Any Optima problems lately?
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 732
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From: OHIO
Any Optima problems lately? My 99 SS's gauges sweep and trip odometer resets upon start up after its been sitting for a few days...I read that thats a voltage issue and can be resolved with a good battery; therefore, I bought a Duralast from Autozone and it was fine last year but I noticed when I started it up the other day, it did it again. Now...that might be because the battery was low from sitting 3 1/2 months without a charger and I left the battery connected.
I was going to buy an Optima battery when I bought the Duralast but then I read several posts from members here that had problems with their new Optimas.
I was going to buy an Optima battery when I bought the Duralast but then I read several posts from members here that had problems with their new Optimas.
Do NOT buy an Optima. They used to be high quality batteries back in the day, but ever since they switched production to Mexico everything went downhill. I disregarded the few people that warned me about them but I went ahead and got an Optima red top about a year and a half ago. I just bought a new battery two weeks ago because it was performing terribly. It started the car, but you could tell it was not providing enough power and that it was dragging the starter. Cranking voltage was 8 volts; a good battery should not drop below 9.6. After taking the battery out I realized there was a crack down one of the cells and the inside had started to push out. It's not like the battery was banging around or anything, it was securely mounted.
I have a carquest advanced generation battery I got for $60 with core (I work there so I get a discount) and that solved all my problems. I am not sure what to tell you about your gauges...has it happened again since you started the car and let the battery charge up?
I have a carquest advanced generation battery I got for $60 with core (I work there so I get a discount) and that solved all my problems. I am not sure what to tell you about your gauges...has it happened again since you started the car and let the battery charge up?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
From: OHIO
Apparently there are a lot or members here that claim the gauge issue is due to low voltage in the battery. I had to move the car a few weeks ago while it was in storage and the cluster did its thing. The car fired right up, which I was surprised, since it hadn't been charged, started or have the battery disconnected. The battery is probably a year old, I bring the Camaros home tomorrow morning. I will see what happens the next few days.
Thank you for your help. I will not buy an Optima
Thank you for your help. I will not buy an Optima
Do NOT buy an Optima. They used to be high quality batteries back in the day, but ever since they switched production to Mexico everything went downhill. I disregarded the few people that warned me about them but I went ahead and got an Optima red top about a year and a half ago. I just bought a new battery two weeks ago because it was performing terribly. It started the car, but you could tell it was not providing enough power and that it was dragging the starter. Cranking voltage was 8 volts; a good battery should not drop below 9.6. After taking the battery out I realized there was a crack down one of the cells and the inside had started to push out. It's not like the battery was banging around or anything, it was securely mounted.
I have a carquest advanced generation battery I got for $60 with core (I work there so I get a discount) and that solved all my problems. I am not sure what to tell you about your gauges...has it happened again since you started the car and let the battery charge up?
I have a carquest advanced generation battery I got for $60 with core (I work there so I get a discount) and that solved all my problems. I am not sure what to tell you about your gauges...has it happened again since you started the car and let the battery charge up?
Did you not want to get a free new optima? They come with a 3 yr warranty and it should not be pro-rated. Hell, I got my red top replaced for free at around 4 yrs for my truck. My yellow top has lasted since 03 in my t/a.
OP, not sure how current optima's are though.
