quality of optima batteries

[yellowjacket]

anyone have any problems with optima batteries lately? fixin to buy a yellow top but a friend mentioned that, in the last few years ,the quality has gone downhill a lot....

battery box fits 34/78 size so i am limited to a specific size


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[TomH]

I can't tell you how their quality was in the past, but I have a four year old Yellow Top that is fine.

Bought a second one at Sam's this summer. Thought about alternatives like the Odyssey, but it was too spendy given the Yellow Top's performance. I couldn't find a Wally World battery that had both side/top posts like the Yellow Top. (I uses both for different connections, and I'm too lazy to rewire the ends.)

The original is now my backup and in-house 12V power source for higher amp science projects.

[carwash]

Save your money. Get a green top Interstate 78DT. 3 year free replacement no questions asked. Optima is not what it used to be. I'll never pay for one again.

[Nuts]

I bought a new yellow top last fall and haven't had any trouble out of it so far.

[yellowjacket]

lisa told me scotts a dealer so guess i need to chat with him about sizing.

good:)

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[gothodgie]

anyone have any problems with optima batteries lately? fixin to buy a yellow top but a friend mentioned that, in the last few years ,the quality has gone downhill a lot....

battery box fits 34/78 size so i am limited to a specific size


Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

http://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-corner/472704-optima-yay-nay.html

here is some good info on optima batteries... if you go thru the thread there is a guy from optima(optima jim) that answers a bunch of specific questions too...

[blazerbrad]

Could never bring myself to spend the money on an Optima. Just got a new pair for the Blazer today after having some issues. I've had good luck with the Duralast Gold versions from Autozone and have been running them since the mid-90's. They have a 3 year free replacement and an 8 year pro-rated warranty. The set I replaced today was right at 6 years old and had a rough life in an off-road vehicle, winching, sat around a lot between being started, and had been drained and recharged several times (sometimes the diesel is a bare to start when real cold).

Basically walked out of the store with a pair of dual terminal group 34 1000CCA batteries for the price of one, which I didn't think was bad considering the olds ones were 6 years old. Optimas were around $190 per battery.

The factory GM battery in my '03 went out after 7 years and I replaced it with whatever the Advance Auto Parts "premium" house brand is. Think I got 35% off by using a discount code online and them store pickup, and thus the reason I went that route.

[jwend]

Save your money. Get a green top Interstate 78DT. 3 year free replacement no questions asked. Optima is not what it used to be. I'll never pay for one again.

Save your money,, they suck.. I have been 3 yellows and 2 reds in the last 3 years.. they were covered by warranty but its still a pain

[drmeece]

I get the blems from Withards in bethel $25.00 (might be 35.00 now)have been using them for years never any problems. I usually get 3 to 4 yrs out of them.

[GPER]

I put the top of the line Die Hard in my first Jeep 38 years ago and have never had any problem 6-8 years out of them. I run them in the CJ, XJ, Camry, and a full size battery in the Polaris Ranger.:D

[94Dodge Truggy]

Optima was sold and is now made in china I believe. Better off buying a odyssey or interstate now if you need reliability.

[gothodgie]

Optima was sold and is now made in china I believe. Better off buying a odyssey or interstate now if you need reliability.

mexico from what i have read

[94Dodge Truggy]

mexico from what i have read

That sounds right! The other china. :p

[timido]

I had one in my race car for 5 years no problems it is still in the car when I sold it. The jeep I bought has a yellowtop in it no problems yet. I know you need to use a battery charger that charges AGM battery's or you will boil them

[94Dodge Truggy]

You are better off buying a 2 year old or older optima battery than a new one with the sub-par build quality found now. The Optima company was sold and they are now manufactured in Mexico I have just found out in a recent thread from a battery distributor. That sucks! I run an Odyssey dry cell in my side x side with no problems after the stock one failed twice in 7 months. Maybe this is an alternative.

[Boost]

Could never bring myself to spend the money on an Optima. Just got a new pair for the Blazer today after having some issues. I've had good luck with the Duralast Gold versions from Autozone and have been running them since the mid-90's. They have a 3 year free replacement and an 8 year pro-rated warranty. The set I replaced today was right at 6 years old and had a rough life in an off-road vehicle, winching, sat around a lot between being started, and had been drained and recharged several times (sometimes the diesel is a bare to start when real cold).

Basically walked out of the store with a pair of dual terminal group 34 1000CCA batteries for the price of one, which I didn't think was bad considering the olds ones were 6 years old. Optimas were around $190 per battery.

The factory GM battery in my '03 went out after 7 years and I replaced it with whatever the Advance Auto Parts "premium" house brand is. Think I got 35% off by using a discount code online and them store pickup, and thus the reason I went that route.
x2:beers:

[TomH]

Optima was sold and is now made in china I believe.

Optima is a brand of Johnson Controls (JCI) out of Milwaukee. They make stuff all over including China, Mexico, Europe, and the US. (There was a blurb this summer about JCI doubling their plant in Toledo to make AGM (Optima) batteries.)

[C.P.]

I put 2 in my Blazer about 6 months ago, no problems at all.

[94Dodge Truggy]

I put 2 in my Blazer about 6 months ago, no problems at all.

Not enough time. Give it 3 years and abuse and check in with a report. Hopefully it was just a bad batch.

[Trigger]

Aren't the Diehard Platinum batteries the same as an Odyssey? I thought I read that somewhere.

[yellowjacket]

talked to scott about interstate...he thinks they are wet acid type, im really hopin to stay with an agm or dry so guess ill be lookin in all other directions.

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[KillerKoatings]

I went with the the die hard platinum which I read was the same as the odyssey. They aren't cheap but are suppose to be really good. I've haven't tortured it yet so I guess we will see how it holds up.

[C.P.]

Not enough time. Give it 3 years and abuse and check in with a report. Hopefully it was just a bad batch.

I hope they work out. I swore them off years ago, but needed them in a pinch. I would rather have lead/acid but they are mounted inside the truck.

[carwash]

talked to scott about interstate...he thinks they are wet acid type, im really hopin to stay with an agm or dry so guess ill be lookin in all other directions.

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Liquid should be just fine for you Rob. Batteries don't spill sitting on a shelf in the shop, or in a rig that doesn't move any further than it can be pushed around on the floor.

[yellowjacket]

:cool:...:rolleyes:...:p funny dude!

i was expecting a rollover battery acid ball valve joke from ya! let me check here...yep....the worlds longest build thread belongs to someone else here besides me, so im good!:) how long was that...?

id probably be ok cause i have a sheild between batt and passenger compartment but rather be safe than sorry. from what im hearin here i think ill steer clear of optima for now though

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[gothodgie]

http://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-corner/472704-optima-yay-nay.html

here is some good info on optima batteries... if you go thru the thread there is a guy from optima(optima jim) that answers a bunch of specific questions too...

There is a ton of info in that ^thread^, some good and some bad... From what i remember reading there was an issue with a batch of batteries when they first changed manufacturing locations... Also that there has been much better reviews of of the yellow and blue Optimas...

I personally have only owned 1 optima over the years and it was when they first came out about 15 years ago... They cost too much these days...

I have had good luck with the Advance premium batteries... I have a starting and deep cycle in my cruiser and have not had any issues with them... The starting battery is about 2 years old and starts everytime i want it too..

:beers:

[JeffK5]

I know at one time the Optima was the only battery that would not physically bust from the pounding they got put through in the hill-climber rails.