I need to replace my Optima Redtop battery and am not so sure I want to go with another one after reading some of the reviews and problems people have been having with them. I haven't had any real issues with my redtop except that my car has been stored 99% of the time for the last 1.5 yrs, summer and winter. I don't think I started it enough over the winters and now think it has gone bad.

I jump started it about a month ago and let it run for about 45 mins (idle and medium rpms to 2,000), no driving. I turned it off and it started right back up several times. I went back out there 4-5 days later to start it again and not even a click.

So, any opinions on batteries? I only drive the car on average about 1,000 miles a year. I am also thinking of selling it in May or June so I hope not to spend $300 on a top of the line battery.

Thanks for any comments.

Bill

 

y dont you just charge it? im sure it would hold the charge. and i dont mean let your car charge it. put it on an actual battery charger. then when your not using the car unplug your cables from the battery.

 

I bought an ACDelco 5 year battery. I don't see the point in spending money for an expensive battery, especially if one doesn't have a bunch of electronic stuff. However, there are plenty of battery threads on this site which people argue about what battery to buy. Just keep in mind your specific needs -- which it seems is just to have a reliable start.

 

Die Hard Gold battery. Buy a battery tender. During the winter, I've noticed that the charge falls off quicker, so I just leave the tender on.

 

rockin the red top here no issues its been solid for the last 9 mo. $130 from advanced with a code online and in store pickup.

 

Wal-Mart 3 or 5 year free repalcement.Had there batteries in all of my cars if it dies before the warranty is up they hand you a brand new one.

 

I got mine at advanced with a coupon for like $60 with a decent warranty. Overall I dont see the point in spending a lot of money for a battery. There are only 2 scenarios that I would spend more for a better battery. 1. I cared about every last point and bought a light weight battery 2. I relocated it to the truck or inside of car I would spend the extra cash for optima since its gel I wouldn't have to worry about it leaking. Other then that I would just buy one from a store that you know will stand behind the warrenty.

 

You aren't supposed to kill/drain the red tops. Mine was acting weak as well after a couple years in service and I thought it was just a shitty battery. The truth is I was letting the car sit too long without a float charger. I decided to float charge the Optima and see how it goes. It's doing better then ever now even during the periods where I leave the charger off. If the car sits, it needs a charger, end of story.

 

Thanks for all the comments. I will try a trickle charger on the battery before I buy a new one. I'm not sure how old the battery is since it was in the car when I bought it. I know just letting it sit (especially through the winter) is not real smart.

I hope to get it up and running in the next month.

 

All things considering, if you are looking to sell anyway, just toss in a walmart replacement and save some cash

 

8+ years on a Optima yellowtop. I killed it dead plenty of times.

If you jump the car, run it then the battery is charged, then after a few days of sitting it'd dead again, I'd look for a drain.

It could be something as silly as the glovebox light staying on.

 

Bill,get yourself a Deltron Battery Tender for the times that you are storing your car. In the meantime put a charge in your battery with a GOOD Professional charger or jump start your car and then drive it and put some miles on it. I believe what is happening is that you have the battery hooked up and the PCM is draining it. Sometimes with these newer cars they have 2 or even 3 computers and when they sit with the battery hooked up the computers drain the hell out of them. I have about 6 vehicles in storage with the Optima Red Top batteries but what I do is disconnect the batteries and hookup a Deltron Battery Tender. You can buy one anywhere from about $49.95 to about $69.95 for the Battery Tender Plus. Best money you will ever spend. Shop around, you can find them for as low as $49.95. Hope this helps. Rich

 

I've got an Autozone Duralast Gold on mine for now...works fine, starts the car.
I basically destroyed one starting the car without the alternator, trying to make sure the car was going to work before i bolted stuff all over the front of it; after one day it no longer charged. Took it back, they tested it, and handed me another one, no questions asked.

 

Autozone battery and trickle charger

 

imterstates are great batteries and arent expensive.

my car sits for months at a time. as long as ive used a battery tender i havent had a problem.

 

I upgraded my battery to an Interstate shortly after I bought the car (along with nre alternator). Very strong and reliable it is. I got the pair from Summit racing, $120 for the battery.

 

Braille batteries

 

I've never had a problem with wal-mart batteries and the last 3 cars I bought have had Interstate batteries in them and they've worked great. I had to replace the one in my p.o.s. Grand Prix the first year I owned the car only to discover that it was a 7yr old 60month battery. I've also had great luck with my $15 wal-mart 1.5amp trickle charger/maintainer I ignore the fact that it says it's meant for motorcycles and use it on everything, it can charge up my half dead truck battery in under 12hrs.

 

Your cars alternator isn't designed to charge a dead battery, not even one that's almost dead. It's only to top it off while the engine is running.

 

While this may be technically true, I've jump-started many cars with dead batteries and in time, the car fully charged the battery.