optima yellow top problems, cause?

[strupgolf]

My 86 911 has a Optima yellow top battery. When the car sits for lets say a week, it drains out of juice. Ive brought it to Autozone and had it re-charged. The date code says is was sold March 04, and the build date was Sept. 03. It says that they will replace for free up to 12 months. The company, after a few long talks, said that is only for the original owner???? But they said they would replace it, after asking for the supervisor, if it failed a load test. It passed fine, so I guess no replacement. BUT, when I try to hook up a trickle charger to it, (shuemaker brand) after about 5 minutes, it goes to red light, problem, and wont keep charging. What do you folks think is the problem, with not being able to charge it up at home?

[RoninLB]

it's a deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries need an alternator designed for it.. long story.

give it to the local boat yard.

[strupgolf]

Thanks. Ive heard that yellow tops are for boats. Do you think I should change it asap.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by strupgolf

Thanks. Ive heard that yellow tops are for boats. Do you think I should change it asap.

just so you know what your dealing with. I'd give it a big charge on the "start" switch of the charger till the charger amp output fell to 20 amps.. then let it charge in the "charge" circuit till it fell to 2 amp charge... then another hour when it hit 2amps. Repeat every 250 miles.

Change to the Red Top when it's doable.. the battery is still probably in very good condition.. for a boat, golf cart, wheel chair, etc

Disconnect battery from car when charging.. always

Don't jump from another car. Don't jump another car.

[strupgolf]

Thanks. Do I take off both the positive and negative cables from the battery when I use a trickel charger. When I tried it today, I left the negative cable on, and after about 10 minutes, it came up with a red light problem. Is this why I got a "red light"? Thanks for any reply

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by strupgolf

Thanks. Do I take off both the positive and negative cables from the battery when I use a trickel charger.

I don't think you'll have much luck with a trickle charger? When I metioned "alternator" above I was refering to the regulators control of the alternator. The voltage/amps and length of time spent charging is inadequate on our cars to deal with a deep cycle.. the complicated answer for those who Must Have a deep cycle is to modify the regulator imo.

I would guess that your best shot is to get a Red Top tomorrow and let the deep cycle be the prob of the next guy you give it to.
Or buy a 50-100$ charger.

trickel charging.. I always disconnect the neg cable with the wing nut on the battery marine clamp.. costs about $5 + new ground cable.
So anyway the trickel puts out very low current and your system may draw 60ma to start with. + a trickel will never redo a deep cycle, imo.

[stormcrow]

I had the same problem with mine awhile back and it was the battery. Charge it, disconnect it from the vehicle, let it set for a week and try it. If it doesn't start the car then you know the answer.

I purchased mine from Batteries plus and they gave me a 3 yr replacement with a 2 year pro rated on top of that for a total of 5 years.

Steve

"A Porsche does more then just go fast in a straight line"

[Wil Ferch]

NEVER remove a hot ( positive) lead first and leave the negative installed!!!

You BET I'm shouting !!!!

(Always remove the neg cable first....then the positive if you have to remove both.) When you re-install...install the positive first and negative last.

BASIC electrical battery cautions.....not Porsche-specific.....

Wil

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch

BASIC electrical battery cautions.....not Porsche-specific.....

yep..
It has to do with the current that may remain in caps, etc. Car fire battery disconnect is the same routine. I simplify the easily forgotten words with "negative thinking"

[NoLift911]

I did some research on these batteries for my battery relocation project. All of the above is correct from what I have read. The yellow top is a nice compact size and was aimed primarliy at the small import market. It is however a deep cycle battery - and could be used for marine applications ie trolling motors. You want to almost fully discharge the battery and then charge it up all at once to keep these type operating at peak efficiency.

Large stereos, video, video games coffee makers, espresso machines etc. You name it they stuff them into the cars...sit parked and use them up. Then they charge them back up again.

These are not batteries for a 911 that seldom gets used...

-Jeff
nolift911@hotmail.com

[strupgolf]

Thanks guys for all your help. When I store my car, say for a week, I have been taking off the positive cable. But it sounds like this is a NO_NO. The yellow top seems to drain so fast, that I dont know how long it will last. I did replace it with a duralast battery yesterday. It came with the car when I bought it, so I didnt know about them. So, if I want to trickle charge it, take off the negative first, and then the positive, then hook it up to the charger, is that correct. Thanks

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by strupgolf

The yellow top seems to drain so fast, that I dont know how long it will last.

So, if I want to trickle charge it, take off the negative first, and then the positive, then hook it up to the charger, is that correct.

chances are that it was never properly re-charged to begin with. Then what happens is it slowly looses it's peak charged state. It'll need an extreme charge to maybe return it to good standing.

I remove the negative only for charging.

[mjshira]

btw

The reason that Tyson had trouble with Scrappy on the way out west was because my dumbass was running a yellow top optima. It worked for about 6 months but finally ruined the alternator.

Listen to Ronnie, ditch it.

James

[strupgolf]

You got it, it's ditched.

[Wil Ferch]

Two clarifications..
1.) yes..take the negative lead off first. Here's a help to remember..if the negative is "off"...and it accidentally drops and hits the metal chassis...what happens? Nothing! Thr "ground" wire has "grounded". Now...if you had removed the hot positive wire ( being the first wire you disconnect) ..and it hits the car...sparks and welding ! ( or worse)

Capice ??

2.) Trickle chargers...like the "computer chipped" ones....can be attached to the positive and negative leads of the battery IN ADDITION to the normal negative and positive leads remaining attached. Just remember to detach the charger ( or at least unplug it from the wall) when you start the car ....

Wil

[pwd72s]

Great advice...Wil & Ron both. I use a 2 amp auto shut off charger from time to time. It works fine with both batteries hooked up. Deep cycle not desirable for cars, which are designed to use a bit of juice under starting load, then replace it as the car runs. Red top optima is a good battery...

[jeff1hughes]

Ronin STOP!!!!!!!!! These batteries should never be charged at anything higher than 10 amps!! There is a good chance that the punks at AZ didn't know any better and fried the battery for strup. These spiral cell batteries are very picky at how they're charged up. They work very well and should not be draining after a week at all, deep cycle or starting battery. I'd take this battery back, get a new one (prefferably a starting battery) and let the cars alternator charge it, you don't need a special alternator to charge a battery.

[KFC911]

Originally posted by jeff1hughes
Ronin STOP!!!!!!!!! These batteries should never be charged at anything higher than 10 amps!! There is a good chance that the punks at AZ didn't know any better and fried the battery for strup. These spiral cell batteries are very picky at how they're charged up. They work very well and should not be draining after a week at all, deep cycle or starting battery. I'd take this battery back, get a new one (prefferably a starting battery) and let the cars alternator charge it, you don't need a special alternator to charge a battery.

Someone correct me if I'm mistaken, but I thought letting your 911 alternator charge a discharged/low battery was a great way to ruin your alternator. I also thought that a discharged red top Optima, needed a charger much greater than 10 amps to initially get them going...then drop down to a 10/2 amp charge. Discuss...

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by KC911
I also thought that a discharged red top Optima, needed a charger much greater than 10 amps to initially get them going...then drop down to a 10/2 amp charge. Discuss...

my info on the Yellow Top is per Optima phone tech.

Jeff..
deep cycle needs a voltage regulator different than what we have in all autos. Do I have to search and scan hard info? Do your own searching and then let us know. I'll bale you out if you can't find it, no problem.

[pwd72s]

Keith, I believe you are mistaken. That type of battery doesn't like input much greater than 14 amps, and "less is better". At least, that's the way I understand things. Any battery dealers out there?