optima made in USA

I see Summit selling Optima batteries, made in USA. now. WTF everyone complaining made in Mexico and quality was junk. OK. whats the verdict on the batteries now?



Ago

 

Optimas fron the 90's were great. Lasted forever. I had one that was 10 years old and still worked great. However, I bought a pair for my Dodge Cummins diesel in 2005 and they suck. Left a single inside overhead console light on for two days and the truck wouldn't start. Even with a full charge if the truck sits for a couple weeks the starter labors to spin the engine. The old Optimas were much better than the two in my Dodge.

I can't say about the new ones, but I'd be carefull untill you hear from a few people they have fixed the terrible quality problems. I'll probably never buy them again...

 

Bought a yellow top in maybe '92 to use in a dragster....then in a crane....sat around for a few years, and is now working in an electric forklift, replacing one of those 300 lb. jobs,and it's 2012, so the old ones are pretty good. Have about 5 newer ones, juries still out on them.

 

My red top dropped dead, after storing it less than a year.....I did read an article today, in Street Rodder, how to recharged a dead AGM (Optima) battery.... Tou connect it in parallel, to a known good battery, THEN connect the good batt to the charger. Check , in about an hour, to see if your Optima is getting a bit warm (normal) If it makes any noises from the safety vents, stop immediately.

The entire article is in the March 2012 issue, and the battery section begins on page 90. I'm going to try it today, and will let the HAMB know how it worked out.

4TTRUK

4TTRUK

 

So 4TTRUK did you try this? how did it work out.

-Shiny

 

I have a PILE of bad ones fron the last 5-7 years or so.

I am VERY interested to see what happens for you!!

 

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had a red top in a truck that only gets started once a month. even disconnected it when it was not used, only lasted 2 years (sears told me it was shit,they even stopped selling them) would never buy another one. this was in the past 3 years!!!

 

Same here, had an old old one and it was great.... lasted for abt. 10 yrs and never saw a charger. New ones suck

 

I don't like to make comments based on opinion, I don't like to fan flames... But the brass fact is I'm trippin over a 'purchased new' Optima that was never installed in a vehicle and will not function in the purpose for which it was intended. A company that will not stand behind their product, no matter where its made, dose not inspire me to be a repeat customer. Yeah... I'm uptight about this!

 

NAPA sales refurbished Optimas for full price. I think I'm done with them as well.

 

I guess this is under the heading, "Your results may vary". I bought my red top 8/04, daily driver only vehicle '49 Chevy 1/2 ton.

 

Maybe all the complaints optima jim heard did some good. That is if they are USA made again.
Too bad there are so many mouths with that bad optima taste in them. It will take a lot to get back the countless customers they lost since heading to Mexico.

 

Same here ... on my second one (both yellow top) in my OT 2500 HD and neither will hold a charge when the truck sits for a few days. In all fairness I have yet to try something else in it since I've owned it, so there could be an issue with the truck. I'll know for sure with the next one ... it will not be an Optima. A Google will direct you to tons of posts on different forums about these batteries loosing charge so I'm leaning heavily towards the battery being the culprit.

There is also a lot of information on reviving and charging methods for these types of batteries out there.

EDIT: I bought the first one around 2009 and took it back for a new one in 2010 so they may be the Mexico version??

 

If there is a solution let me know as I have 9 of them under the work bench that have come out of our boats. I've tried the batt charge trick and got one of them to come back a little but not enough to trust out 35-40 mile out to sea fishing. new batteries are cheaper than the 1000.00 tow.

 

I'm happy with mine!!---Been in use since replacing a die hard in 1996.
Just keep it charged up every 2 months during winter storage.

 

never going to try/buy one ..... ive gotten into some gel cell batteries cheap that they use in communication towers for back up power... they use lots of them in banks....going to use in camper.......ill let you know.......kev

 

You know something I don't?

I agree, they suck. Just curious as to your claim.

