Optima battery is dead again [Archive]

Northeast Rod Run

11-14-2010, 09:41 AM

Vegas69

11-14-2010, 10:10 AM

You must use a battery tender on these batteries.

Steve68

11-14-2010, 10:21 AM

:soapbox:

I bought a yellow top back in July of 2008. I even had a hard time trying to find the one I needed because it wasn't listed on their regular list at the time, so of course it was more expensive than the "off the shelf" ones.

This is at least the 10th time it has died out in that time. It has been sitting less than a month this time in my 2004 GTO and it is now down to 5.3 volts (don't even know if it will even take a normal chage being so low). I bought a trickle charger for the winter but I figured I wouldn't need it yet, because it's only been sitting a few weeks. I never had this problem with my factory battery so I'm not thinking it's a draw or anything. These yellow tops are supposed to be one of the best deep-cycle batteries out there? hmmmm.....

I had enough of this, so I finally decided to look up the warranty and of course it's expired. I still wasn't even that mad yet, until I saw that EXACTLY 6 months AFTER I bought my battery, they changed the warranty from 12 months to 36 months!!!

Well, I'm all done venting so now I just sit here and wait to see if it takes a charge.

STOP charging it right now!!!!!

look up on line Hot Rod did a "how to" on the dead Optima problem, and they did this with the engineers fom optima,

you have to trick the battery to take a charge, you have to hook up the dead battery in series with a good battery and then start charging them together, I'll look on line for the article,

GregWeld

11-14-2010, 10:35 AM

I just put Yellow tops in both kids cars 3 months ago -- Alexs died this week and checked out DOA.... just replaced it with a normal lead acid battery.

The Red Top in the Nomad has been in there since 1999! I use a Ctek tender on it which has a circuit for this TYPE of batter.... They don't like "normal" battery tenders.

Steve68

11-14-2010, 10:35 AM

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/general/hrdp_1009_how_to_charge_a_agm_battery/index.html

See if this works for you!

HotRod68Camaro

11-14-2010, 10:45 AM

Yea definitely use a battery tender. I use CTEK on mine. Always had that problem till now.

JamesJ

11-14-2010, 10:47 AM

Ya, if you dont need one of these "sealed" battery they are way to much trouble... We just replaced a brand new one, then thought we had a charging problem but nope the second one would not take/hold a charge either, 3rd time was a charm...

CRCRFT78

11-14-2010, 12:36 PM

Wow I'm glad this came up. My Yellow Top just took a dump on me and of course the warranty is expired. I'll have to try that tip from Hot Rod.

Matt@BOS

11-14-2010, 01:23 PM

Definitely pick up a Cytek. They even have a recondition feature :)

It's kinda sad but they're pretty much a necessity if you don't drive the car for a couple weeks at a time.

Matt

Rybar

11-14-2010, 03:49 PM

Yea definitely use a battery tender. I use CTEK on mine. Always had that problem till now.

Yup, use a Ctek. It even has an Optima setting :D

speedshftr

11-14-2010, 04:44 PM

all these problems with there products but people love there challenge race/good marketing i guess.ill never buy one.too many problems from to many people on several different message boards.

SLO_Z28

11-14-2010, 05:11 PM

People have just as many problems with regular lead acid batteries, they just aren't as vocal about them on car message boards. Truth be told the quality on most batteries has gone considerably down in the past 5 years and remarkably down in the past 10 with the SOLE exception of Johnson Control Products(who makes optimas). Some of the best batterties made are the Mega Tron Black Top Interstates made by Johnson.

If you park your car for extended periods of time use a battery tender. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Also, why do you have a yellow top? You shouldn't need one.

[email protected]

11-14-2010, 05:20 PM

:soapbox:

I bought a yellow top back in July of 2008. I even had a hard time trying to find the one I needed because it wasn't listed on their regular list at the time, so of course it was more expensive than the "off the shelf" ones.

This is at least the 10th time it has died out in that time. It has been sitting less than a month this time in my 2004 GTO and it is now down to 5.3 volts (don't even know if it will even take a normal chage being so low). I bought a trickle charger for the winter but I figured I wouldn't need it yet, because it's only been sitting a few weeks. I never had this problem with my factory battery so I'm not thinking it's a draw or anything. These yellow tops are supposed to be one of the best deep-cycle batteries out there? hmmmm.....

