Optima Battery Poll (NO DISCUSSION)

[teotwaki]

The Poll is multiple choice. Choose carefully. I hope that I asked the right set of questions.

Okay, no comments/sniping/discussion/love/hate at all in this thread other than the following PLEASE:

For each battery:

1. I have -color- top battery (or batteries) (Yellow/Blue/Red)
2. Installed in this year & month
3. Manufactured in this month. If not sure post the code off of it as it can be decoded to reveal the year (see decoder below)
4. Manufactured in: Mexico or Colorado
5. Died in this many months (ZERO if it is still running)

Sample of what I am looking for but at a minimum where manufactured and how long it lasted

1. Blue top
2. Installed 2011 November
3. Manufactured 2011 October
4. made in Mexico
5. 5 months old

How to read the date code: first digit is the year, and the next 3 digits the Julian date. A date code of 4208 means it was made on the 208th day of 2004. This equates to July, 2004.

If you are a first time poster provide some pictures or something to make me believe that you are not a hanging chad..... as I'd prefer to see Expo members who have been here for a while.


If you want to discuss Optima batteries go here: http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ttery-Problems

[ade_beer]

It was a yellow top. It went to live at Sears after it died and I replaced it, so I don't have any pictures. I am ASSUMING it was made in Mexico. It came in a truck I bought, and I know the previous owner had built it up within the past 2 years. I didn't bother replace with an Optima since I didn't have the original receipt to warranty since it came in the truck. I had no need for it anyway as I pulled the stereo out after I bought the truck. New Diehard works nice though.

PS- Feel free to delete if this screws up scientific analysis as I can't PROVE it was a Mexico battery

PPS- I would get an Odyssey if I needed a nice battery

[Hilldweller]

1. Two BlueTops
2. Installed 3/2011
3. Born 3/2011
4. Hecho en Mexico (ordered directly from factory)
5. 15 months in service and working perfectly


1. RedTop
2. Installed 12/2009
3. Born 11/2009
4. Hecho en Mexico (ordered directly from factory)
5. 31 months in service ---- in the Jeep I traded for the pw

[HenryJ]

Just FYI. The new Optimas do not have a burn code.

Two Redtop and a Bluetop "Gilling Group" all older than sin (12+ years) and still working.

3 New Redtop, 7 Yellowtop and a Bluetop "Johnson Control" all junk cores less than three years old.

[Hill, Bill E.]

One Yellow Top- Old as sin, had it in 4 different rigs. Gave up the ghost after 6+ years of abuse.

One Red Top- Made In Mexico- Used only as starting battery in '99 XJ, lasted less than 18 months. (No winch/other accessories)

[BIGdaddy]

Yes, but what I want to know is...how did those batteries make you feel?

Sorry couldn't resist.

I'll ask my dad and update this post. I only run interstate's, but I think he's running an optima in his westy.

[teotwaki]

I've had to dig a bit to get dates and may come back and edit for accuracy.

1. First Optima was a Yellow Top
2. Installed Jan 2007
3. Purchased Dec 2006
4. Unknown where manufactured, possibly Colorado
5. Replaced March 2009 with a Yellow Top (CostCo)

1. Second Optima was a Yellow Top
2. Installed March 2009
3. Purchased March 2009
4. Made in ?
5. Replaced Nov 2010 (CostCo)

1. Third Optima was a Blue Top
2. Installed Nov 2010
3. Purchased Nov 2010
4. Made in Mexico
5. Replaced Nov 2011 (independent seller)

1. Fourth Optima was a Blue Top
2. Installed Nov 2011
3. Purchased Nov 2011
4. Made in Mexico
5. Replaced March 2012

1. Fifth Optima is a warranteed Blue Top
2. Installed March 2012
3. Purchased March 2012
4. Made in Mexico
5. Still alive at this date because I have turned off the fridge and the battery is crusin'

[HillbillyfromAL]

I don't have the dates but I had a yellowtop that was replaced after 6 months and 2 times using the winch. Half the amps/cells were bad. Winch was connected to top post and there was no other signs of potential problems. Replacement is 9 months old and doing fine with 3 long pulls.

The only other time I've had a problem I went through 3 Yellowtops in a month due to a faulty regulator that was working intermittently in my Toyota. Apparently Optimas don't like extra voltage. Replacement was still working fine after 4 years when I sold it. It had also been left with a light on for three months and showed 6 volts but was fine after jumping it and letting it run for a few hours. 220Amp Mean Green alternator.

[teotwaki]

Thanks to all for keeping out discussions. I appreciate all attempts to provide ownership duration information.

[bfdiesel]

Red top made in 2003 bought from Cosco. Deeply discharged multiple times. Sat deeply discharged for who knows how long once as I was out to sea and didn't get to check it for about 8 months. Used to power a winch alone on my trailer, used as a starting battery for a couple of years, used to power a trolling motor, used the power an inverter, used as a jump start battery, just some of the things I remember using it for.