Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Spinalguy on March 16, 2012, 06:55:28 PM
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After reading many topics on the quality of Optima going south...literally, i will never buy one.
Here are 2 threads addressing batteries and specifically Optima pulling their sponsorship from Pirate.
i am glad i read them, so i thought i would share
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1052970 (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1052970)
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1051909 (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1051909)
if you do not know, Pirate is not family friendly.
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After reading that Optima reduced the length of warranty or something on their batteries I was a little concerned. Then found out that Canadian Tire sells AGM batteries for about $40-50 less, and with a 10-year warranty!! So bought one of those instead and it's been great so far. Haven't really 'used and abused' it much yet, been sitting under my car's hood until I get the jeep roadworthy, but been impressed with it so far.
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My yellow top turns 6 years old in 2 weeks, no problems so far.
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My yellow top turns 6 years old in 2 weeks, no problems so far.
it seems that its not the older Optimas that were a problem but newer as in last few years???
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My yellow top turns 6 years old in 2 weeks, no problems so far.
My last one lasted 7 years of abuse .. they were good back then
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http://www.stu-offroad.com/electrical/elec1/battery.htm
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Reviews on the net are hit or miss for the most part but mostly positive, I bought a yellow top 6 months ago, 2 years direct replacement warranty (if I remember Correctly). We will see how it goes!
Yellow top was actually cheaper than a lot of alternatives I looked into in Calgary, the only ones cheaper are the Canadian Tire Spiral Cell's. If you want another AGM battery your spending $$$ over the price of a yellow (even for a deka!!). In the end I thought it was worth the risk, lots of guys run em with no problems, guys love to bitch when the infallible yellow does fail...maybe I'll be one of them soon enough 8).
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I run the deep cycle Nautilus Marine Battery from CT now.... it keep on loosing juice on me even disconected. It's not the greatest...
My next one will be an Odessey or Northstar Battery.. twice the price but lots more juice and durability. You pay for what you get!
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I'm happy with my Red Top, it's been completely drained 5 or 6 times now. I've had it 4 years and it still works great.
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My next one will be an Odessey or Northstar Battery.. twice the price but lots more juice and durability. You pay for what you get!
+1. I put an Odyssey into my JK about a year and a half ago, and it's been absolutely great. I've got a few ugly pulls on that battery, and it hasn't even skipped a beat.
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Deka Intimidator are the cats meow. 8) 7 years, froze twice and a few engine off 100 ft winch pulls. Still going strong. New Otpima in old mans boat leasted 4months just running a troling motor!
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I run the deep cycle Nautilus Marine Battery from CT now.... it keep on loosing juice on me even disconected. It's not the greatest...
I've got the Nautlilus Gel Cell CT battery as well, it appears to be a re-badged Exide Orbital. Going on 4 years now and never a problem with it.
I've also got a free, lifetime, non pro rated replacement warranty to go with it. The warranty originally came with a battery purchased in 1992 :o and I have had at least 5-6 replacements over the years and the last time I managed to talk them into transfering the warranty over to the AGM I have now.
Vince
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I had a red top Optima battery that lasted less than a year. When I took it back to Walmart to get a replacement under warranty, the guy there hooked it up to a tester and said it was fine. I did the full drain/reset on the battery based on what the Optima site recommended and that didn't help at all. I told the guy that regardless of what the tester said it would not hold a charge for more than a couple of days. The replacement battery I'd already put in my truck had no problems, so it wasn't a short or problem with the vehicle. He just kept repeating that the battery was fine.
I recharged it, and tried the Optima in another vehicle and had exactly the same problem. Went back to Walmart again and explained everything and they wouldn't budge at all. When I contacted Optima they said I had to deal with the store I'd purchased it from for any issues.
So long story short, the Optima battery was the worst battery I've ever had, the service from Optima was non-existant and Walmart just sucked (no real surprise there....)
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Walmart and Costco Optimas are just that...Walmart and Costco versions of a brand that has known quality issues...over a year later my "new" yellow top has been run down 3 times, winched with a dead a engine and headlights on (stupid fuse is hard to pull). Still is completely fine.... I'll post when it dies
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I got a deep cycle interstate to replace the mopar one in the jeep when I got it two years ago, haven't had an issue yet, although it seems like I'm the only one with one... wonder if that says something...
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I've got the CT spirals in my Jeeps(3 in total). I buy them mostly for the convince and the warranty. I exchanged two now under warranty. No fuss just walk in to any CT plunk it down and walk out with a new one. They even keep the warranty in the computer now so if I lose the receipt its no big deal, they still honor it.
Both times were my own fault. I have a slow draw somewhere on my Jeep. Not a big deal if it gets driven every week but lately its been sitting for 3-6months between runs.
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The optima batteries are made by interstate. They now carry a 3 year free replacement warranty. I still think they are a good quality product.
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I've got 3 optima's in 3 of my jeeps.. Two red's and a yellow. Been awesome for the last couple years. The yellow top is 5 years old now. The red tops were returned to my store, tested by another employee and considered junk. I took them home and trickle charged them with the proper charger and they both came back. That was 2 years ago ;D
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What do you mean by proper charger - digital automatic or an old school basic at 2 amps ?
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Thoughts on exide orbital anyone?
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Thoughts on exide orbital anyone?
I've been using the Exide Orbitals for years, I've had two failures but both probably my own fault. First one was drained completely at least 5-6 times until I finally figured out the excessive ignition off draw.
The second sat in my basement un-used and never charged for probably 4 years.
I will continue to use them until they give me a reason not to.
Vince
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I've been using the Exide Orbitals for years, I've had two failures but both probably my own fault. First one was drained completely at least 5-6 times until I finally figured out the excessive ignition off draw.
The second sat in my basement un-used and never charged for probably 4 years.
I will continue to use them until they give me a reason not to.
Vince
That's all that matters. My crap arse mopar battery was 8 years old till it saw winch duty, then I started having issues. Against my better judgement I bought another Eliminater from CT which I've trashed before, she's been strong this season so I'm happy, all that matters.