My Optima Yellow top battery bit the dust after only 15 months!
02-24-2003 | 03:41 PM
#1
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From: At the office
My Optima Yellow top battery bit the dust after only 15 months! Wow, I thought this thing would never die. Damn Phoenix heat <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" /> ...well maybe.
I'm not sure why it died, but it may be one of three reasons.
Obviously, the heat out here destroys batteries. Most batteries last 1 year to 2 years tops out here.
I found out the battery sat on a shelf for 2-3 months before I bought it. My buddy who sells them says Optima comes by and replaces their old ones every 6 weeks maximum. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
Also, my alternator voltage seems to be a bit low. It was running between 13.3 and 14.0 volts when I put my g/f's battery in to see what the problem was. Most of the time it was 13.4v-13.6v, which I believe is under the GM spec of 13.8v-14.4v
I'm not sure what the problem is, but I'm getting my Optima replaced. If the battery dies again, I'm getting a new alternator. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
I'm not sure why it died, but it may be one of three reasons.
Obviously, the heat out here destroys batteries. Most batteries last 1 year to 2 years tops out here.
I found out the battery sat on a shelf for 2-3 months before I bought it. My buddy who sells them says Optima comes by and replaces their old ones every 6 weeks maximum. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
Also, my alternator voltage seems to be a bit low. It was running between 13.3 and 14.0 volts when I put my g/f's battery in to see what the problem was. Most of the time it was 13.4v-13.6v, which I believe is under the GM spec of 13.8v-14.4v
I'm not sure what the problem is, but I'm getting my Optima replaced. If the battery dies again, I'm getting a new alternator. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
02-24-2003 | 04:03 PM
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From: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
Re: My Optima Yellow top battery bit the dust after only 15 months! I would look for +14V across the terminals while the engine is running to assess the alt output. But, if the battery is fubar'd, it can drag the voltage down.
I've heard the spiral wound batts don't last long, but have no experience w/them.
Another thing that will seem to lead to alt/batt probs is a "slow" short, whereby a constantly energized circuit that shorts to ground on a partially bare wire will bleed the batt down.
Good luck.
I've heard the spiral wound batts don't last long, but have no experience w/them.
Another thing that will seem to lead to alt/batt probs is a "slow" short, whereby a constantly energized circuit that shorts to ground on a partially bare wire will bleed the batt down.
Good luck.
02-24-2003 | 06:27 PM
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Re: My Optima Yellow top battery bit the dust after only 15 months! </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by gwj:
<strong> I would look for +14V across the terminals while the engine is running to assess the alt output. But, if the battery is fubar'd, it can drag the voltage down.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I hope I was reading the right ATAP feature...I was using the ignition voltage reading, and testing it with my g/f's working battery, not the f'ed up one. It was only at 13.4-13.6 mostly. Mabye I do have other issues.
<small>[ February 24, 2003, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: verbs ]</small>
<strong> I would look for +14V across the terminals while the engine is running to assess the alt output. But, if the battery is fubar'd, it can drag the voltage down.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I hope I was reading the right ATAP feature...I was using the ignition voltage reading, and testing it with my g/f's working battery, not the f'ed up one. It was only at 13.4-13.6 mostly. Mabye I do have other issues.
<small>[ February 24, 2003, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: verbs ]</small>
02-26-2003 | 12:37 AM
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From: Mi./Al.
Re: My Optima Yellow top battery bit the dust after only 15 months! Asuming you have a bad battery I would suggest you go with the AutoZone Gold Series battery next time, the battery comes with a three year 100% replacement warranty. I have the gold battery in two different cars and I wouldn't think of using any thing else.
Al
Al