Tim

 

i have had the original and the mexican version of the red top the original was bullitproof and the mexican died in 1 year and i hve not been able to get it warrented . i have also had a few customers that were very upset because their new fancy optima batt didnt make it much more than one year.

 

I was wondering the same thing and I will nake some phone call Monday concerning this issue, 1 store may have but I have never heard of such. NAPA sold Exided branded Orbital AGM's a few years ago and we had great luck with them, I had guys getting 8-12 years out of them, the jury is still out on the Optimia.

 

Unfortunately - I hate to say this - but just because it's made in USA doesn't mean it's better (or worse) than any other manufacturing location they may have used.

Because of the nearly endless supply of mixed good/horrible reviews online for Optima batteries, I opted to buy an Odyssey brand AGM instead. Best battery I ever owned. That thing could start a tank, and you could leave your headlights on for days and still start your car. And it was made in the USA as well.

 

Its too late for me, even if they did bring production back to the USA..they would have plenty of years to prove they aint junk to me. Not to mention they would have to give me 3 batteries to replace the shit ones they sold to me and than made a lame excuse as to why they wouldnt cover them. fuck me 3 times..nahh not going to happen again

too many bad memories and too much wasted money on a shit product that they could care less about. let alone taking production and jobs away from Americans to go to mexico? yeah fuck that shit! so much for loyalty to those that put them on the map, thats just a dirty way to treat people, and customers.

I can buy way more lead acid batteries that last way longer for the $$..
And any battery that you have to baby sit like these? why, why fuckin bother when the traditional batteries we all know and love dont require you to hold their hand every dam day.
just be smart as to how and where you place your battery and you wont need to lay it on its side or up-side-down.., so you wont need a POS like this

I design batteries like those out of builds, I dont need the head aches, those batteries take way more maintanance than some women i know
not to mention all the lip service we got on here from Optima Jim
..I wasnt impressed

whats your sanity and money worth to you? not to mention loyalty to the companies that didnt leave the USA and take jobs and production with them..its way deeper with me than just a shit product

Sorry guys , its a bit personal with me

 

Buy DEKA (East Penn Manufacturing). Made in the USA and probably the best quality you can get. All styles and sizes for every application. Good people to boot.

 

I have always use NAPA gold. I have used Deka with great luck as well. I usually buy the one for a 97 Ford 7.3 TD. They have the highest reserve capacity.

Optima is great if you roll over, but I dont plan on rollin over.

 

Guys I am a total advocate for Made in USA. The problem is not how the assembly was done. It is with the company that designs these items
cutting quaility regarding materials used.

 

well my company (oreilly's) now sells an AGM battery, its not the Johnson controls spirial cell (optima) its a standard type agm battery, its cheaper than an optima, is sealed, and has an 84 month warranty, so if your sick of the crappy quality optima's then give our AGM a whirl I have sold a bunch and have not had any complaints yet.

 

I have a old red top that is pushing 10 years now that has been in almost eveyrthing I have driven in that time. Always starts, even started my truck after accidentally leaving the headlights on for 3 days while I was out of town.

On the other hand I bought a second one last year, and after pulling the car out of winter storage, where the battery was disconnected, it wouldn't start the car or take a charge.

Unless it was a cheap swapmeet buy, I don't think ill own another optima.

 

I've had 3 shitty Optima's in the last 10 years in diffrent cars. When I would take them in for replacement they would tell me every time that I must have an electrical draw somewhere. So I said to the parts store guy you're telling me I have the same draw in 3 diffrent vehicles , he didn't know what to say. I gave up on Optima's but I did have good luck with Exide Orbital's they look just like an Optima but actually work, I'm not sure if they still sell the Exide Orbital I haven't seen one in a while.

 

I haven't had a chance to try the parallel connected battery method yeat, but will give it a try this week. I'll definitely let you know how, or if, it works. From what i read here,..i'm not overly positive about possible results. Kind of sucks, to have a business treating a customer like some have related here.

"Business is like tennis,...If you don't serve well, you lose,......."

4TTRUK