I give up... which battery???

[blkTJ]

O.K., I'm dissappointed. Installed an optima Yellow top May 2003. It's about dead. What's gonna last me more than 22 months???

yes I winch, yes I run a 12v air compressor.

thanks for your input.

[Chris L]

I hear the oddessey {spell} is the ticket. I have had fairly good luck with 2 optimina's, but most of what I have read on the subject lean towards the oddesey.

[DsrtJeeper]

I read an interesting article the other day and I wish I could remember where.

The article stated that vehicle batteries still need to be put on an auxillary charge once in a while to maintain good longevity. Supposedly; the alternator often does not create a full charge cycle with normal driving.

[TObject]

Batteries are as much magic as they are science. I still don't understand how batteries that supposedly can be COMPLETELY discharged work.

[blkTJ]

I talked to an ex-executive from Johnson Controls/Interstate/Optima today. He also suggested removing the battery and charging it. I think I'll try it, although I'll need another one to drive the Jeep in the meantime. we'll see.

[Robert J. Yates]

so you have a guy from optima telling you that your vehicle isn't getting it done on the charging side?

no offense to you optima guys but that is flat out hilarious. my yellowtop lasted just long enough to beat the warranty and in fact, the battery charger I have now was bought specifically to deal with the optima while it was in its death throws. funny thing though, its never been connected to my oddysey. my vehicle appears to charge it just fine without any external help

[Darrell C]

Originally posted by blkTJ
He also suggested removing the battery and charging it.

Not picking on optima with this, but any battery designed for a vehicle, assuming a properly functioning charging system, should not require this process. And judging by the number of times I've heard of this external charging process being suggested, I can't believe all those vehicles have poor charging systems.

I know Stu had good luck with his yellow top, and I got 4+ years from my optima, but I was using a blue top/deep cycle. When my battery got weak, I wanted to try something different so I installed two Odyssey 920's. They've been on-board for almost a year with no issues. (Plus two batteries allows me to pull both to power my ready welder if I happen to be alone).

I think this external charging process will be a temporary measure, Brian, and only buy you a little time before the battery completely kicks the bucket.

Seems like four options:

Get another yellow top,
Try a blue top,
Switch to an odyssey,
Install another brand (Diehard for instance).

Edit: BTW, I am assuming with this that your charging system is functioning properly.

[Paradiddle]

Originally posted by blkTJ
I think I'll try it, although I'll need another one to drive the Jeep in the meantime. we'll see.

Hey - you should have said something sooner - I have a red top in my garage on the floor. I was going to give it to Sergey to replace his leaky CAT batter, but haven't gotten around to it.

Besides, I'm not sure he'd take it from me and I might have to appoligize.

Jeff

[Anders Karlsson]

I just pulled an Odyssey out of my Suburban today, it has been turning the starter very slow the last week and this morning nothing, it shows 12.5 volts and the alternator puts out 14.5. I replaced it with another Odyssey. The battery was about six months old.

[blkTJ]

Originally posted by Paradiddle
Hey - you should have said something sooner - I have a red top in my garage on the floor. I was going to give it to Sergey to replace his leaky CAT batter, but haven't gotten around to it.

Besides, I'm not sure he'd take it from me and I might have to appoligize.

Jeff

what shape is it in???

[TObject]

Originally posted by blkTJ
what shape is it in???

Rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners.

[mrblaine]

Originally posted by TObject
Rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners.

It's also the female version, you can tell by those two little nipple looking things on top.

[TObject]

Originally posted by mrblaine
It's also the female version, you can tell by those two little nipple looking things on top.

And it's wearing a pink top.

[Chris L]

Originally posted by TObject
And it's wearing a pink top.

and sergey can keep it next to his pink ox locker cover

[quadna71]

hey Darrell C, you have a pm.
chris

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally posted by Anders Karlsson
I just pulled an Odyssey out of my Suburban today, it has been turning the starter very slow the last week and this morning nothing, it shows 12.5 volts and the alternator puts out 14.5. I replaced it with another Odyssey. The battery was about six months old.

That's impossible, that can't happen with an Odyssey.

[mrblaine]

Originally posted by Jerry Bransford
That's impossible, that can't happen with an Odyssey.

If it was 6 months old, they will hand you a new one with no questions asked other than whether or not you need help carrying it to the truck.

I did discover that none of the AGM style batteries like sitting discharged for more than a couple of weeks. Kills them dead.

[papromike]

After going through a few optima yellows in a small period of time and having to deal with their customer "dis-service" department.

I bit the bullet and got 2 odyssey PC1200MJT;s and havent looked back.

call bruce at west Cost batterys, really good guy

[Rockjeep]

Just bought an oddsey battery for our diesel pusher. The ony battery replaced two regular diesel batterys. It has a great warrenty. Even is guarentyed to have a two year shelflife to hald its charge, or they replace it free.

[mrblaine]

Originally posted by Rockjeep
Just bought an oddsey battery for our diesel pusher. The ony battery replaced two regular diesel batterys. It has a great warrenty. Even is guarentyed to have a two year shelflife to hald its charge, or they replace it free.

I have 3 of those at the shop. Did you use an engine hoist to swing it into the battery compartment?

[Rockjeep]

Almost need one. There a little on the meavy side.

[Desert Fox]

For what it's worth - About four years ago I purchased a Pro Comp Off Road battery on sale. I have done a good bit of winching with it and it is still going strong. I don't know who makes their batteries, but I have no complaints.

Fred

[Milan]

Originally posted by Desert Fox
For what it's worth - About four years ago I purchased a Pro Comp Off Road battery on sale. I have done a good bit of winching with it and it is still going strong. I don't know who makes their batteries, but I have no complaints.

Fred

I believe those are Exide Orbital batteries.

[Daless2]

I have two trucks, a real one, F250 Power Stroke and a 1995 Toyota T-100 for light hauling of bulky stuff.

I replaced the battery in the T-100 which was 11 years old last week and still had the original "Toyota Toshue" Battery.

I would buy another one in a heart beat if I could find one.

Never had a battery anywhere last that long.

When it finally died it went completly bellie up and cracked.

Replaced it with an Oddesy.


Frank

[quadna71]

Quick update:
I finally replaced my yellow top of almost 8 years. It was getting tougher and tougher to top it off and after 4-5 days of being parked it would crank pretty slowly. No complaints though as I'm satisfied with the lifespan.

I was hesitant to rebuy another yellow top as my wife's is having issues after only a few years - so I went with the Diehard Platinum. I hope it serves me well!

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by quadna71

...so I went with the Diehard Platinum. I hope it serves me well!

Good decision. That battery will hold up great, unlike any of the current Optimas will. I wish I had the $$$ to buy another Diehard Battery battery for my replacement Jeep, I loved it in my last TJ for the 3 months before the entire frigging Jeep was stolen.

[DC]

I'll second the Diehard Platinum. That is one great battery that will beat the hell out of an Optima (it replaced a yellow top in my 2000 TJ).

[Iceman]

In both Jeeps I'm still running Optima Redtops, with no complaints so far.
But let me tell you the Dodge loves the Diehards, even in the dead of winter (if you can call it that in Texas with temperatures getting to about 15-20 F lowest) they'll crank up the Dodge, after sitting for 6-8 weeks in between my US visits, like it's nothing