Optima...YAY or NAY!?

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I will never buy an red top optima again.. They don't last especially if you don't Run em daily.

A friend has an odyssey and climbed a hill just using the starter and the battery ( had carb issues in his 40). That was two years ago.
 
Hi lenross1, I'm sorry to hear about the problems you had with your battery and I'd like to learn more about your application and the circumstances surrounding your issues. What kind of vehicle was your RedTop in and how long did it last? Do you recall the voltage of the battery when you were having issues and what were the circumstances surrounding those issues?

I just drove through Jackson yesterday. I wish I would've had more consistent internet access on my trip, as I would've liked to have met you and discussed this in person.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
 
Chicago-You have probably decided what to do by now but...


I've had good luck with Optima blue tops. The one in my FJ40 has got to be 5 years old, runs infrequently and discharged to zero every winter when I don't drive it. Literally, it can sit from October to April without starting. I'm sure that this would be considered battery abuse, but it fired to life like it always does just a couple of weeks ago after sitting for 5-6 months.

I've also run a Blue in my 80 since 2005, that is just now calling it quits. So decent batteries in my book.

If you want a sleeper battery-I have had extremely good luck with Kirkland (Costco) Marine Deep cycle batteries in the Cruisers. For $50 you get a decent vibration resistant conventional battery. You only get a 2 year warranty but the one in my 60 is 4 years and still going strong.


'74 UA FJ said:
Lol. Pwnt.
Click to expand...


Cracked me up too. LOL.
 
OptimaJim said:
Hi lenross1, I'm sorry to hear about the problems you had with your battery and I'd like to learn more about your application and the circumstances surrounding your issues. What kind of vehicle was your RedTop in and how long did it last? Do you recall the voltage of the battery when you were having issues and what were the circumstances surrounding those issues?

I just drove through Jackson yesterday. I wish I would've had more consistent internet access on my trip, as I would've liked to have met you and discussed this in person.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
Click to expand...

Jim,

Thanks for being on the forum and answering questions.

I've had a Redtop battery in my trail rig that was a little over year old. It was always on a battery maintainer when not in use. It still died and fail to hold a charge after 3 wheeling trips.

I went though the following: 2 yellow tops and 4 red tops in my vehicles over the years. Now, I run Odyssey batteries in my truck and trail rig. When the Red top in my Camry fails, it will be replaced with an Odyssey.

I remember the Optima batteries being much better quality many years ago. It just does not seem to be the case anymore.

After my Red Top failed on my trail rig and my tow truck (daily driver), I went shopping for a Red Top. They were $179 + tax. My Odyssey batteries (PC 1500) ended up around $250 each shipped. Yes, more expensive, but much better CCA and reserve power. I hope I get 5-6 years of use out of them.

Please don't take my comments as slam on Optima batteries. Comments are based on my personal experiences. I hope you'll provide this feedback to Johnson Controls R&D dept.

Charles
 
OptimaJim said:
Hi lenross1, I'm sorry to hear about the problems you had with your battery and I'd like to learn more about your application and the circumstances surrounding your issues. What kind of vehicle was your RedTop in and how long did it last? Do you recall the voltage of the battery when you were having issues and what were the circumstances surrounding those issues?

I just drove through Jackson yesterday. I wish I would've had more consistent internet access on my trip, as I would've liked to have met you and discussed this in person.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
Click to expand...

Hi Jim thanks for being apart of the thread.

I wish I new you were in town. Our monthly land cruiser meeting was yesterday in Jackson. That may have worked out. You might have had a chance to meet some of the guys and they could have shared their experience with with you as well ( not all bad :) )



I really respect a company that shows interest in customer feedback. As a business owner as well, I believe that you must listen to your clientele to stay competitive in a this market. So, like Charles said, I hope you don't take this a rant against your product. For the price of an Optima and other high end batteries we expect the best for our money. And in my experience the Optimas are falling short.

