Optima yellow top crapped out

redneck grrrl

redneck grrrl

That girl
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Location
Dudley Shoals, NC
Shopping for a new battery, last search on here resulted in posts from 2009, any recent opinions on a better / different choice.
 
Die Hard Platinum is what's in our Jeep. I had an Odyssey before that, which is basically the same technology. Some say Odyssey actually builds these batteries for Sears. The Odyssey lasted about seven years under rough conditions.

If you can wait around, the Die Hard Platinums go on sale a few times a year for something like $40-60 off regular price. That's when I bought mine.

I think mine's a Group 65, but it might be a 34... I don't remember. In either case, it looks like they may have simplified their lineup. I can't find a 34, just a 34/78 (with the front posts). The specs on the 65 are better.

http://www.sears.com/diehard-platinum-automotive-battery-group-size-65-price/p-02850065000P?prdNo=2
 
I personally have had nothing but bad experiences with Optima. Last time I bought a battery I went with Duralast and was pleased, have a Diehard in my wrangler now with a 160amp Durango alternator. Does great.
 
The last two batteries I have bought came from Wal-Mart in the form of group 24 marine batteries for $65.99. Mainly for the sole purpose that they were the cheapest that I found, that would fit. I'm sure there are better batteries out there, that may last longer. But, for the money, Everstart is where it's at.
 
My odessey has done well as a replacement for the red top I had for years. Anyone who wheeled with me when mine still had a carb can attest to the number of starts it supplied without a whimper.

Sent while I should have been doing something constructive...
 
We get batteries from batteries plus at work for everything from track hoes to f150s i have them in my 250 and it was only $108 for both batteries had them over 2 years now. I put the same size battery in my toyota
 
Are you using the yellow top for cranking???
 
That is part of your issue... A yellow top is not really designed for the heavy draw of a starter. They are a deep cycle, made for lower amp draws over long periods of time....
 
Another Die Hard Platinum user and fan!

Fantastic warranty and Sears are in many locations around country so finding one is easy.
 
My only issue with the yellow top, other than price, is that when it dies - it dies. I think of it as if it was a Lithium Ion and I'm drilling or sawing with my 18v cordless tools - the things just stop, no slow down, no warning. In between, I love it. I used to routinely kill other batteries on a regular basis. It's my fault, as I routinely forget to turn off the headlights, leave the CB on, etc. But one quick jump and it's back like new. When it dies, there's no warning. You crank to go to work, everything is fine, you go to crank leaving work and it is _dead_. I get many years of worry-free in between tho. Match up your needs/lifestyle to what any given battery was made to do.
 
snappy said:
I stand corrected... The rep came by the shop trying to get them to sell them and noticed one I my old rig and told me that. He did sellme 2 red tops so I guess it worked....
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Red tops are not warrantied when used in "abusive" situations. It lists car audio, deep discharge, etc, applications as examples.

Optima warranty is 36mos otherwise. Diehard is 48. Specs on the diehards are better, too. Longer reserve capacity, etc.
 
If you buy at Auto Zone regardless of how it was used they will replace if it's under warranty.
 
Redneck92 said:
If you buy at Auto Zone regardless of how it was used they will replace if it's under warranty.
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True statement. I just had one under warranty where the terminal bolt stripped out the battery. I didn't think this would get replaced but they replaced it no questions or hassle. I was shocked.
 
I've got 2 red tops in my K30. I ran that truck without the alternator wired up for several months. Once it got wired up, I had some problems and it over charged for a little while. For the past few years they're been in a Ruff Stuff Optima box and wired in parallel with 00 battery and starter cables. That being said, when I got them in 2007 (for free!), they were used and they were made in 2004. They are still in my truck and I've got a 136 amp PA Performance single wire alternator. They're just about on their last legs though, if I let it sit for more than a week, it barely cranks the old Cummins over. They won't make it until this winter and I'm dreading buying two more of them, but since I have a fitted battery box and the battery cables are made to fit them, I think I'll probably be going back with Red Tops.

When they have a good charge, the truck will fire up with a bump of the key. It'll also start right up as low at 20 degrees and that's with no intake grid heater and I didn't have the block heater plugged in!
 
Those are the original style optima's made in Ohio vs the newer style made in Mexico. Always have heard the older ones made in Ohio are much better than the Mexican made ones but who knows.
 
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