My Batteries Finally.....!

[DontPanic42]

After nearly 7 1/2 years of use and more misuse, my OE batteries on the FG finally "bought the farm". Around 06/09 Tom_D and Kerry replaced their batteries. Tom with 2 Optima Red Tops and Kerry with 2 OE units from NAPA. Now that I have to purchase replacements, I was wondering how their selections were working and what other suggestions other folks might have. I have been thinking about a Trojan but the NAPA dealer is over yonder just down the street so to speak and would be the most convienent.
Guess I shouldn't complain after 7 1/2 years. At least the 3 house batteries are in good shape.
Happy Holidays to all!

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[FusoFG]

I installed 2 yellow top Optimas in 2001 and they are still going strong.

 

[DzlToy]

everything you need to know is in here >> (DO NOT BUY A NEW OPTIMA)

I have personally killed three optima batteries in the last five years, they arent what they used to be.


If you would like to do additional reading:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=913442&highlight=optima

 

[alexrex20]

DieHard Platinum > *

price
performance
warranty
availability

 

[DontPanic42]

everything you need to know is in here >> (DO NOT BUY A NEW OPTIMA)

I have personally killed three optima batteries in the last five years, they arent what they used to be.


If you would like to do additional reading:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=913442&highlight=optima

Your Link doesn't seem to work. What you say is consistent with what folks are telling me around here. One bought 3 Optimas for 3 vehicles and all were dead in less than a year. A local dealer sells them because people want them but when pressed doesn't recommend them.

 

[Antichrist]

I like the Diehard platinums, but if you don't want to spend that much then the Exide Orbitals are a good choice. NAPA carries some of them re-badged.

 

[DzlToy]

link works fine for me:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=913442&highlight=optima

or put these pieces together manually:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/

showthread.php?t=913442&highlight=optima

 

[engineer]

oddyssey pc2150

supposedly built to mil spec?

+1

 

[Antichrist]

oddyssey pc2150

supposedly built to mil spec?

Don't know what the Odyssey branded ones are going for, but this is the same battery with the Sears label.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850131000P

 

[ExpoScout]

You know, I have to wonder....with all the talk about how Optima has gone downhill....is it possible that they are skimping on the red and yellow tops for cost cutting measures? I haven't heard anything bad about the blue tops.

I bought a yellow top and it was unimpressive...switched it out for a blue top and it has been incredible. Sitting for months in a cold shop and cranking up my diesel with zero problems. I'm talking so cold that the glowplugs aren't being very effective...cranking straight for a minute at a time and never slowing down.

I would like to try out that Die Hard/Odyssey. Though I did have bad experiences with Odysseys a few years ago in race cars.

 

[alexrex20]

the only Optimas worth half a ******** are the Blue Tops. i use them in my boat and they hold a charge indefinitely. they're also the only true deep cycle battery that Optima makes, that can repeatedly and reliably withstand a full discharge and recharge.

with that said, Optima's QC has gone downhill in the past decade, yet they're still selling batteries by milking that name. it's a good thing they have a warranty...

 

[ExpoScout]

the only Optimas worth half a ******** are the Blue Tops. i use them in my boat and they hold a charge indefinitely. they're also the only true deep cycle battery that Optima makes, that can repeatedly and reliably withstand a full discharge and recharge.

with that said, Optima's QC has gone downhill in the past decade, yet they're still selling batteries by milking that name. it's a good thing they have a warranty...

Good to know I'm not just imagining things...I intend to keep using the blue tops until I have a reason not to.

 

[alexrex20]

yep. a lot of people are scared away from the Blue Tops because they're marketed for "marine applications." but as long as the battery meets your CCA and space requirements, there's absolutely no reason to NOT use a Blue Top... unless you're trying to color coordinate under your hood, and you need the battery to be red or yellow. :sombrero:

 

[ExpoScout]

yep. a lot of people are scared away from the Blue Tops because they're marketed for "marine applications." but as long as the battery meets your CCA and space requirements, there's absolutely no reason to NOT use a Blue Top... unless you're trying to color coordinate under your hood, and you need the battery to be red or yellow. :sombrero:

Sadly, the color thing is probably the driving force behind a lot of battery sales...

 

[kerry]

Ooops, I haven't been on here in a few weeks and missed this post. I did replace with NAPA. I had battery trouble in Newfoundland this summer and Napa ended up replacing both the batteries for free once I got home. I'm not sure of the exact cause of the failure but I'm pretty sure it was exacerbated by the batteries being wired parallel. I ended up rewiring the batteries with a switch so that I can run on either, both, or disconnect both. I'd definitely recommend that change. Having two batteries seems pointless to me unless you can use one or the other in the case of a single failure and both when necessary. I've got a thread on here somewhere about the failure and rewiring.