I had enough of this, so I finally decided to look up the warranty and of course it's expired. I still wasn't even that mad yet, until I saw that EXACTLY 6
months AFTER I bought my battery, they changed the warranty from 12
months to 36 months!!!
Well, I'm all done venting so now I just sit here and wait to see if it takes a
charge.

Sorry to hear about your battery problem. I will try to help.

The suggestions above work about 9 out of 10 times when any AGM battery gets discharged below 10.5 volts. However, recovering the battery won't uncover any other electrical issues. You may want to look further into your electrical system to ensure against this happening again. Your GTO came stock with a very high "key off" load. If you've modified the PCM, installed an under drive pulley, trunk mounted your battery or added any electrical accessories then you may be fighting a problem that can easily be fixed. I highly suggest checking your key off loads first (should be 25 milliamps or less). Next, I would closely monitor your alternator charging voltage. I'm happy to go through this with you as there are many variables depending on your cars mods. Please send me a pm if you want to discuss one on one.

Thanks, Cam

class67

11-14-2010, 05:29 PM

Hmmm....4 years with my yellow top and no issues!

Flash68

11-14-2010, 05:40 PM

Just realized "Battery Tender" is a name brand, and not a generic term... kinda like how everyone uses Kleenex in conversation.

So is the "Battery Tender" brand most people's preferred unit? or the CTEK it appears here?

I thought it was a relevant question concerning this thread topic. :)

SLO_Z28

11-14-2010, 06:19 PM

I like this unit for home use:
http://www.batterychargers.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductName=94026842

You don't have to do anything special for a gel cell batteries. Id say that 19/20 "bad" batteries we got back in a retail setting were good, and worked great after using this.

A normal key off load for your car is in the 360ma range, if you've added any non switched electrical accessories you can add to that. We used to sell those new and they almost never lasted more than one week on the lot, without being jump started, and that was after a FULL charge when we did the Pre Delivery Inspection.

Van B

11-14-2010, 06:25 PM

Sorry to hear about your battery problem. I will try to help.

The suggestions above work about 9 out of 10 times when any AGM battery gets discharged below 10.5 volts. However, recovering the battery won't uncover any other electrical issues. You may want to look further into your electrical system to ensure against this happening again. Your GTO came stock with a very high "key off" load. If you've modified the PCM, installed an under drive pulley, trunk mounted your battery or added any electrical accessories then you may be fighting a problem that can easily be fixed. I highly suggest checking your key off loads first (should be 25 milliamps or less). Next, I would closely monitor your alternator charging voltage. I'm happy to go through this with you as there are many variables depending on your cars mods. Please send me a pm if you want to discuss one on one.

Thanks, Cam

There you go, factory support. If the origninal poster is not aware, Cam works for Optima. Hope you get to the bottom of your issue.

elitecustombody

11-14-2010, 07:03 PM

G-Body

11-14-2010, 07:24 PM

I cant beleive you have to charge these batterys from time to time ecs for the price!
Heres whats going in my Hot Rod.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/XSP-S925/?rtype=10

CarlC

11-14-2010, 07:29 PM

OP, here is a simple solution, disconnect the terminals when you know the car won't be driven for more than few days, no need for battery tenders or trickle chargers.

I've had a blue top for almost 8 years ,in course of that time my battery has died at least a dozen times, simply by my negligence knowing I have draw,which is very common on my make/model car (MKIV Supra). All I did was jump it off with another car, drive it everyday and have no problems at all:D

For some of us that's not really a good option. The long term fuel trims are lost once battery power is lost.

My red top has been in the car since Dec. '03. I have made the mistake of not putting a battery tender on it and killed it twice. It came back fine both times and continues to work well.

Northeast Rod Run

11-14-2010, 09:17 PM

There you go, factory support. If the origninal poster is not aware, Cam works for Optima. Hope you get to the bottom of your issue.

First off I was not aware that Cam worked for Optima. I actually posted this hoping that someone from Optima might chime in on here, because I knew there would be no other type of support on a weekend, so thanks for that. Also, I haven't done anything to the car that would affect my charging system, so unless there became a draw as soon as I changed to the Yellow Top, then I don't see a problem there (not saying it isn't possible but most unlikely).

