Apparently my Optima battery is toast, ..., ...and a Search didn't provive any results. |
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Apparently my Optima battery is toast, ..., ...and a Search didn't provive any results. |
Jamie |
Sep 20 2020, 11:33 AM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,025 Joined: 13-October 04 From: Georgetown,KY Member No.: 2,939 Region Association: South East States |
...So what battery is preferred these days, and what class of battery is correct for our 914's?
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thelogo |
Sep 20 2020, 01:13 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Retired Members Posts: 1,510 Joined: 6-April 10 Member No.: 11,572 Region Association: None |
Yeh optimas do very poorly unless constantly
On a trickle charger . amd even then not to reliable I recommend a !!!! sealed !!!! lead acid batt ( die hard preffered) But if you're gonna park the car for more then 2 weeks Take out the battery If you cant do that then go for another dry cell $$$$$$$$$$ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) But its a huge waste of money if you ask me |
SirAndy |
Sep 20 2020, 01:24 PM
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#3
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,618 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
Yeh optimas do very poorly unless constantly On a trickle charger ... But if you're gonna park the car for more then 2 weeks Take out the battery ... My old red top optima has been doing just fine with literally sitting in the car for several months, more than once. The car sat without any trickle charger for at least 4 months last winter and then again for at least 4 months this summer. Both times it started right up with no indication of power loss on the starter. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) |
aharder |
Sep 20 2020, 01:33 PM
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#4
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,381 Joined: 6-September 11 From: Dallas Texas Member No.: 13,524 Region Association: Southwest Region |
My Red Top has lasted me for years. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
I put a trickle changer on it during the winter or if I know I won't be driving it for 3 or 4 weeks. |
Jamie |
Sep 20 2020, 01:39 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,025 Joined: 13-October 04 From: Georgetown,KY Member No.: 2,939 Region Association: South East States |
This Optima 34R is 10 yrs. old now, and has a trickle charger when I'm not driving it for some time. But this time even the full charger only got it to just barely 11 v. so I've ordered an Odyssey PC 925 from local Auto Zone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sheeplove.gif)
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mepstein |
Sep 20 2020, 02:29 PM
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#6
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,255 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
Optima red top. Battery tender jr. I get years of good service.
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solex |
Sep 20 2020, 02:36 PM
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#7
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 789 Joined: 12-January 05 From: Long Island, NY Member No.: 3,439 Region Association: North East States |
I have had my red top optima since 9/11 - 9 years on a wallwart Battery Tender no problems so far...
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rhodyguy |
Sep 20 2020, 02:50 PM
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#8
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Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out. Group: Members Posts: 22,072 Joined: 2-March 03 From: Orion's Bell. The BELL! Member No.: 378 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
Have you tried the 2 battery charging method?
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thelogo |
Sep 20 2020, 03:48 PM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Retired Members Posts: 1,510 Joined: 6-April 10 Member No.: 11,572 Region Association: None |
Actually yes they do ok . unless accidentally let to discharge like my did (signal left on ). then their junk
But after that i just dont trust em ! |
mepstein |
Sep 20 2020, 03:54 PM
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#10
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,255 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
Mine (3 of them) completely discharged a couple times. No problem charging them back up. There’s a process to follow if it won’t take a charge. I’ve been getting 8-10 years from them so I’m satisfied.
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90quattrocoupe |
Sep 20 2020, 04:14 PM
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#11
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Member Group: Members Posts: 208 Joined: 4-November 16 From: Long Beach, CA. Member No.: 20,561 Region Association: Southern California |
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Olympic 914 |
Sep 20 2020, 04:43 PM
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#12
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Group: Members Posts: 1,662 Joined: 7-July 11 From: Pittsburgh PA Member No.: 13,287 Region Association: North East States |
Have you tried the 2 battery charging method? I have. I use a Battery Minder. As long as you have two of the same type of battery, gel, flooded, etc.. You put them in series, not parallel. I made up a cable for between the two batteries. Greg W. I don't know about doing that. In series it is 24 V In parallel it's still 12V but the good battery lets the charger do its job. But slower on both. |
Rand |
Sep 20 2020, 05:09 PM
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#13
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Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
Lead acid batteries do not like to be discharged. You have to keep them topped off (your alternator does), which means trickling over long periods of non-usage. If you don't want to deal with that, you have to go with different technology such as lithium (huge side benefit, weight difference). Just saying "sealed" or AGM vs old school doesn't get you out of this.
