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Posted by: championgt1 Mar 19 2008, 09:13 PM

My wife bought me a new redtop Optima for Christmas. A mere 3 months later(without being hooked up to the car) this thing is dead. Went to put it in the car and nothing. The voltage across the terminals is only 9.3 volts! I know that you can put a charger on these type of batteries, but is 9.3 volts just to the point were it is to far gone?

Thinking I should just return this thing. What do you think?

Posted by: bfrymire Mar 19 2008, 09:19 PM

QUOTE(championgt1 @ Mar 19 2008, 08:13 PM)

Posted by: championgt1 Mar 19 2008, 09:26 PM

Did a search and read the thread you are talking about. I am just wondering if the battery being only 3 months old and only putting out 9.3volts if it should just be returned. When you spend $160 it should work after 3 months.

Posted by: Phoenix 914-6GT Mar 20 2008, 12:35 AM

YES. There is no reason they should not take it back. If you need one I have one. Take it back and get your money back and take the one from me

Honestly, and interstate salesman would take the battery back if they sold it. They have the numbers and know it should last much longer than three months on the shelf.

Posted by: BarberDave Mar 20 2008, 03:29 AM

I have had 3 of them. There is a 7 yr. gaurantee on them,( it least at Auto Zone)

3 yr. 100 0/0. next 4 pro rated. They are difficult to charge, they have to really

cook them ( A.Z. term not mine) try haveing your local F.L.A.P.S. charge it up for

you. THen keep a Battery Maintainer on it at all times. That's my experience.

Dave

Posted by: rhodyguy Mar 20 2008, 08:00 AM

the incesnant cranking trying to start your car hasn't helped either jack. sent you a pm earlier.

k

Posted by: keske968 Mar 20 2008, 10:24 AM

i would think that you should be able to put it on a trickel charger and get it fired up. Thoes dry cell batteries are designed to be completley drianed and charge back up over and over agian. Althought it is kinda wierd that yours went dead so fast. I had an optima at one point that I shorted out accidently. Put it on a trickel charger and it was good to go.

Posted by: horizontally-opposed Mar 20 2008, 10:32 AM

If it's a defective battery, take it back and ask for a new one. If your 914, like mine, has a significant draw, I'd have that fixed first.

I did, and have been using Optimas for nearly 20 years now. When I had the draw, I would disconnect the battery and reconnect it when I wanted to use the car. It NEVER failed to fire the motor up, sometimes when it was over 5-7 years old. Now, I leave it connected all the time and it always has the juice to start the car, even after a couple of weeks of sitting at times.

About the only thing I don't like about these batteries is the weight, but then their help in fighting rust is invaluable...and probably saved my car.

pete

Posted by: euro911 Mar 28 2008, 03:07 AM

I did a search on the Optima site and Porsche is not listed in the application guide. What group # or part # is best suited for 914's?

Also, I've seen both red-tops and yellow-tops in various 914's ... curious what has worked out the best for you guys?

Posted by: blitZ Mar 28 2008, 05:26 AM

The 34R works in our cars. "R" for reverse terminals. I bought one, worked great for a few months, then died. Literally, I was driving the the entire electrical system stopped. Got the car restarted after a minute or so of sitting. Happened a few more times until I got home. I narrowed the problem down to the battery. Returned it for a new one and has been fine since. Good batteries, kind of quirky.

Posted by: championgt1 Mar 28 2008, 08:59 AM

I just returned the battery. They gave me another one and it seems to be good. I wonder how long some of these batteries sit on the shelf before they are bought.

Posted by: drive-ability Mar 28 2008, 05:18 PM

My threshold is 10.5, anything under that and theres no resuscitating

2.1 volts per cell / times 6 = 12.6

12.6 - 2.1 = 10.5

Posted by: Andyrew Mar 28 2008, 06:46 PM

My optima sat in my 914 for 2 years without running once. Twas dead, charged it up and ran fine, then my DD battery died and I replaced it with my optima. Been 6 months of DD in an Audi and it cranks harder than the old battery ever did!

Andrew

Posted by: euro911 Mar 28 2008, 10:35 PM

Looks like there have been a few issues with them, eh? ...

Has anyone used Odyssey batteries?



P.S. Your car looks good flared John!

Posted by: Phoenix 914-6GT Mar 29 2008, 12:00 AM

I have and Odyssey that I am putting in and my buddy has on in his 911 RSA. It works very well and is only 15lbs.

Posted by: euro911 Mar 29 2008, 12:49 AM

Jon, which model # are you installing?

15 lbs. is really light-weight. Sounds like the PC 680xx cycle battery?



I'm looking at either the PC925xxx or the PC1200xxx (for a street car with high power stereo, electric heater, etc.)

Posted by: Phoenix 914-6GT Mar 29 2008, 09:40 AM

Yeah... It is the PC-680-SBX

The SBX stands for steel box. Helps for mounting and comes with poles. Otherwise you need to get them seperatly.