How do optima's die?
 

I have an Optima red top in my '86 Carrera.

When I started the car 6 hours ago, the battery was noticeably weak. I just tried to go out to lunch, but the car wouldn't start! It still has enough juice to engage the starter, but not enough to turn the motor over. No evident charging problems.

I've had to jump start the car twice this year. Once in early summer (after I left the lights on all day) and then in late summer after the car sat for about 4 weeks (while I had my appendix removed -- what fun that was, not!). Other than those two times, the battery has been strong even after 3 or 4 days of sitting.

I think the battery is just about 5 years old.

This being my first and only Optima, I don't know how they behave near end-of-life. Hopefully someone on this board does. So what do you think... Is my battery done? Or is there a good chance I have charging problem?

That sounds like a premature death for an optima to me. The one in my old Dodge pickup is over 10 years old, going strong. One thing I've heard is that you don't want to give an optima a heavy charge...forget the actual amperage, but more than normal alternator charge in can damage them...like a heavy "quick charge". Have you tested the output of your alternator? I think that would be my first step, before buying another battery.

In my experience, Optimas have a better shelf life than regular lead-acid batteries. That said, they will also discharge to a point where there won't be enough juice to turn the starter.

If your car sits for any length of time, I suggest investing in a low current, battery charger/maintainer. Using one of these will keep the battery charged. Cycling the battery between discharge and charging states decreases the life of any lead-acid battery. A master battery turn-off switch can also extend the life of a sitting battery.

I have also experienced that when my Optima goes flat, a regular low-amp trickle charger may not provide enough current to begin the charging process. It takes a higher amp charger charging for about an hour before switching to a trickle charger.

Hope this helps.
Sherwood Lee
(w/6 year old Optima)

:D How do optima's die?
Don't they lose their enthusiasm?

JSDSKI? My wife thought that was funny...I didn't get it. Guys, have I been in trouble for 27 years, but haven't known it????????

Just like the gel-cell batteries in my UPS right now, at six/seven years, they have a 'surface-charge' ... but very limited output current capacity.

Hey guys, are Optimas lighter than a regular battery? I remember Chuck Moreland mention that he has a light-weight battery. Is this it?

Optimas are around 35 lbs. Not necessarily lightweight, but it's got 800 CCA's. There are lighter alternatives but I don't know if a battery can have both light weight and high cold cranking amps.

Jack favors the Stinger battery which he says is lighter. I'm unaware of its other specs.

Sherwood Lee