I usually buy my batteries at a local Autozone. I have had 4 red top batteries over the past 4 years. I don't recall the battery voltage but here is my experience with them.

I ran one in suzuki samurai my daily driver /weekend warrior at the time. Samurai was driven hard in mud and used the 5,000 warn winch ( yes warn did make a 5k way back when ) regularly. It lasted about 3 years. I had that replaced under warranty. Then the samurai grew up exen more and became a trail only vehicle. That battery lasted about a year. That one was replaced under warranty as well. The only way I can keep it alive is to run a disconnect . I basically disconnect the negative battery terminal using a quick disconnect.

I just replaced the red top I had in my 80 series land cruiser with a duralast. I chose a duralast because it tested well in consumer reports and has started up every time I needed it to even though the land cruiser sits most of the month.

I know I will probably be heckled for not running a optima or odyssey or some other super expensive battery, but at $80 bucks I could get 2-3 for the price of an optima or odyssey. I will conduct my own test and see how it does. Plus I am tired of paying way too much and getting mediocre results.

I hope this helps improving your product Jim.
 
I've run a Yellow Top in my 55 for about 4 years and I have not been nice to it and it has never let me down.

I just bought a Sears Diehard Platinum for my FJ Cruiser and I'll let y'all know if anything big pops up after awhile.
 
Charles & lenross1, I appreciate your feedback and will certainly forward your comments regarding your experiences with our batteries and I'm sorry to hear your RedTops did not meet your expectations. Since many folks on this site have deep-cycle applications, I do want to clarify that our RedTop batteries are starting/lighting/ignition (SLI) batteries and are not designed or warrantied for deep-cycle use, including winching, refrigerators, etc... Our YellowTops would be the more appropriate choice for those applications. lenross1, if you continue to have issues with your new battery, you may want to review your electrical system for a parasitic draw.

Cruiserdrew & eventhough, I'm glad to hear you both have been pleased with your Optima batteries.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.powerpacknation.com
 
I was under the impression that the blue tops are meant for low amperage, sustained draw, like a trolling motor in a boat or a coach battery in an RV, and are not ideal for winching, starting, etc. Curious that so many have had good experience with the Blues.

Personally, I have 2 red tops. 1 is vintage 2001, has been killed (by leaving something on) 5 times, and brought back to life by a 5 amp charge every time, and starts/winches great. This is in the buggy.
The other is in the Trans Am, is more recent (about 2005 or so), and is also holding a good charge and starts strong every time.

I hope they never die!

If Optima can go back and see what changed between the early 2000's and now, they'll be onto the secret to getting back on top.
 
It is always interesting to read feedback on our batteries, because ironically enough, BlueTops and YellowTops are identical internally (except for the 34M BlueTop, which is the marine version of our Group 34 RedTop starting battery). The only differences between the other BlueTops and their YellowTop counterparts is the additional threaded top posts for marine applications and the length of warranty. (BlueTops do tend to be a bit more expensive than YellowTops).

As I mentioned, RedTops and the 34M BlueTops are SLI (starting/lighting/ignition) batteries, not designed or warrantied for deep-cycle use, including winching. Eskimo, I'm glad to hear you've had success with both your 2001 RedTop, as well as your newer RedTop. We're always collecting stories about our batteries, so feel free to share your story with us- OPTIMA Battery - Power Stories

Our free replacement warranty has gotten longer since the early 2000s, our production facility and manufacturing process are both state-of-the-art and we're selling all the batteries we can make. We're not a company content to rest on past achievements, so we will continue to seek out ways to lead the AGM battery market going forward. We appreciate your support!


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.powerpacknation.com
 
Finally hooked up my secondary red top today in my cruiser. I had charged it when I bought it 3 years ago. Until today I had never charged it nor used it. Hooked it up and switched the battery selector over and the the truck started right up.

I've never had an issue with my redtops. My first pair crapped out on me after 3 years. I had bought them used. They had been in service with the US postal service for 4 years prior.
 
Cruiserdrew said:
Chicago-You have probably decided what to do by now but...


