Just goes to show it can happen to the best of them. Buy a yellow top and then you'll have at least a week between starts if you've got an electricle gremlim.
Optima redtop dies after 1&1/2 years?
Yep, this morning go out to head off to work and nada. Lights so dim it's not funny when I open the door. Barely even get a click from the solenoid.
Even tried to jump it off and all I could do was get the solenoid to click like mad.
What do ya'll think, dead cell or did my starter somehow screw me? Just that this is the first time I couldn't even jump off a vehicle with a dead battery and that makes me wonder?
I'll pull out the redtop and take it back to Sears and see what they have to say when they test it.
Even tried to jump it off and all I could do was get the solenoid to click like mad.
What do ya'll think, dead cell or did my starter somehow screw me? Just that this is the first time I couldn't even jump off a vehicle with a dead battery and that makes me wonder?
I'll pull out the redtop and take it back to Sears and see what they have to say when they test it.
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Not everyone is perfect, but I thought optima has a decent warranty on the batteries anyway.
I would advise against a yellow top battery if you do everyday driving. Because it's a deep cycle battery, it should only be used if your truck is dishing out alot of power to accessories, such as a big sound system. The Red top is more suited for the everyday driver.
I would advise against a yellow top battery if you do everyday driving. Because it's a deep cycle battery, it should only be used if your truck is dishing out alot of power to accessories, such as a big sound system. The Red top is more suited for the everyday driver.
"I would advise against a yellow top battery if you do everyday driving. Because it's a deep cycle battery, it should only be used if your truck is dishing out alot of power to accessories, such as a big sound system"
Does something bad happen from the 'less deep' usage?
Does something bad happen from the 'less deep' usage?
No known electrical gremlin in the truck. Nothing special's been done to it, just load it up at times and drive it. It's a daily driver and see's mostly highway use except when I have a construction project to take care of around the house. Lots of time to keep the battery charged. No killer sound system or extra lighting to drag down the electrical system. According to the Optima website the redtop is supposed to be perfect for my application.
Bought it at Sears and will run by this afternoon and see what they say. I figure I just got a lemon.
Bought it at Sears and will run by this afternoon and see what they say. I figure I just got a lemon.
The yellow top has less CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) which doesn't mean much, but the point of the yellow top is to withstand the large amount of energy it takes to run amplifers and/or other electronics on a frequent basis hence the "deep cycle." You don't see many yellow top batteries in every day drivers. That's what the red tops are for.Does something bad happen from the 'less deep' usage?
Please let us know how it turns out! :tu:Bought it at Sears and will run by this afternoon and see what they say. I figure I just got a lemon.
My red top in my Tacoma died after a year. They just don't make anything as good as they used to. I had one in my old car before I sold it for 4 yrs without a hiccup. I have one in all of my vehicles and I did have one die in my other truck about a week before the 3 yr free replacement warranty ended, but that truck sits for long stretches without being used. The warranty is the best part about the battery since they replace it free for 3 yrs. :tu: Other than that and the truly maintenance free cells they don't seem to be any better than a regular wet cell battery anymore.
most people look into them because they can be mounted anywhere and anyway. (upside down/on its side)Other than that and the truly maintenance free cells they don't seem to be any better than a regular wet cell battery anymore.
I use them in boats just because of this advantage. They are also better at handling vibrations or rough conditions. Once again in a boat these are GREAT.most people look into them because they can be mounted anywhere and anyway. (upside down/on its side)
Bluetop for boats
Red top for starting
Yellowtop for starting and long discharge times.
I use yellow in everything and it is a redtop that can make a long and deep discharge. So much for the battery experts here. More yellow tops are sold than red and blue combined for daily drivers.
Red top for starting
Yellowtop for starting and long discharge times.
I use yellow in everything and it is a redtop that can make a long and deep discharge. So much for the battery experts here. More yellow tops are sold than red and blue combined for daily drivers.
Optima says nothing about deep cycle capabilies with a red top on their website. They say use the yellow for deep cycle so what makes you the "battery expert"
Read my signature about red top battery life. That battery has been in my 69 Torino for a long time and it's set idle every winter since 1998. Just fired it up yesterday for the first time since last November and it started the car after 15/20 seconds of cranking to bring fuel back to it's carb.:tu:
Larry
Larry
My redtop died about a month ago. They have a three year replacement warranty, so just take it back, and get another...
As for life of redtop, my old car, a 95 turbo eclipse, with tons of electronics, and lots of aftermarket goodies under the hood(bigger turbo, no heat shield etc), literally ate a battery a year. Not just drained it, ate it. Some batteries would only last 6-8 months. I sold the car two years ago, exactly 10 years, had put 8 batteries in it. Lots of heat under the hood too from the turbo, and living in Florida really helped....
Anyway, I had put a redtop in it, and got just over two years out of it when I sold it. So, obviously loving the battery, I swapped it out with the one from my Tundra. Totally the wrong size for the truck, but, like I said, good battery. Well, my redtop finally died a few weeks ago, wouldn't take a charge any more. I had to buy a crappy battery, because the 34R is hard to find, so I didn't replace it with another redtop, which I'm sure I'll regret. So, for me, to get four years out of it, was good, especially when two of the years were in my eclipse...
As for life of redtop, my old car, a 95 turbo eclipse, with tons of electronics, and lots of aftermarket goodies under the hood(bigger turbo, no heat shield etc), literally ate a battery a year. Not just drained it, ate it. Some batteries would only last 6-8 months. I sold the car two years ago, exactly 10 years, had put 8 batteries in it. Lots of heat under the hood too from the turbo, and living in Florida really helped....
Anyway, I had put a redtop in it, and got just over two years out of it when I sold it. So, obviously loving the battery, I swapped it out with the one from my Tundra. Totally the wrong size for the truck, but, like I said, good battery. Well, my redtop finally died a few weeks ago, wouldn't take a charge any more. I had to buy a crappy battery, because the 34R is hard to find, so I didn't replace it with another redtop, which I'm sure I'll regret. So, for me, to get four years out of it, was good, especially when two of the years were in my eclipse...
No kidding about DSM's and heat brotha. My Garrett T3/T4 BB .56 Trim on my 90 could melt an iceberg from all the heat it produced. Even in the winter it took forever for it to cool down.
As far as the yellow top, it is not designed to be a daily driver/startup battery. It is to be used for long and heavy discharge cycles (heavy audio equipment) It can be used as a daily driver battery, but why get the deep cycle if you aren't going to use it. That's just money wasted.
As far as the yellow top, it is not designed to be a daily driver/startup battery. It is to be used for long and heavy discharge cycles (heavy audio equipment) It can be used as a daily driver battery, but why get the deep cycle if you aren't going to use it. That's just money wasted.
OK, took the truck to Toyota and they figure it's the starter. Gonna be $550 to replace it...damn things under the manifold.
They "figure" it's the starter???
I wouldn't plop down $550 unless they were "sure" it was the starter.
I wouldn't plop down $550 unless they were "sure" it was the starter.
Agreed.They "figure" it's the starter???
Hmm and here I though I would get an Optima battery next, if they are made that pi$$ poor I think I'll pass.
There are alot of factors to consider when it comes to just one battery going bad, considering how many of these batteries are in cars. You hear more good than bad so.Hmm and here I though I would get an Optima battery next, if they are made that pi$$ poor I think I'll pass.
I will be switching to a Red Top for the next one. I just don't need a new one right now.
I would buy another and another, best battery I've ever owned.Hmm and here I though I would get an Optima battery next, if they are made that pi$$ poor I think I'll pass.
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