My car's been sitting in the garage for the past week while I was on vacation. So I go out today to drive it and when I turn the key I get nothing, just dead silence. So I push it out and pull up my truck to give it a jump. After 5 minutes of charging the charge gets to about 12.5V, but once I attempt to turn the key I then only get clicking. After ten minutes of charging it attempts to slowly turn over, but fails miserably. Then after 20 straight minutes of charging I finally get the car to turn over. I then take it for a drive to charge it back up, park it, and then when I get back it's dead again and required 10 more minutes of charging before I get it to start.
Also, I'm getting DTC 16 (Scanmaster) for that stupid low resolution optic sensor. But I've had that off and on for a while with my Dynaspark, but have never had an issue. I just clear it and drive on.
Anyways, anyone ever have trouble with these batteries? I did a search and everyone seems to be happy with theirs. Opinions? Thanks in advance....

 

They are not as great as you would think. I was going to get one, then read some bad press. Basically, you need 2.1 volts per cell or 12.6 volts min for a charged battery. It might dip to 10V during starting. Charging, it should read 13.8 or higher. Give it a good, slow trickle charge over night and if it won't hold a charge, it's bad. If the voltage doesn't rise on a good battery with the car running, the alternator might be at fault.

I kept my stock AC/Delco battery on an automatic trickle charger when I wasn't using the car, and it lasted 9 years until I stopped to take a **** on a hot summer day, then it suddenly died. I replaced it with an Interstate battery, which also has a good rep.

 

I have had friends that have had trouble with these (yellow top optima), but for the most part they are a great product. They are nice, but don't live up to what some would like.

Does the battery have any waranty remaining?

Also, check the alternator for good output.

 

ya after not usin the car for a couple days the battery just dies. i thought these were supposed to last alot longer than ac delcos for sitting?

 

My experience with the Red Top was poor. It didn't survive sitting unstarted for extended periods of time. 6 months after I bought it, it died. The shop that does my work has a dead battery pile behind the shop.... more than 1/2 of them are Optimas. I switched to an AC/Delco Professional, and added a Battery Tender and all the problems went away.

Moving to "General......"..... this is not an "engine tech" issue.

 

Lets just say I'm not a fan of the Optima. If you have a daily driver you would probably be fine. I went through three of them in the past 2 years for the exact reason that Injuneer mentioned. The don't take good to sitting around. I had one go bad after sitting hooked up to the car for four weeks with out a start. After that I got a new one and disconnected it anytime that it was going to be a week or longer between starts. Then I put it up on the wood shelf on it's battery tray for winter...that one wasn't worth a penny come spring even though I had put it on a trickle charge a couple of times in the winter. I'm currentley on my third optima via warenty (will be my last). I'm don't have a choice to go out and start the car every day or I would. To make this long reply even longer...in my opinion, if you are going to have to leave your battery unused on a regular basis or for any extended period of time, stay away from Optimas. I had to find this out the hard way.

 

I've been through the leaky Delco, Diehard Gold and now Optima, so far so good.

 

I ran a Yellowtop in my 97' when I still had it and I'm currently running a Redtop in my 95' now: haven't had the first issue with either.

 

my first red top had a bad cell and it would charge, start and then loose its charge a day later, got a replacement and its fine now.

 

I've had one for more than two years now. The car has less than five hundred on it since the red top was installed. Every month I'd hook up the old Sears charger for approx five hours and it starts everytime. So far so good !!

 

Well it turns out that my center console light was staying on causing a continuous drain on the battery. Fixed the connection, trickle charged the battery back up, and now things seem fine. I guess for the time being I can't really complain about the optima. Thanks for everyone's help

 

I know you found the problem, but i wanted to chime in because it's 5am and nothing is going on here at work...

I just replaced my Red top after two years. I brought it to the shop for motor mounts, and the tech said he had to jump it after sitting over the weekend. I just figured something had stayed on accidentally and thought nothing of it. Then two days later i had to jump it again... odd.. It was fine for a few days daily driving, then i took a day where i didn't drive it and mr. jumparoo one more time. My warranty had just run out (go figure) so i just decided to replace it. I pop the hood to change it out and i hear a hiss... figured it was my radiator and went to unhook the terminals, and when i would touch the positive terminal, the hiss would change pitch! I got some gloves and removed it.. there was a teeny crack right below the GM side mount on the positive side... So far the new one is fine (better be, it's a week old!!)

Grrr.