Optima battery

[skypig]

My cruiser decided to do nothing this morning and I suspect it is a dead battery. Good excuse to upgrade to an Optima Red Top--does anyone know if I am looking to fit a 75/35 model or a 34/78? And is there any installation tricks or hints I should know about? It is 20 degrees outside and I don't want to flail at all.

 

[spressomon]

Everyone has an opinion about Optima's...

If interested you might check out the Orbitals...which I am currently using without complaint. I use 1-standard and 1-deep cycle Orbital (DC is used on my second circuit). The only thing I needed to do to make it fit properly, in the stock battery tray, was to buy a small piece of plastic about 1/2" thick to act as a spacer due to the battery height being about 1/2" shorter than facto battery.

 

[skypig]

is the Orbital a gel cell battery? Can I expect to find one at Sam's or an auto parts store?

 

[spressomon]

Napa, Kragen, et al carry the Orbital batteries (made by Exide). They have a better warranty and are non-prorated replacement for the first 24-months of their warranty (deep cycles are the first 18-months).


http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/exide_orbital/

 

[spressomon]

FYI: I have no incentive to recommend Orbital batteries...I have one buddy that was left high and dry by an Optima that prematurely gave up...and have heard others here voicing their Optima unhappiness...

 

[100 TD]

Have a look at the third post in this thread
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=49370&highlight=optima
it has a photo of a group 31 Optima install, which is a lot bigger and more powerful than the size you are thinking of.

 

[100 TD]

Optima yellow top deep cycle/cranking batteries have a 2 year free replacement warranty IIRC

 

[skypig]

Not the battery after all

Now I am puzzled . . . thinking the starter is somehow responsible--frozen or something. First persistent cold weather (below freezing for 2 days) here in the south and my recently bought 98 LC 100 doesn't seem to even want to try to turn over. Could water have entered somehow and now be frozen, even though I was driving the truck all around town yesterday up until 9:30 pm? Must of started it 5 or 6 times yesterday if not more with no issues.

 

[Hawke]

Can you hear it engage with the ring gear on the flywheel while noticing a large draw on the electrical?

 

[skypig]

It is trying to do something but I don't think anything is engaging. Earlier I had jumped the old battery (which I have now determined was fine), so I had two batteries trying to turn it over with no success. Now I have a new Optima 35/75 in place and it makes a large draw type noise with nothing engaging.

 

[skypig]

Can I reach the starter without any serious dismantling?

 

[spressomon]

Can I reach the starter without any serious dismantling?

I haven't rebuilt mine yet but judging from the starter posts here I would say 'no'.

 

[firetruck41]

Do search for starter contact replacement.

 

[skypig]

Cold weather?

Does it make any sense that the cold temps suddenly affected the starter? I just bought this TLC from a guy in Bangor Maine--it's a 98 with 27,000 miles and apparently no history of starter/starting problems. I did have a relatively deep water crossing a couple of weeks ago when the temps were in the 60's and 70s, but again I was running around town all day yesterday with absolutely no issues.

 

[spressomon]

Does it make any sense that the cold temps suddenly affected the starter? I just bought this TLC from a guy in Bangor Maine--it's a 98 with 27,000 miles and apparently no history of starter/starting problems. I did have a relatively deep water crossing a couple of weeks ago when the temps were in the 60's and 70s, but again I was running around town all day yesterday with absolutely no issues.

1998 with only 27K? Wow...must be like new (other than the starter/battery issue).

 

[skypig]

98 with 27k ... definitely a primary motivator for this particular purchase ... definitely counting on a relatively "new" performance although suspect there will be a number of minor issues to resolve before she settles down.

1. new "starter" issue
2. solid tune up to increase fuel efficiency
3. increase range by adding aux or replacement fuel tank
4. add rear bumper to locate spare (need to ascertain what springs are on rear)
5. purchase add'l set of tires (at's) for more typical touring rather than weekend offroad mt's
6. cargo mat

 

[calamaridog]

There are several threads on Odyssey batteries also.

 

[skypig]

new development--it started at 28 degress OAT

Well I just tried to start the vehicle and on the first try it was slow but it started. The out air temp (OAT) is rising and about 29 degrees. Other than that, no difference from the yesterday or this morning when I tried to start it. I am guessing I have a weak starter and the cold weather shut it down; further, from all the advise and reading, I suspect I am due for a starter replacement job and can either expect to offer up a Saturday or big dollars.

 

[Greg B]

It surprises me that its the starter at such low miles. The starter issues that most experience here are wear related and occur more at 60-80K mile mark. At 28K, this doesn't seem like the issue would be the started contacts. But, I guess the starter could just be defective. Did you have the battery load tested to make sure it's not the problem?

To add my vote, I really like the Oddyssey pc1700mjt I added to my 100. The terminals are in the correct placement and it has tons of cranking power.

 

[LXPearl]

Skypig,
Several months ago my wife thought the battery was dead after listening to the radio for about half hour and it would not start. I cleaned the battery terminals and it started and ran fine since. I suspect there was a slight film or corrosion that was not readily visible, but prevented the battery from getting a full charge from the alternator when running. That may be a possible cause in your case - hard to know the history since you just got it. I doubt the starter with so few miles. I would more suspect the battery because of the age factor.

Before springing for a tune up at 27K miles, I would try Redline gas treatment (Pep Boys in NLR has it) or Techron fuel system treatment. That should clean up the fuel system deposits from relatively low use of the vehicle.

If the previous owner used a "cheap" regular gas (or even premium), there may be some deposits based on minimal fuel additives to keep the engine clean.

Congrats on a really nice low mileage find.