Jim I asked for the defect rates in a previous post. You neglected to offer them. Also you provided a convoluted reply that didn't provide clear answers to very simple questions. Most of those if not all should be readily available for any publicly traded company If optima does in fact track this defect and return info, there is full comprehensive report already generated. It will also contain serial #s and date of manufacture. Easy enough to share if you choose.
It was a fine thread until "damage control" got involved. We have to have batteries and a better battery is a good thing.
what ever..This is optimas love fest..didnt think you were playing on their side and im not the first guy to run a 700r
Back on Topic From Optima Inc Optima Tech Tips: Proper Battery Charging http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23zxrnyMAZc .
No, and I have no problem with them, but you're bitching about an Optima battery thread being O/T while you just posted about what speedo cable you need for your 700r4. I would think those two are pretty much the same thing. And I'm not on their side, I have one that has been great in my Buick, then a couple from customers cars that took a shit. The problem I have is this Optima Jim dude and his "damage control". He doesn't really answer questions, just throws out the corporate spin. He is here for nothing more than CYA for the corporation. That peeves me. I think the HAMB'ers that have issues with these batteries have genuine concerns.
than lets stick to that..as you can see i removed my post before you made an issue of it and I have seen other threads on the 700r so I didnt see it as a problem. And if it were O/T than why hasent it been removed? I agree he doesnt really answer questions..so i came back on to get your lip bashing...Good morning
I had a used Optima in my fed. still working fine after 7 plus yrs with only a battery charger every third pass. I have a new 10 yrs old in my roadster that has worked fine . There is a default rate that is allowed on most every thing. A friends Dodge Rt /392 lost a eng after 700 miles, rods thru the pan. Bad news, but I guess it was his turn to get the bad one.
^^^ zman really does do a good job at it fng/off topic beatings, kinda like watching cops on tv, you know hes gonna beat your ass at the end so why even try and think your gonna get away with off topic dumb shit lol.
31Vicky with a hemi, while I would love to post our manufacturing defect rate, I have not convinced my own bosses do this and they have told me no one in the industry does this. If you could assist me by providing a link to another battery manufacturer, who has posted their defect rate, I'd be happy to forward it to my bosses and ask them again to release our rate. I actually think releasing those numbers would make my job easier, but that is ultimatey not my call. divoc13, thank you for posting a link to those charging instructions. If everyone properly-charged their batteries, it probably wouldn't decrease our manufacturing defect rate, but it would decrease the number of batteries returned under warranty. 48fordnut, I'm glad to hear your Optima is working well for you. Jim McIlvaine eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc. www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
Optima Jim I Too, have had dead Optima's . BUT I was the problem, high boost to charge them kills them after a time or two. I have 4 Optima's wright now, all 2 1/2 year's and older. The Divco with the 502, sat all winter. Come spring time in Michigan, it started it wright up, after almost 5 months.storage. Any battery left discharged, for along time starts to eat it self, and will not hold a charge.
Here you go Jim http://www.xellex-battery.com/xellex1/company.htm Last few lines of "quality assurance " section. I find it extremely hard to believe that optima displays its prices in retail environments, claims that the batteries last "x times longer ", provides a warranty, but doesn't believe its wise to disclose its defect rate. Makes it seem, key word seem as if there's some info that optima wishes to hide. You guys "are" proud of them batteries right? http://powersource.optimabatteries.com/about-optima-jim/ Message board representative of optima? Now why does optima need a person to stay message boards and defend optima when someone has something bad to say , if they are so good the market would self regulate and quash the negative opinions . Doesn't seem to be the case, does it? Here's what I got when I Googled "optimajim" http://www.google.com/m?gl=us&clien...t=&rst=&htf=&his=&maction=&q=optimajim&flip=0 Member on every message board for everything that requires a battery. Cars truck bikes boats planes helicopters flying parachutes fishing hunting you name it and optimajim is there. The threads are the same.
Read your link about defect rate. Did not see anything about, Gel Cell, and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Batterys. This apply to dry cell batterys. Apples and Oranges ! This is turning into, who likes salty Wheaties ! Like Pissing in your mess kit. QUALITY ASSURANCE] XELLEX rechargeable battery manufacturers are granted ISO9000 and ISO14000 accreditations; the series of rechargeable batteries are awarded UL and CE accreditations respectively. Alkaline battery manufacturers are granted ISO9000 accreditation; Alkaline and Super/Extra Heavy-Duty Zinc Carbon Cylindrical Batteries both awarded SGS accreditations; Alkaline Manganese Button Cells and Lithium Manganese Button Cells both granted CMA accreditation. Battery defect rate: Alkaline Manganese Button Cells and Lithium Manganese Button Cells 5‰; Alkaline and Super/Extra Heavy-Duty Zinc Carbon Cylindrical Batteries 3‰; Ni-Cd and Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries 1‰.