I've had good luck with Optima blue tops. The one in my FJ40 has got to be 5 years old, runs infrequently and discharged to zero every winter when I don't drive it. Literally, it can sit from October to April without starting. I'm sure that this would be considered battery abuse, but it fired to life like it always does just a couple of weeks ago after sitting for 5-6 months.

I've also run a Blue in my 80 since 2005, that is just now calling it quits. So decent batteries in my book.

Kirkland (Costco) Marine Deep cycle batteries in the Cruisers. For $50 you get a decent vibration resistant conventional battery. You only get a 2 year warranty but the one in my 60 is 4 years and still going strong.






Cracked me up too. LOL.
Click to expand...

Andy,
I ended up going with the red top from. Got it from Summit...
There were apparently TWO different red tops????
This one had the top and side terminals and I thought that might be a better option for accessory wiring and such.
Was considering the yellow, but Im not running hardly anything, so I figured the red will be fine.
 
Trollhole, I'm glad to hear your Optimas have served you well. chicago, we actually have seven different RedTop Group sizes, not including our 6-volt RedTop. The side terminals on your battery are fine for starting, but any accessory that requires a high-amperage output for extended periods of time (like winches) should always be connected to the top posts of a battery designed for deep-cycle use, like our YellowTops.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
 
More feedback for Optimajim---

I have an fj40 with a sbc in it and for the last 10 years it used a blue top deep cycle optima for the main batt. Now this engine would require long periods of cranking to start but started faithfully. It would sit for 3 months between start up at times and it was sometimes fine and other times dead. Never totally dead and always took a charge. It would run my arb fridge full time for 3 days or so without any solar just needed to run engine or drive around a bit to keep batt. up. I was satisfied and felt that batt. did well. So well that the 10 year old blue top now serves aux. batt. duties. I put a p2 in as main batt. and we'll see how it holds up but it is comforting to know the ole blue top is under the hood.
 
When I bought my 60, I needed a battery for it. I bought a blue top with the top posts in 2007 and have had zero problems with it. I can have the radio on all day with the truck off with no issues starting, I can have the truck non-running for two months at a time and there is no problems starting...

Definitely a good investment in my experience.
 
I have a RT group 34R (primary) and a YT group 34 (Aux.)
~34R = reverse terminal~ (in this case, matches the oem config)
^ the standard RT 34 does not have reverse terminals and will require specific battery mount placement and/or extending the cables somewhat.

My RTR G34 is 6 years old...
and the YT G34 is around 5 years old.
bought the later used... fo $ 50.
was prolly already a year old.

I have to say... I prefer the YT
and as soon as my RT dies, it will be replaced with a YT.

I have never had issue with my batteries...
but have found that the RT does not appreciate sitting idle
as well as the YT does.
And my junk sits idle more these days, then when I first install the system.

IMO... many folk abuse their Optima batteries,
by running heavy loads attached to the side terminals on the G 34's...
and I would recommend against doing that.

Anyway... it's just my opinion...
but I don't think it's the battery always to blame,
when it comes to all the folks complaining.
More then likely... there's some human fault in that failure.

I've been purdy dang happy with my Optima's...
they have never let me down on the trail, nor anywhere else.
and see no reason to believe all the BS I read about them.

Here's my set up...
still working as good, as the day I installed it :)
DSBattmnt18.jpg


RedTop 34R (reverse terminal)
BIinstall08.jpg


YellowTop (Aux) Group 34

BIinstall07.jpg
 
Last edited:
OptimaJim said:
Trollhole, I'm glad to hear your Optimas have served you well. chicago, we actually have seven different RedTop Group sizes, not including our 6-volt RedTop. The side terminals on your battery are fine for starting, but any accessory that requires a high-amperage output for extended periods of time (like winches) should always be connected to the top posts of a battery designed for deep-cycle use, like our YellowTops.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
Click to expand...

Why don't you want to connect the winch leads to the side terminals?
 
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