Also thank you to everyone else for the help and advice. I just haven't gotten on here until now because it's been along day of football, and just now my hometown Pats managed to pull out an impressive win it Pitt!

I have read about them not taking any charge at all once they got below a certain voltage, and how to piggy back them to another battery if that happens, or buy a special charger for this type of battery

Anyway here's where I stand right now. I've had it on a trickle charger set to 1 amp all day and the battery seems to be taking the charge, because it's back up to almost 12 volts. I'll go over night with it and see how it is in the morning. If the car does start tomorrow, weather permitting, I'll take the car for a final beat run for the year and then put it away on the trickle charger until spring.

Northeast Rod Run

11-14-2010, 09:23 PM

Also, why do you have a yellow top? You shouldn't need one.There were two reasons why I originally bought.

1.) I used to have the car in a garage with no power in it so I wanted a battery that could sit for an extended period (Optima claims up to 12 months with this battery). I would leave it disconnected back then.

2.) Maybe not a good reason to spend the money, but I wanted a clean and decent styled battery to match the rest of my car. Hey, I'm sure I'm not the only one on here that's done that

Northeast Rod Run

11-15-2010, 08:27 AM

Well, just got back from fueling up, treating the gas, giving the car it's last cleaning of the year, putting it on the trickle charger, and covering it up.

The trickle charger worked it's magic overnight and the car started fine this morning.

Later today I'll go to my insurance company and drop all my coverages down to the minimums, because the car will pretty much sit in the garage until the spring.

Next weekend I'll probably do the same thing to the Camaro.

tones2SS

11-15-2010, 10:03 AM

Sorry about your battery problem TJ.
I disconnect my battery to my Camaro and just leave it like so. I fire up the car like every other week and haven't had a problem by doing this. Good luck.:thumbsup:
(It is an AC DELCO battery, just to keep the car in stock form.)

onevoice

11-15-2010, 11:57 AM

Whoever designed the marketing for these batteries should be in the in the advertising Hall of Fame. They are more expensive, have special care needs, and plenty of auto forums are full of stories about dismal reliability. Yet still people buy them. But ooooh, they work upside down. I don't know about you, but my cars stay upright.

I have half a dozen cars that are driven very infrequently, they all have regular batteries. No disconnecting cables or extra charging for them. Get in, turn the key and go. I haven't had a battery last less than the warranty period in 25 years, and several have gone 8-12 years.

Quit buying the hype.

rwhite692

11-15-2010, 12:13 PM

....you have to hook up the dead battery in series with a good battery and then start charging them together...

You mean parallel.

GregWeld

11-15-2010, 12:21 PM

You mean parallel.

Yeah --- you're right Rob and there's a big difference between parallel and series!

Series would give you 24V on the output side.... parallel keeps it at 12V.

Paladin

11-15-2010, 01:56 PM

went through two of them in 4 years. can't hold a charge. ditched it and went to exide. Waaaay better. A necessity on a computerized (efi ) car. Red tops don't hold a charge either. maybe different for a daily driver, but not for cars that sit 2 weeks at a timered top. my exide is killer, love it. sat teh whole canadian winter. cranked right up.

SLO_Z28

11-15-2010, 03:44 PM

2.) Maybe not a good reason to spend the money, but I wanted a clean and decent styled battery to match the rest of my car. Hey, I'm sure I'm not the only one on here that's done that

Actually that makes perfect sense. We have all been there :D

Steve68

11-18-2010, 06:52 PM

You mean parallel.

Right, was a busy day, wasn't getting paid to think, weekend,

BritishGreen68

11-18-2010, 07:50 PM

I have had a couple Optimas go bad over the years, my friends have as well..
Here's a good bit of info that may be worth something. When I was in high school (not that long ago lol) I was on the electric car racing team. I was the welder/fabricator/wiring guy, and occasional driver. Basically an aluminum 3 wheel Go-cart that is battery powered but more high tech. We raced full speed for an hour. There were always 2 or 3 schools we couldn't beat, and one in particular that would beat everyone by miles. Our driver came up with the great idea to pretend to be writing an article for the local news paper, and went and interviewed the kids that were always in 1st place. I went with, and got a great look at their car, just before they caught on and booted us!! Guess what the secret to their speed was?? INTERSTATE BATTERIES. We got Interstate to sponsor us and we started keeping up, and actually winning races. I graduated, but that car was handed down for a few years (until someone else at the school learned to weld aluminum heheh), and the current car they race now is a consistent top 3 car and most people run Interstate batteries now. PGE electron run! So I point people towards Interstate if they ask. I have 2 and they never miss a beat, I sell the cars and keep the battery lol...

