quality of optima batteries

yellowjacket · 12-11-2011, 11:43 AM

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 · 12-11-2011, 12:03 PM

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 · 12-11-2011, 12:24 PM

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 · 12-11-2011, 12:50 PM

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

yellowjacket · 12-11-2011, 12:52 PM

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

good:)

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gothodgie · 12-11-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

http://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-cor...a-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 · 12-11-2011, 05:24 PM

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 · 12-11-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 12-11-2011, 06:08 PM

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 · 12-11-2011, 07:18 PM

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.

94Dodge Truggy · 12-11-2011, 09:48 PM

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

gothodgie · 12-12-2011, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

mexico from what i have read

94Dodge Truggy · 12-12-2011, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gothodgie

mexico from what i have read

That sounds right! The other china. :p

timido · 12-12-2011, 09:06 AM

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 · 12-12-2011, 12:53 PM

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 · 12-12-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

x2

TomH · 12-12-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94Dodge Truggy

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. · 12-13-2011, 06:06 PM

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

94Dodge Truggy · 12-14-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.P.

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 · 12-14-2011, 08:30 AM

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

yellowjacket · 12-14-2011, 08:37 AM

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 · 12-14-2011, 08:43 AM

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. · 12-14-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94Dodge Truggy

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 · 12-14-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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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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 · 12-14-2011, 11:10 AM

...

...: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

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

12-11-2011, 11:43 AM	#1
yellowjacket barely breathing Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: alexandria, ky Posts: 889	quality of optima batteries 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 __________________ my next rig will be on the trail before zuk 2.0 will

12-11-2011, 12:24 PM	#3
carwash pimpin' IS easy Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Union, KY Posts: 3,344 Images: 605	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. __________________

12-11-2011, 12:52 PM	#5
yellowjacket barely breathing Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: alexandria, ky Posts: 889	lisa told me scotts a dealer so guess i need to chat with him about sizing. good:) Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk __________________ my next rig will be on the trail before zuk 2.0 will

12-11-2011, 06:08 PM	#9
drmeece Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Amelia Ohio Posts: 136	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. __________________ I got a jeep

12-11-2011, 09:48 PM	#11
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	Optima was sold and is now made in china I believe. Better off buying a odyssey or interstate now if you need reliability. __________________

12-11-2011, 12:03 PM	#2
TomH Gearhead Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Anderson Posts: 95	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.

12-11-2011, 12:50 PM	#4
Nuts Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: middletown,oh Posts: 508	I bought a new yellow top last fall and haven't had any trouble out of it so far.

12-11-2011, 05:24 PM	#7
blazerbrad - CORE Member - Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 831 Images: 6	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.

12-11-2011, 07:18 PM	#10
GPER Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kettering, Ohio Posts: 811	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.

12-12-2011, 09:06 AM	#14
timido Student Driver Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 197	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

12-12-2011, 12:53 PM	#15
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	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. __________________

12-13-2011, 06:06 PM	#18
C.P. Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: HAMILTON Posts: 17	I put 2 in my Blazer about 6 months ago, no problems at all.

12-14-2011, 08:30 AM	#20
Trigger Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 281	Aren't the Diehard Platinum batteries the same as an Odyssey? I thought I read that somewhere.

12-14-2011, 08:37 AM	#21
yellowjacket barely breathing Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: alexandria, ky Posts: 889	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. Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk __________________ my next rig will be on the trail before zuk 2.0 will

12-14-2011, 08:43 AM	#22
KillerKoatings Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 119	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.

12-14-2011, 11:10 AM	#25
yellowjacket barely breathing Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: alexandria, ky Posts: 889	......: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 Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk __________________ my next rig will be on the trail before zuk 2.0 will