Optima batteries

[kingchip]

I've heard nothing but good on these batteries. So, last summer I gave my son the OK to buy a yellowtop while he was away at school. He doesn't remember where he bought it,( cash) but put in his '03 Tahoe and all was good. Now I have the Tahoe and the battery is dead and won't hold a charge. I've taken it back to two reps that sell them in town, and they won't honor the replacement unless I bought it at their store.
I'm thinking that maybe a Wallyworld battery would be a better purchase. The name is on the battery and you always know where you bought it. There is a problem with the warranty when you can't take it back to any rep and get service.

[Toralf]

I got a yellow top Optima as a present from a sales rep last year and put it in my XJ. After the XJ stood for a while the battery is dead as well, not a single light in the dash glows and it does not take on charge, too... I called the sales rep and complained about the battery. He told me I'll get a new one when he's in town the next time... we'll see.

In the CJ I have a so called UniBull battery made by Banner, an Austrian company, have it in since 5 years, holds great, starts the 304 even after sitting over the winter with no recharge... costs half the money an Optima costs over here...

[blackwater]

I've read over and over during the past year or so that Optima doesn't have the quality built in anymore. That's too bad, too, because Blue Torch makes a killer holder for them.

[kingchip]

About the time they get all the accessories lined up, the quality goes away.

The quality is ONLY as good as the customer service.

On the other hand, if it had been a hot date or extra cold brew, my son would never forget where it came from, but a battery?

Not his nickle............. Damm kids.

[Toralf]

About the time they get all the accessories lined up, the quality goes away.

The quality is ONLY as good as the customer service.

On the other hand, if it had been a hot date or extra cold brew, my son would never forget where it came from, but a battery?

Not his nickle............. Damm kids.

It's easy to spent somebody else's money... :bash:

I can't complain about the customer service, I mean, I got the battery as a present and will get a new one for free... but still, the quality seems to have gone away... I heard so many good things about Optima and have seen so many rigs with 'em in it and properly working that I always wanted one for my rides... once I got one it fails...

[Buster]

I've read over and over during the past year or so that Optima doesn't have the quality built in anymore. That's too bad, too, because Blue Torch makes a killer holder for them.

Not sure how much if anything this has to do with it, but, I talked to a guy from Johnson Controls at Camp Jeep (06 I think), and he said that they bought Optima batteries (they also own interstate batteries I think). Maybe just trading on the name?? Wouldn't be the first time we saw that happen...would it??

[JEEPLT1]

90% of the problems ive seen with optimas occur once they have been fully discharged. it seems they dont like that. they will either not hold a charge,or swell up. but ive never had a problem with an optima thats charge has been maintained.
on a side not ive never ever ever had a problem with an odessey battery and will be switching to one in the jeep once the optima dies out of warranty.

[rstarch345]

I've yet to have any battery that's been completely discharged hold any kind of a charge, so I don't think it's just Optima.

Unless Optimas warranty policy has changed, I've been told by several locals that as long as they are an Optima dealer, they'll handle a warranty regardless of where purchased. So I hope their policy hasn't changed as that was one reason I've purchased the Optima.

I've got one Red Top that pushing 4 years another 3 years and a Blue Top for one year. One Red Top and the Blue Top have been pushed hard. In the summers I run a 12v cooler all night off the battery and it still starts the vehicle in the AM. The Blue Top handles the 12K winch and air compressor very well so I've no complaints there.

[tomsjeep]

Wow, that's too bad to hear.
The Redtop in my TJ has been faithfully holding a charge even though it gets seldom used these days.
It has sat idle with only rare starts (every month or so) for the past 120 days... but I bought it about 3 years ago, so I guess I am warned about these. And I was planning on adding a yellowtop w/ a secondary battery to the Libby in a few months.
May still go ahead, since the accessories are there... although I think at least one of the walmart batteries has the same footprint, now that the accessories are out there for these things.

[HOTJeep]

Hmmmmmmmmmm ......................................... I JUST bought a yellow top battery from a guy here in town that wrecked his jeep. Its brand new, still in the plastic wrap. I havent even had time to unwrap it and put it in the jeep ( was gonna do that in the AM ) I sure hope it holds up and holds a charge better then what you guys are saying. Like Ive said a dozen times on here, i dont mind Spending money on my jeep, but I HATE to waste money on my jeep. We shall see .................................

