OPTIMA sucks!

[Tanto]

Here's the story:

I was driving my truck from Pennsylvania to California on leave (ie: I was required to be back in 10 days) and I stop at a rest stop in Ohio (~400 mi). I go in, come back out, and as soon as the key is turned to start the truck, everything dies. I quickly determine that it is the battery is dead because when I popped the hood, my OPTIMA 34R Red Top battery is extremely hot to the touch and there is fluid (in a gel battery) leaking out one of the breather holes on top. Luckily, this didn't happen on the road or my alternator probably would've gotten a good dose of acid. Anyways, I take a couple pictures of my truck still at the rest stop parking lot with me removing the battery.

I took pictures of all the sides of the battery that had some sort of identifying information on it because the battery was still leaking fluid and I had ~3000 more miles to go. I didn't want the battery to be leaking acid on my brand-new Rhino line'd truck bed for all that driving so when I got a replacement battery, I gave it to the shop.

Well I emailed Optima as soon as I got back, told them what my circumstances were for the battery failure and why I didn't keep the battery, included the pictures and got ignored for a while. On my 3rd email to them they finally replied with a phone number so I called them.

THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY BATTERY. I am really, really pissed off that after I had to pay an arm and a leg to have a cheap-ass replacement battery driven out to me I won't be having my battery replaced. I mean, I have pictures of me in the parking lot removing the battery from my truck and even one that I didn't forward to them that shows me giving the finger to the battery on the ground!

So I am completely through with Optima and will never buy one of their products unless absolutely necessary because of this bull****.

What is the name of that other gel-battery company? I can't remember.....

[04 Rocko Taco]

That blows. just for ***** and giggles, check your alt and voltage regulator. I fried one in EXACTLY the same way you describe, and my voltage regulator was bad, it was built into the alt, so I had to replace the whole unit, but that is what fried mine in EXACTLY the same way.

[Tanto]

I have run the Interstate battery with no problems.

All that is required for checking the voltage output is to hook a meter up to the positive lead coming off the alternator, right?

[04 Rocko Taco]

Thats how I did it..... I was outputting like 21 volts.... so it was REALLY out there...

[Good Times]

Odyssey batteries.... it's a bit more expensive but well worth it. Shelf life of 10 yrs too.. Can't beat it. When my yellow tops goes I'll be upgrading to Odyssey's. :)

[Tanto]

I've been eyeing up the Odyssey PC1500T battery. It's a little bit wider than the Optima 34R and I may have to extend my cables to get it to reach. I'm going to call the Odyssey site to see if they have a reverse-post model of the PC1500T so I won't have to extend my battery leads and will post up my results in this thread.


I can't log into my photobucket account to post the picture of me giving the battery the bird after I removed it from my truck so I will do that later... :D

[neliconcept]

looks like some guys on expo portal have been having problems too

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=123682#post123682

[elripster]

Exide Orbital, they rock. All the EV guys stopped using Optima and went to Exides. Optimas have had quality control problems for years. Trust, one of our hybrid cars has 28 yellows in it... I have had to tear into that 800lb pack 5 times to replace failed batteries that were never even stressed.

I have an Exide 34XCD, 1100AH, 45CCA, it's the shiznit, expensive shiznit but a heck of a battery.

Frank

[Tanto]

If my voltage regulator is out of whack, I am very surprised that it didn't happen when I drove straight through from San Diego, CA to Pennsylvania the first time around.

But I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

[Tanto]

Those Exide batteries sound bitchin'. www.remybattery.com has it at $186

I called West Coast Battery about the Odyssey line and they suggested the PC1200L battery at $230 shipped to San Diego. If I'm going to pay that much then it had really better be the absolute shiznit.

[elripster]

I checked the specs on the Odyssey and that battery is impressive. It's has a slightly higher CCA rating at 1200 Vs. the Exide's 1100 which is still about 2X what you'd typically need to start our trucks. If you can find and Exide in San Diego and avoid shipping you'd probably save some money but that Odyssey is an excellent battery.

Frank

[MTL_4runner]

That blows. just for shits and giggles, check your alt and voltage regulator. I fried one in EXACTLY the same way you describe, and my voltage regulator was bad, it was built into the alt, so I had to replace the whole unit, but that is what fried mine in EXACTLY the same way.


X2

Check your voltage to be sure the regulator is good and you won't fry the replacement battery.

[neliconcept]

this thread is actually good for future buyers, im running an interstate right now, but i was wanting to go with an opt yellow top.

interesting, i may just go with odyssey or an orbital.

my bro however has run a red top near to death in his dodge glht race car, and it still works fine. maybe its just they have selective batch problems?

[Cebby]

I had a blue top in my 4Runner - never a problem.

Red top in my Jeep - cured all my BS electrical problems I was having.

[calrockx]

It sounds like more than a batch problem they have a customer service problem.
I have a blue top now, and it's been great - but I don't like poor service companies.

When battery time comes around for me, I'll be researching and looking at Odyssey and Orbital.

[waskillywabbit]

I have 5 Optimas and not a lick of trouble out of any of them.

:guitar:

[fustercluck]

I run Interstate batteries. I considered an Optima the last time I needed a batt. and concluded it wasn't worth the money in my case. I could have purchased two Interstate batts for the price of one Optima. Even if I had a complete unwarranteed meltdown, I would have been ahead. The statistical risk was in my favor with an Interstate....not to mention they are great batts with eager-to-serve associates.

[Texas Jim]

TANTO; I was watching this show this summer on ABC and it was showing people who had bought products that were not working right, or just out of warranty.

They sent the company an e-mail and told them they were posting a video on U-Tube about what a piece of crap they were selling. Almost all got a positive responce from having posted, people like blowing up their washing machine. smashing a new apple computer with a sledge hammer, and things like that. You might give that a try. Big companies are afraid of the potential of a million hits on a U-tube site. Just a thought.

Show your pictures and tell your story of what happened and just tell it like you told us and then have a bulldozer run over it, or something just as destroying. I think you might get some results... TJ

[Tanto]

I don't have the Optima battery anymore...didn't want it leaking acid all over my brand-new Rhino lining and I would rather eat the cost of the battery than pollute the environment for my own gain.

The power really is in the media, and sites like YouTube that have a lot of exposure can carry a lot of weight in their impact on potential buyers.

My Photobucket account is not working on my computer right now...i will try something to show my version of what you're describing, TJ.

[fustercluck]

Sorry this happened to you man...

[reggie 00]

Get me some part numbers.
I think i can get Odyssey batteries at one of my suppliers.
And i can get Interstate and Optimas from my buddy @ cost.

In the past i usually save a decent amount. And shipping to SD cant be that bad from here.

[Tanto]

Four Runner: The truck was mantained and driven everynow and then by my family while I was gone.

I went to Autozone a couple days ago (went wheeling this weekend) and got my altenator output tested. I will let the pictures speak for themselves, though...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/dfireballd/Windows-1252BSU1HMDAwMjYuanBn.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/dfireballd/Windows-1252BSU1HMDAwMjcuanBn.jpg

[Tanto]

So here's a photo just after I finished removing the battery from my truck at the rest stop:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/dfireballd/100_1417.jpg

[BruceTS]

I've got a dead red top sitting around if you want to make a video.........