And the hits keep coming - Redtop battery dead after 1 year

I've heard good things about Odyssey and Exide Orbitals.

Johnson Controls purchased Optima in late 2000 and gradually shifted manufacturing to their Mexican plant over the course of about 8 years, eventually closing the shutters on their Colorado plant in 2009. My guess is somewhere in that time frame. Some people get lucky with either one of the last Made in U.S. batteries made during that time, or one of the few good Mexican ones that slip through the cracks.

 

I had one of these batteries, very expensive, but loads of cranking power, very fussy how they are charged, if your system puts out a lot of amps that will kill it off pretty quick, mine did just that. You need to check what your charge rate is, mine was on a 31 chevy and it over charged something rotten, I was told about adjusting the third brush? or was it second? memory is a bit hazey, any way I sold the car before I got that far on the jobs list

 

OK, the Interstate rep warrantied out my Optima RedTop for an Interstate AGM MT7-78...I only had to pay a $22 difference. The Interstate AGM has a 4 year replacement warranty and they are expected to last 8 to 10 years.

Anyone else use one of these? Here's a pic:

 

In late summer 1968 I was in the Yucaipa, CA Western Auto to get a flathead fuel pump. While I am at the counter a guy drives up in a '55 chevy wagon. He leaves the engine running and gets out and comes in. He says his battery is dead and he had to get a jump. He has the receipt and wants to know if it is under warranty. The counter guy looks at the receipt and laughs. The battery was purchased in 1959. Guess they don't make um like they used to.

 

In my 57 stepside I have the battery behind the seat in a marine box, vented through the bottom

In it is an Odyssey 1000

I bought the battery in 1998 to go into my 56 F100.
Ran it in that truck for irregular usage for 2 years
Then it sat on the shelf for two years
Then a mate borrowed it, and ran it in his 36 for three years
Then back on a shelf for four years
It's been in my 57 ever since

Never let me down. Only been connected to a charger once, after the four years shelf time.

When I recently went to battery world in the Chev to get a new battery for the daily driver, they tested the Odyssey ....... they reckon it is only holding 80% of capacity, and could be on the way out

It just clocked over 15 years ........ guess I'm outa luck on a warranty claim if it fails on me

 

The Optima in the Fly is 10 years old. I am waiting for it to die any day. It sits on the charger/battery tender most of it's life.

 

That's the key. Had a yellow top in a dragster, from 1993 or so. after a couple of years , used it on a crane , after that put it in a walk around forklift...it' still there! Another brand new yellow top lasted acouple of months after sitting a little while in a project car. Still have 5 or 6 others in use that are fine, but looks like Interstates or even American made Walmart units from now on.

 

The Red Top in my '69 Camaro is over 12 years old. I keep it hooked up to Battery Tender Jr. Had the battery checked 2 months ago. AutoZone, where I purchased it, stated it is was still good.
On borrowed time?

 

Same here, I've had a red top on my OT Mustang for 12 years now. Always stays on a Battery Tender Jr when not being driven.

 

You guys with the battery tenders have the right idea. It is well known that the red tops need to be either run on a daily basis or they need to be left on a tender when the car is not being used. Once the red tops fall below a certain voltage they need to be brought back (or charged) with a special charger. Most places that sell them will charge them back for you. You can not use a regular charger to bring it back and supposedly the chargers are very expensive.

I have heard that if you are going to buy a Optima battery that you will have better luck with one of the yellow top. With all this said I know that the yellow tops are definately more expensive.
Jay