[damuall]

My Red Top is at least 2 years old. About two weeks ago my son and myself were driving around in the last big snow storm (he always begs me to drive around and look for cars in the ditch. He was with me once when I yanked someone out, and he thinks its the greatest thing since sliced bread). When we got home, I forgot my driving lights on. In the AM the battery was dead. I jumped it, drove for about a half hour, and she is still holding up her end of the bargin. For me; I give a good review...but all things are not created equal.

[oros35]

on a side not ive never ever ever had a problem with an odessey battery and will be switching to one in the jeep once the optima dies out of warranty.

After hearing a bunch of problems with the optima's, I went with the Odyssey. So far I am exceptionally happy and impressed with it. A bit more expensive, but if I get the life out of it you are supposed to it will easily pay for itself.

From what I've seen, quality of the optima's has gone down some. Not that they are a bad battery, but there is a better chance you will be using the warrenty.

[tomsjeep]

On a continuation of this thought, I'm happy to report that my redtop just started up my Wrangler with no hesitation, and I just got a nice little drive in, including a teensy-tiny bit of 4wd onto the powerline cut near my house.
:djparty:
I love spring!

[Toralf]

Then your battery does way better than mine, the XJ won't start at all, the Optima refuses to take or hold any load at all...

The CJ starts fine, so I am fine...

And I love spring as well! We already had lots of sun here even though this week is rainy and windy... April at it's best so to say...

[jeepmkcomin]

fyi sam's club sells yellow tops and red tops, maybe blue too not sure. I'm sure they would be much more generous with honoring a warranty than an individual dealer. Also never heard anything bad about optima's that friends are running. I can't afford one though. :P

[only_in_a_yj]

Aren't the yellow tops "Deep Cylce"? And doesn't that mean that they're able to be completely discharged and recharge with no damage? Maybe I'm wrong, but thats what I've always thought a deep cycle battery was for.

[JEEPLT1]

yeah i guess thats why they call it a deep cycle instead of a full cycle. all of our work trucks use and optima yellow top. reason is we run winches, power inverters, and rechargeable batteries plugged in all night. but if i leave my radio on in the jeep for days and it drains my optima to zero it wont always come back. i should probably invest in a battery maintainer to hook up to the jeep but havent yet.

[Gryphon]

I have thrashed my NAPA battery with no problems. I've ran it dead several times in the last three years, it always comes back. I hit it with a 2 volt trickle charger until it is back to full, then off we go. I've nearly always ran those and like them...tho I've never run a winch, so I can't speak for that use.

Broke an Interstate once. It came loose bouncing over logs on a muddy logging road. Wrapped it duct tape and kept refilling it with mud-puddle water. It lasted the weekend and got me home.

[dh_4_ever]

ive heard of blue and yellow tops dieing, duhno why exactly but ahh...yeah. ive not heard of red tops dieing though, more resiliant i guess? I got a red top in mine, drained to dead atleast 5 times now. still good 2yrs later.

[oxcj5]

going on 4 yrs with mine and noticed an improvement in performance. I have a disconnect switch on mine and never have a problem

[oros35]

I have a disconnect switch on mine and never have a problem

Hard to do that when It's your daily driver though.

[Penguin]

Wow, I have to say I have not had that problem.
And yes I have drained my batteries(dead not even a dash light). Many times, many many many times.

But mine are over 4 years old, so maybe I got them before they had problems.

[Ratman]

I have run a yellow top for years and it still holds up very well.
I did put one for the Aux. batt in the RV and drined it way to much. It will take a charge and run the lights for a day or so but will not start the gen set

[khartig]

The yellow top in my CJ is going on 3 years old and has been drained a few times and has always bounced back. As for the warranty, the last yellow top that died I bought in Cali and I replaced it here in Vegas with no questions asked.

[it89]

my brother is on his second yellw top now

he had his stereo hooked directly to the battry and lettthe truck set for several months. i let the battry set for several days on a 2 amp charge and it still wouldent start the truck without a jump.

and hes starting to have problems with the current one not holding a charge

[Poppy]

Had a yellow top....repeat HAD. Won't do that again. Wat too expensive for less quality than was promised. One local auto parts chain store guy told me he wished they didn't have to carry the Optima because of the returnd. Thanks buddy....you are the one that sold me mine and it never held a good charge.