Reading is good! You should try it Per optimajim " assist me by providing a link to another battery manufacturer, who has posted their defect rate," Exactly what was said is exactly what was provided. Im quite certain that optima Jim did not say TO ME what you are suggesting. This is about one thing and one thing only, quality related to manufacturing facilities. At one time optima was by far superior to the other batteries on the market. Apparently when johnson controls purchased the name "optima" and manufacturing rights to the battery; then moved the manufacturing to Mexico they forgot to pack the quality part.
Just to add to the chorus.... after reading through this thread earlier in the week I took a look at mine and found it the below spec voltage described above. I went and watched all da'dudes videos... used a low condition std battery in parallel to attempt a charge. Results? Std battery is hot for my trouble... New Optima Red Top, never installed, load test at 7.34v. In all fairness it has sat around for a while, but no longer than what might be considered shelf life. The thing that gets me at this point is I'll probably have to pay to throw it away. If I were a suspicious type, and armed with the information found here, I might well think that da'dude is assigned to try and stay out front of various and sundry Attorneys General.
31Vicky with a hemi, divco13 is correct. The manufacturing defect rates you managed to find are not for automotive batteries, although single-digit manufacturing defect rates tend to be the norm within the industry. If you can find published defect rates on automotive batteries, that would help me. You are certainly welcome to spin my presence here and on other sites however you like. I've probably mentioned it before in threads you've come across (if not this one), but my presence on this board and more than 1,000 others is part of Optima's ongoing effort to be available to our customers. If someone has a question or concern about our products we want to be available to them, even if their comment is negative feedback- we want to know about it. unkamort, load tests on batteries that are not fully-charged will not yield accurate results. How long was your RedTop sitting? If it is still within it's warranty, I would recommend returning it to your original retailer and asking them to attempt to recharge and test it. Jim McIlvaine eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc. www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
Texas,...I did try that,...but later learned that the "good" batt had an internal issue.....I did take mine to a local batter specilty shop, and 4 days later, they handed me my fully charged Optima red top. I now keep it on a constant 2 amp "maint" charge. 4TTRUK
still going with one after reading the article... found a REBATE that expires this month. I'll report back with how mine pairs with my 454.
When I built my convertible, I installed an Optima, the first two didn't last only about a year each. The last one I put in, in 2003 or 2004 is still in the car, and working great. I use a real battery tender to keep it fully charged. I will buy another Optima when this one craps out
I'd forgotten about this thread from last year. My three year old Optima red top battery functioned perfectly all winter with no special attention or trickle charging. I did install a master battery disconnect switch and I use it every time the car is parked. I realized a month or so ago that my early Powergen alternator had been slowly failing since last fall, but the battery never failed to start the engine or get met home.
Using only battery power for one hr. of racing. I raced with two Red Tops [max allowed in car by rules,my son drove "Lance Barlow" we won 90% of all races we did over 2 years ] they were the best out of all the brands over all from my testing,but there was a fairly big def in how good each one was,inregard to holding charge,so we had 4sets of two each paired by how well they held. This was us in AutoWeek mag. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=2439&pictureid=77378
Trying to be as unbiased as possible (although the large number of complaints and disatisfaction greatly concern me) I will state that: I'm using a D34 yellow in my daily driver with no problems for about 8 months. Previously i was using these deep cycle yellow tops for camping type projects----seeing how long i could power fans, heaters, computers, TVs etc. And for possible usage in blackout/power out situations. I used them singularly and in-series with an inverter. I have a Schumaker (sp?) charger specifically designed for AGM deep cycle batts. And I charged them to the best of my ability per Optima's instructions and videos during all this testing. And both batteries got discharged down many times. After the camping did not pan out, i decided to use one in my car because i was testing batteries and figured why not? Instead of just having it sit in the garage doing nothing. I will check serial numbers and build dates in a sec. But one battery is at least 3 years old and one is around 2 or more.
buy American made products, fuck optima batteries. I have 2 dead ones in my garage now and both are only 3 years old. I plan on buying an odyssey, if they are good enough for military strykers, they are good enough for my car.
Jeez, what a pile on. I stopped reading all the outcry after 6 pages. I had an Optima in my '55 Chev Suburban for over 10 years, never once letting me down or not start my truck. I installed the battery at the rear of the truck below the body, ran 00 cables, had a 120a output 1 wire alternator, running a Derale 2 speed fan, cruised Hot August Nites all night with headlights and fans running and NEVER had a problem. I'm in my 3rd year with the Optima in my '31 Phaeton. It's mounted on it's side under the car midway back. It died once when I left the fan on for 3 hours. Jumped it and have never had another problem. That's my 2 cents.
i said i'm having trouble finding the serial#'s and build dates on the batteries. Do you know where, exactly, they are?
I think the serial number is on the side, and the date is on the top under the hold-down. These are the only pictures I have of mine. I'll look tomorrow.
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