Replacement Battery

alclubb · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:58 am

I need to replace the battery in my 2005 CRD. It has an Optima Red Top 700 CCA currently in there - looks like it was made for Daimler Chrysler since it has a Mopar part number. What Optima battery can I replace it with? I can't find one that is like this. Thanks.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:02 am

I know this is not what your asking, but - I have a very low opinion of optimas, I would suggest just getting a regular battery. Optimas don't take kindly to being discharged, just once or twice and they can be toast.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:48 am

The Red-tops don't take kindly to discharges - the Yellow/Blue tops can do deep discharge cycles .
(although we did get a custom lower current version of a Red-top)

The Optima has better vibration resistance - which is why Chrysler went with them - but some of the warranty replacements were Chrysler branded batteries.

This was tjkj's number - don't remember anyone posting a different CRD number
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=29257&highlight=optima

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:51 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

I know this is not what your asking, but - I have a very low opinion of optimas, I would suggest just getting a regular battery. Optimas don't take kindly to being discharged, just once or twice and they can be toast.

Yellow and Blue tops are made for heavy discharges,the Red top is for starting only.I beat my Yellow top really hard over the last 3 years and still going strong,many long winch pulls,2-3 hours blasting my stereo(two 10" subs with a 750watt amp) with out the KJ running,and running long times with all my lights on(renny light bar,KC HID's and headlights) withou ever having one starting problem,I also have the stock 136amp alternator also.

The Red top that came in the CRD's is a sub-standard version of the regular Red top made specifically for Chrysler and should not be judged as a Optima at all.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:31 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

The Red top that came in the CRD's is a sub-standard version of the regular Red top made specifically for Chrysler and should not be judged as a Optima at all.

I agree 100% with you :lol:

But I've not had problems yet. :wink:

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:29 pm

I intend to try a Diehard Platinum - no later than this fall.

blake1827 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:44 pm

I had this issue a while back http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=24524&postdays=0&postorder=asc&vote=viewresult it was replaced under warranty still with a Mopar non Optima w/ 800 CCA I'll look at the battery and get the part # in a couple hours.

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:02 pm

How do they get away with replacing the 'Optima' with a 'cheaper regular' MOPAR one?

danoid · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:45 am

I got one of these http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/ for my camper, it's a beast. When the Optima gives up the ghost I'll be stuffing the biggest one (or two) that'll fit.

momotaro · **Posted:** Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:18 pm

alclubb,
would you happen to have that part number handy? I'm fighting with the dealership right now because they say the Optima battery isn't the factory battery for the CRD and won't cover the replacement under warranty.
I passed some information about the Optima being the factory battery to the dealership. I'll see if it will convince them.
If anyone has some documentation for this being the factory issued battery can you send it my way.
Thanks.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:48 pm

momotaro wrote:

alclubb,
would you happen to have that part number handy? I'm fighting with the dealership right now because they say the Optima battery isn't the factory battery for the CRD and won't cover the replacement under warranty.
I passed some information about the Optima being the factory battery to the dealership. I'll see if it will convince them.
If anyone has some documentation for this being the factory issued battery can you send it my way.
Thanks.

Mine has the Chrysler number on a tag on the Optima battery. Looking at my build sheet and window sticker they both say 700 amp sealed battery. Additionally my build sheet has a BCVP for the battery. That should shut them up

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:49 pm

Show them these too. If any domestic CRD's shipped without an Optima I am sure it was very late in the build.

To you Red Top bashers....you have had me worried. I bought a used swather about 7 years ago that had two new Red Tops, my first Optimas. The machine gets run about 20 hours a year, except last year when I plowed up the old hay field and planted a new one. I took those old, faded, red tops out and charged them on my Sears charger at 10 amps in the no-maintenance mode over night, stuck them back in the swather and it started right up. I LIKE MY RED TOPS!!!!! :lol:

alclubb · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:32 am

I'm sorry but I don't have the part number any more. I bought a new 34/78 Red Top Optima and turned the old battery in.

jinstall · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:17 am

I have Optimas in everything I own. Never let me down. I also replace my batteries ever 36 months no matter what the condition is.

momotaro · **Posted:** Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:34 am

Thanks,
I found pictures of test drives from magazines and passed the links on showing the CRD engine compartment and the Optima redtop sitting there. One picture even had the caption stating the 2005 CRDs, the year they were test driving, comes with the Optima battery.
When I went to pick up the jeep the dealer said he did a good will warranty and there would be no charge. Now I have a new Mopar battery in it. The bill would have been about $160. about $110 for the battery and the rest for labor :shock:

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

I have a nice new battery in mine (lead acid) after my red top died with 24 months of use. My battery has 850 CCA and 1000 crank amps in warmer weather.

bewestro · **Posted:** Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:56 pm

I don't mean to dig up an old topic here, but since this is for sharing experiences: My experience with these batteries has not been great. I bought my '06 CRD used in Sept. 2007, with red top Optima. Battery failed late fall. Dealership replaced it with another, new red top. Here it is late fall, battery has failed again. This is the second, or for all I know third, red top that has died in the Jeep in it's 2 1/2 years of existence. Tomorrow it goes in for another load test, which I'm sure it will fail. The dealership will replace it again under warranty, but I'm not sure I want another red top. I'd almost rather they just put in a regular battery, albeit a heavy duty one. Next year at this time it won't be under warranty anymore.

I don't have any fancy lights, stereos, etc that put a heavy load on anything electrical. I do however live where it's cold & snowy (LOTSA snowy lately!!) The battery just goes dead if the vehicle isn't driven every day. At first I thought it might be an electrical gremlin, but no, when they replaced the battery last time it stayed charged just fine. For a while. Now it's slowly gotten weaker.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:19 pm

3 1/2 years on the original 'substandard' Optima RedTop - no problems
will probably get a new one this year based on the assumption that they don't live forever

I'd still look for an electrical glitch

(although I do admit I tend to drive it every day)

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:24 pm

Has your CRD had the battery drain TSB done? Mine was dead when I picked it up at a distant dealer new in November 2005. They told me someone must have left the lights on but later I found out that you can't really do that as eventually they shut off, in and out. Then I got the TSB that described the failure. At the time many on this site were experiencing the problem unless they drove daily. I would check it out.

My red top is the original one with 3 years and 51K on it and it will get down to about 10 degrees where I live tonight.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:43 pm

These red top batteries are supposed to be slow charged and not for short trips with heavy load. I'm a abuser of the use of my jeep for I only live 2 miles from work. Start in the morning with all electrical power and turn off then all over again at end of day. Do this for two weeks and don't use for the weekend I stand a risk of getting a low battery. When I know this I throw on the slow charger overnight and am good to go.

Replacement Battery

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