Let's talk about OPTIMA Batteries

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:07 am

I’m thinking about swapping my 4.5 year old OE battery for an OPTIMA

Here’s what I wrote to OPTIMA:

“I have a 2007 Jeep Liberty with the 3.7L V6 engine. The jeep is all stock; however, it does have a M8000 winch and a few aftermarket lights. Which Optima Battery would you recommend? Thanks for your advice.

Rhett”

“Hi Rhett,

Although we list Group 25 & Group 34 RedTops as "direct-fit" replacements for your vehicle, because you are running a winch and aftermarket lights, a Group D34 YellowTop would be a more appropriate choice, as it is designed for starting and deep-cycle applications. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries”

Does anyone have experience with Optima in their Jeep Liberty?

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:24 am

Ya, I do, optima is total crap that can't take a single discharge and will fail quickly if you ever actually run the battery down, save your money and just get a good lead acid battery for 1/3 the cost that will last 3 times longer.

Crap, total crap.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:47 am

Sir Sam wrote:

Ya, I do, optima is total crap that can't take a single discharge and will fail quickly if you ever actually run the battery down, save your money and just get a good lead acid battery for 1/3 the cost that will last 3 times longer.

Crap, total crap.

There’s definitely mixed reviews. I’ve read where some people have great testimonies and others do not. I read on the NAXJA forum where a Jeepster using the OPTIMA Yellow Top was able to get off the trail even though his alternator failed. Some have had their OPTIMA's for 8 years. Did you buy yours new? It seems like the majority of people who complained about Optima bought them secondhand. After all, OPTIMA has a 36 month warranty.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:52 am

Guess what.....any lead acid battery will get you off the trail, then when its totally dead you can charge it up and it will work again, the optima will be irreversably damaged.

Guess what else, lead acid batteries also have a 36 month warranty, and cost a 1/3 the price.

Ya I bought new, and I also got them when they were in my Jeeps less than a year old. Then a year after that I had a couple of nice paperwieghts.

Crap total crap.

riptricket · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 3:31 am

I have an optima 34 and love it. purchased a lead acid battery for my lx470 at the same time as my optima 34 and we are getting a new battery for the lx... acid/corrosion is everywhere on the current one.
Will be getting an optima for the lx as well... just not sure which one yet.

oh and 2 years strong with my optima

gtommec · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 4:02 am

I have 2 optima redtops that I bought in 2005 and have never had any issues with them they have both been in numerous vehicles from my Mustang, SHO to trackers with 10 KC lights and Winches. When the alternator went out on my Tracker a couple of years ago in URE I was able to drive home on the optimas (i had the one ion the truck and the second as a spare) I drove on one until it was dead and then swapped and drove on the other one and I made it all the way back to Moyock (about 4 hours) trickle charged both on 2 amps and they both charged up fine and I am still using both of them (on in my 2wd KJ and the other is in my G3500HD)

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:41 am

Older Optimas were great, newer ones in the past few years are not so great. Bought one in 07, had it 3 months went bad, got a replacement, it made it 4 months, got a replacement and sold it.
Wouldn't waste my money on something for the "name " only

Lancer · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:34 am

My group 34 Red top been in 5 years - still going strong.

azmotoman · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:46 am

Our '05 KJ/CRD and '06 Beetle TDI-D had them factory/dealer installed and they worked great.

When our newer '06 CRD needed one last year. We went with Red Top Optima and haven't had any problems.
On a recent camping trip, we used the aft accessory outlet to power our 12V lights inside the camper and run a small fan most of the night. Got up the next morning, started the engine for a top charge on the battery and it sat all day until we needed it again the next evening. We did this for 3 days and have witnessed no ill effect on the battery.

Ours was purchased at NAPA.

As long as I can afford one, find one and they don't have problems, that is what I will stick with. :CAMPING:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 8:15 am

Optima's made in the last 4-5 years are junk since Johnson Controls took over Optima and moved production to Mexico.I've had 2 yellow tops die just outside of warranty and USAFCOP just had one die after 3 months.Just a waste of money to buy one now.Do a search over on Jeep Forum,optimajim get's his kicked around pretty good,he gets laughed off of Pirate4x4.

Sears Diehard Platinum series P1 is what you want.4 year free replacement then a prorated warranty(72 months I believe).

ridenby · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:50 am

Have a yellow top,run winch 2-3 times a month,sometimes for couple hours at a time,pulling logs,playing. Have had no problems.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:49 am

i have a red top (got it for free) and it's been going strong for the last 4 years... running winch, lights, boom box.. all at the same time. never died on me. My dad has a yellow top in the 32 hot rod and his rubicon... never any problems.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:50 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

Optima's made in the last 4-5 years are junk since Johnson Controls took over Optima and moved production to Mexico.I've had 2 yellow tops die just outside of warranty and USAFCOP just had one die after 3 months.Just a waste of money to buy one now.Do a search over on Jeep Forum,optimajim get's his kicked around pretty good,he gets laughed off of Pirate4x4.

Sears Diehard Platinum series P1 is what you want.4 year free replacement then a prorated warranty(72 months I believe).

This guy knows what its all about.

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:25 pm

I stepped outside the Box and got a Odyssey PC1500 Deep Cycle Group 34, When my battery died in the KJ used it for 2 weeks then tore the Liberty apart way back in early May. The other day my battery kicked the can in my mini-van so I grabbed the Odyssey from the back of the Libby and threw it in no hesitation fired right up. I've heard solid things about them being able to take abuse we'll see.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 8:48 pm

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

I stepped outside the Box and got a Odyssey PC1500 Deep Cycle Group 34.

How much did that cost ya?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:15 pm

dieselenthusiast wrote:

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

I stepped outside the Box and got a Odyssey PC1500 Deep Cycle Group 34.

How much did that cost ya?

Same battery as the Sears P1,both are made by Odyssey but it's cheaper at sears and with a slightly shorter warranty(Sears version).I believe the P1 goes for about $189.99 and the PC1500 is about $260.

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:13 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

dieselenthusiast wrote:

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

I stepped outside the Box and got a Odyssey PC1500 Deep Cycle Group 34.

How much did that cost ya?

Same battery as the Sears P1,both are made by Odyssey but it's cheaper at sears and with a slightly shorter warranty(Sears version).I believe the P1 goes for about $189.99 and the PC1500 is about $260.

260$ is nuts I paid $184 and change taxes in at a local Battery Dealer.(House of Battery) It has a 8 Year in house warranty, I'm not sure what they usually have.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:23 pm

x2, or x3 or 4 or whatever on the Sears P1

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:55 pm

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

260$ is nuts I paid $184 and change taxes in at a local Battery Dealer.(House of Battery) It has a 8 Year in house warranty, I'm not sure what they usually have.

The price has gone up alot over the last few months like everything else.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:11 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

x2, or x3 or 4 or whatever on the Sears P1

X5

Let's talk about OPTIMA Batteries

Who is online