[88 Sahara]

I pulled a Yellow top out of a customer's car who kept complaining it dies a lot. Turns out she had a trickling charge on her map light that drained the battery and sucked it down for over a week. The battery was DOA when it came in the shop but it looked pretty new, about 1 1/2 hrs on a charger and it's starting my Jeep on the first crank every time.

[rippin YJ]

My yellowtop works great! -going on a year so far. I think some these complaints must have a short somewhere - and that will eventually kill any battery. I left the lights on for like 4 hours once and it fired right up. I must have gotten a good one.

[88 Sahara]

My yellowtop works great! -going on a year so far. I think some these complaints must have a short somewhere - and that will eventually kill any battery. I left the lights on for like 4 hours once and it fired right up. I must have gotten a good one.

I feel like one of those priority start things, they work pretty well, they saved me..all day in class, left the lights on...will help out with slow drains. But, they will actually drain the battery when they go bad. 2 batteries in 1 day b4 i figured out what the issue was.

[TJMagoo]

I have a yellow top on my jeep. Have had one for the last 4 years. Only had to replace it once.

[RalphXJ]

I've run a red top for 3 years or so. I've drained it 5+ times (jeep sits for a couple week/months during projects and i forgot to unplug under hood light), and it always charges back up after I jump it with the jump pack.

Very happy with it, I'll buy another one with I finally kill this one.

[oros35]

I have a yellow top on my jeep. Have had one for the last 4 years. Only had to replace it once.

2 batteries in 4 years!!! Doesn't sound very good to me. Even considering what you do with it. Stock batteries are expected to last 6 years, so even if you'd have to replace it twice as often you arn't doing very good. I'd hope to get better life out of one that costs twice as much.

[OffroadCosby]

Bad to hear, sucks alot of places do that to ya.

Cosby

[the Captain]

optima batteries are much better than any flat-plate battery could ever dream to be. the yellow top is a deep cycle marine battery, which means its able to be fully discharged while still being able to be recharged. a regular battery cannot be recharged if it is fully discharged. that makes a deep cycle battery better for winching and such as it takes a charge with less wear from heat and (think shorted cells, leaks)
any deep cycle battery (preferably a sealed one) is gonna be better on a jeep with a winch, and/or plug in accessories/tools (or a trolling motor, golf cart, etc)

[FUBAR]

I bought a champion battery from Kmart 6 or 7 years ago and it still cranks like it's new. It's got a huge CCA rating and was half the price of an Optima.

[91RedRenegade]

I've heard nothing but good on these batteries. So, last summer I gave my son the OK to buy a yellowtop while he was away at school. He doesn't remember where he bought it,( cash) but put in his '03 Tahoe and all was good. Now I have the Tahoe and the battery is dead and won't hold a charge. I've taken it back to two reps that sell them in town, and they won't honor the replacement unless I bought it at their store.
I'm thinking that maybe a Wallyworld battery would be a better purchase. The name is on the battery and you always know where you bought it. There is a problem with the warranty when you can't take it back to any rep and get service.

I have a yellow top in the Scrambler, been there for years. Sometimes I go Months without starting it but no worries. I have twin red tops in the Renegade. Been in there a couple of years without problems. I have a Walmart MAXX in the Grand. Its died twice in the last 3 years and been totally replaced FREE each time no questions. I live in the desert. I think the totally sealed gel cells are better for this environment BUT the price, Amps, CCA and waranty of the MAXX are a big consideration.

Dave:drive:

[tomsjeep]

I installed a Solar Battery Maintainer on each of my Jeeps. (There's a pic in my photo album here on the forum of the one on my TJ)
Brand is Solargizer. It has certainly perked up my RedTop Optima (now over 3 years old, and spent most of the last 2 years sitting idle). Jeep fires up instantly, so I can only conclude that it has kept the battery in like-new condition.
:huh:

[shawn86cj]

Check it out.... http://www.optimabatteries.com/product_support/resuscitating_agmbattery.php