Bill Howell

11-18-2010, 08:21 PM

If I don't drive the GTO for about two months, my red top will get weak. Not a battery problem, it is a voltage drain problem.
I love CTEK, even if the battery is really low, it will charge it up in a few hours. The thing to remember is you MUST slow charge these batteries. I have had the Red Top in the GTO for 5 years now, same battery, and weak more than once because I let the car sit too long. Charger has a red top also, but with 14000+ on the clock in just 13 months, not much chance for it to have drainage issues..haha

ht turbo monaro

11-19-2010, 03:26 PM

My red top battery was not trickle charged by the guys that were working on the car for a few months, and now the alternator is working overtime to keep up the amps.And the alternator is now so hot, i spoke to my auto electrician and he said the optima wont come good now, it is less than a year old so iam going for a new one on warranty. Not real happy, has this happened to any one else?

Vegas69

11-19-2010, 07:55 PM

Did you read the thread you posted in? You can't let a Red Top sit for 3 months off a battery tender.

speedshftr

11-20-2010, 11:29 AM

funny thing is my interstate batteries have never let me down.trans am in a cold garage over a year.bam started right up.
imho you should not have to trickle charge a battery.if the car is going to sit over 6 to 8 months just unhook it before storage and charge it if needed when the time comes.sounds like the optima regardless of color was not engineered correctly to hold a charge.thats my opinion and dont want to argue or go back and fourth over it.ive read 10 times more negative optima problem posts than better ones.i simply wont buy one so i guess they work fine for me/lol:rolleyes:

Track Junky

11-20-2010, 11:39 AM

I have never had issues with Optima red tops in the past, but in the last 6 months I'm on my third one. I have a battery shut off switch so I dont think I'm bleeding off any where.

Are we sure this isn't a recent issue developing with Optima batteries?

ht turbo monaro

11-20-2010, 12:38 PM

REPLY, yes i did read the thread i posted in TODDY<thead police> i was giving the full story and mainly asking has anyone had the alternator problem that is heating up. There is no one that has mentioned that problem. :D :D

Vegas69

11-20-2010, 12:49 PM

I personally feel they discharge naturally. I've had mine unhooked while doing misc. repairs for weeks and had to charge it before firing off the car. That being said, as long as you keep it on a tender and have a functioning charging system they will crank for a long time. I had a heat soak issue this summer and cranked on mine for a long while to get it fired off.

Like many things in life, there are always compromises and trade offs. The gel cell likely doesn't hold a charge as long as the old tried and trud lead/acid battery. I'll take the tradeoff with a smell/leak free battery.

Northeast Rod Run

11-20-2010, 01:44 PM

Just talked to my bro last night. He has two blue tops (marine equivalent of the yellow top) in his boat and has never had problems. His boat even sits outside all year just wrapped under a pop-up tent, all winter here in New England.

Maybe it's just be a crapshoot when it comes to these batteries? Or is it that they have the same amount of problems as other manufacturers, but we just complain more because they are a higher profile battery?

speedshftr

11-20-2010, 01:50 PM

todd i have a big nose /lol and never had a smelly battery./lol or one that leaked.;)

CRCRFT78

11-16-2013, 12:02 PM

Time to try and re-charge the Optima.

Revved

12-04-2013, 12:52 PM

I use them all the time on vehicles that see very little driving time and see very few actually fail with maybe 50% of my clients using battery tenders. Years ago we spoke to Optima and they recommended the Yellow top over the Red top for vehicles that see limited driving. They claimed that the yellow top had a faster recharge rate than the Red tops.

I've gotten in the habit of providing all of my clients that don't already have tenders with the Optima Battery 1200 charger. Gives them a good charger without the forementioned having to rig up extra batteries to charge, plus it has a tender feature.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/us/en/products/charger/

For you guys that are going through batteries I would definitely check for voltage draws.