Most GOOD battery chargers now have a special mode for spiral wound and gel batteries.

By the way, look for Ironman Offroad to come out with a line of high end Lithium automotive batteries in the next 6 months.

I really like this!!!

[Yetti]

my pal Perry has a couple and one went dead form just sitting. he found that if you hook a known good battery to it then charge the two together it works and restores the optima. something about having a stable voltage in the charge cycle makes it restore from dead.

[Mclovin]

Originally Posted by Yetti

my pal Perry has a couple and one went dead form just sitting. he found that if you hook a known good battery to it then charge the two together it works and restores the optima. something about having a stable voltage in the charge cycle makes it restore from dead.

I tried this and still no luck.. I just keep the battery one of these "special" chargers 24/7 now and its enough to power my garage radio Most likely the charger is powering the radio and the battery is just there to look pretty

[steveo]

Originally Posted by cj65

Ac delco are the best.

just replaced one in my dads diesel for him, it went 250k miles.

[rammanriley]

Originally Posted by cj65

Ac delco are the best.

Never had a problem with Delco's. I beat the shit out of mine.

[cannaert]

I had one of the older ones. Lasted me 7 years and 5 different vehicles. Had a new one and it went out in 4 months. Took it back and got a regular old Lead Acid one I seem to kill them right before the free replacement end so I get a new one. Plus the cost of one just went up again. Almost 300 bucks for one no mater if its a red, yellow or the blue top.

But I have heard good news about Deka and there new Gel Cells that they sell. Guy said they are 4 times a better than the Optimas and 1/2 the price.

[shawn]

I lost 2 yellow tops in 3 years, went with an Orbital, and couln't be happier! I bought it on Amazon. Price was WAY better than any optima, and it's been SOLID.

[creeping death]

i hooked to an optima yellow top and it was awesome.

[crunchedtj99]

I agree on acdelco. Careful on the lithium..... race cars are using them because of weight but on a jeep i doubt the weight savings is worth the fire risk