If you insist on lead acid or AGM, I keep hearing that Optimas are not what they used to be. Odyssey seems to be the stronger brand now. But the future is leaving this technology behind. |
oakdalecurtis |
Sep 20 2020, 05:25 PM
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#14
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Oakdalecurtis Group: Members Posts: 1,324 Joined: 5-June 15 From: Oakdale, Ca Member No.: 18,802 Region Association: Central California |
I’ve run my Optima’s forever. The key is to keep it in the trickle charger at home. I didn’t like constantly having to open my engine lid to hook it up though do I created this quick connect system, easy peasy and fast hookup. Check out this old post:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...=300866&hl= |
horizontally-opposed |
Sep 20 2020, 05:53 PM
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#15
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,431 Joined: 12-May 04 From: San Francisco Member No.: 2,058 Region Association: None |
My old red top optima has been doing just fine with literally sitting in the car for several months, more than once. The car sat without any trickle charger for at least 4 months last winter and then again for at least 4 months this summer. Both times it started right up with no indication of power loss on the starter. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) My experience, also. I think I am on #3 over 30 years, or maybe it's #2? I can't remember, but hard to argue with the results. Starts every time, and probably saved my chassis when I made the switch from lead-acid in 1990~. Have never kept them on chargers. Only downside I see is they are heavy. I wouldn't mind doing something lighter next time around, but not sure what that is—and don't love the idea of more maintenance or having to use a charger. |
burton73 |
Sep 21 2020, 11:27 AM
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#16
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burton73 Group: Members Posts: 3,510 Joined: 2-January 07 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 7,414 Region Association: Southern California |
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Andyrew |
Sep 21 2020, 11:35 AM
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#17
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Spooling.... Please wait Group: Members Posts: 13,376 Joined: 20-January 03 From: Riverbank, Ca Member No.: 172 Region Association: Northern California |
I've got a TINY lithium. Its less than 2lbs. 330CCA. I got 2 years out of the first one till it decided to be a PITA and not hold a charge. Im going to keep this one unplugged when not in use, but it turns over the car really, really well and they are only $90.
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90quattrocoupe |
Sep 22 2020, 12:21 AM
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#18
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Member Group: Members Posts: 208 Joined: 4-November 16 From: Long Beach, CA. Member No.: 20,561 Region Association: Southern California |
Have you tried the 2 battery charging method? I have. I use a Battery Minder. As long as you have two of the same type of battery, gel, flooded, etc.. You put them in series, not parallel. I made up a cable for between the two batteries. Greg W. I don't know about doing that. In series it is 24 V In parallel it's still 12V but the good battery lets the charger do its job. But slower on both. So sorry about that. I was thinking about my old MGB, and forgetting that they were two 6 volt batteries in series. |
VegasRacer |
Sep 22 2020, 01:24 AM
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#19
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ELVIRA Group: Benefactors Posts: 8,501 Joined: 27-March 03 From: Between Scylla and Charybdis Member No.: 481 Region Association: None |
If you insist on lead acid or AGM, I keep hearing that Optimas are not what they used to be. Odyssey seems to be the stronger brand now. I had a few Optimas. Once I got a bad one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) so I switched to an Odyssey. They delivered reliable service. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
pete000 |
Sep 22 2020, 01:36 AM
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#20
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,885 Joined: 23-August 10 From: Bradenton Florida Member No.: 12,094 Region Association: South East States |
If you use the Optima charger it can bring back even the most dead of Optima batteries. I love mine. I have had a few red tops considered gone come back.
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