Optima Batteries Any Good?
The first red top I owned is still going strong 4 years later. Only reason I took it out of my car is I wanted a light weight battery, so I have gone in a completely different direction that this thread. When the battery died out in my truck last year though I replaced it with another red top. I'm also not having any issues with that one, so far both red tops I have owned have treated me well.
I had heard prior to this thread that lately they have been bad, is it just a bad run, or is there a distinct period in time where all of a sudden they have crapped out?
I had heard prior to this thread that lately they have been bad, is it just a bad run, or is there a distinct period in time where all of a sudden they have crapped out?
had a bad string of redtops...after about 4 days they would be dead. I did big 3...alternator etc. This last battery is a sears diehard platinum...its a rebadged odyssee but 50 bux cheaper....this joker rocks. I left parking lights on for 2 hours....and the car fired right up....after days of sitting it always starts like its fresh. expensive but great warranty
On The Tree
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Loris,South Carolina
Got a red top in my car. sit for 5-6 months atleast put the motor back in and hit the key and she fired right up.. i use optima in ALL my cars.. Red top has a 3yr warranty. Yellow top has a 1yr warranty. and Blue top is 1yr i think but its a marine battery..
The first red top I owned is still going strong 4 years later. Only reason I took it out of my car is I wanted a light weight battery, so I have gone in a completely different direction that this thread. When the battery died out in my truck last year though I replaced it with another red top. I'm also not having any issues with that one, so far both red tops I have owned have treated me well.
I had heard prior to this thread that lately they have been bad, is it just a bad run, or is there a distinct period in time where all of a sudden they have crapped out?
I had heard prior to this thread that lately they have been bad, is it just a bad run, or is there a distinct period in time where all of a sudden they have crapped out?
had a bad string of redtops...after about 4 days they would be dead. I did big 3...alternator etc. This last battery is a sears diehard platinum...its a rebadged odyssee but 50 bux cheaper....this joker rocks. I left parking lights on for 2 hours....and the car fired right up....after days of sitting it always starts like its fresh. expensive but great warranty
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 1
with the size of the stereo you have there is no need for 2 batterys or even a cap. Do the big 3 and eliminate the cap you shouldnt be burning through batterys that much. I had a bigger system in my camaro and it would sit longer and never an issue with starting
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Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 623
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From: In your sisters panties
I used this to isolate a primary and secondary battery. Uses an ignition signal to activate. Worked perfect.
http://www.stingerelectronics.com/pr...=12&ParentID=1
http://www.stingerelectronics.com/pr...=12&ParentID=1
I.E -
Cap------100A Fuse-----isolator-----Pos terminal on battery
Is that correct?
Last edited by Nightrydass; Oct 16, 2009 at 01:09 PM.
http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152355
Do the Big 3 and get a Kinetik 1400 or 1800 battery.
I'm running the Kinetik 1800, no voltage drops and it has 162 minutes reserve time
Do the Big 3 and get a Kinetik 1400 or 1800 battery.
I'm running the Kinetik 1800, no voltage drops and it has 162 minutes reserve time
Red top for many years here. Had a system for a while and now don't. Car sits for a week and starts right up. Battery has been completely dead a few times also and still jump starts and keeps going.
12 Second Club
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
My truck has had a yellow top since 2001. At one time it had 2 10s, tv, playstation, and etc for about 5 years.......I've accidently left the lights on about 6-7 times because the dinger/buzzer is dead. 2 or 3 were overnight.... Jumped fine all those times and has been still cranks every time now. So that battery has well over 150k miles on it.
Why are you guys running capacitors??? Might want to do some research on that
After I replaced the alternator I still had a dimming problem so I put 4ga from alternator to batt, 1/0 ga ground, and 1/0 ga to my amps and my dimming problem went away. I was running about 1000 watts class d to the subs. Mids/highs were running about 500 to a 6.5" component set.
Why are you guys running capacitors??? Might want to do some research on that
After I replaced the alternator I still had a dimming problem so I put 4ga from alternator to batt, 1/0 ga ground, and 1/0 ga to my amps and my dimming problem went away. I was running about 1000 watts class d to the subs. Mids/highs were running about 500 to a 6.5" component set.
I have had a red top in my 99 chevy fullsize for 4 years now. With 2 amps pulling juice from it. A 1000 watt memphis and a 4 channel memphis amp. Once the AcDelco battery i have in my bird hits the can i will be going with yet another opti
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Land O Lakes/Tampa, Florida
Well I too don't know what is going on with optima, but I just had my yellow top bite the bullet yesterday. I bought it new in Sept. 06. No problems until this all of a sudden, took it to advance auto and it tested dead. So now I am running the yellow top Duralast Gold from AutoZone. I am quite pissed that I only got three years out of a $200 battery, and I have only changed out speakers in my car, no amps or extra subs or extra lighting etc..
I just replaced my AC Delco battery with a Red Top. The positive terminal was so corroded on the Delco that part of the terminal on the battery came off with the screw and I had to get a whole new screw. So far the Red Top has not disappointed me..it cranks up immediately every time. I also have a Stinger Powercell in the rear powering my subs/speakers.
FYI the cheapest place I found for the 75/25 size was Amazon.com, I got mine for $137 with free super saver shipping.
FYI the cheapest place I found for the 75/25 size was Amazon.com, I got mine for $137 with free super saver shipping.
That's exactly what happened on Thursday for me. Wow.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Seffner/Brandon, FL
I have been using a red top optima for about two years now with no problems. Even though I just found out my brother (01SunsetSS) yellow top just died. very weird considering it is a very high quality $200 battery. Other than this one incedent I have not heard of any other problems personally from other people using optima batteries in any car.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
The recent failures are probably because Optimas are made in Mexico now.
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/...mexico-215667/
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/...mexico-215667/