mulepackin

My batteries are finally starting to act their age and I had pretty much decided to go with Optimas after all the positive press they get. While surfing I found a site that stated "due to quality and warranty issues we will no longer be carrying Optima batteries". Anyone know what may be up with this?

DuaneWKKC

nope, but I just priced some in central Ohio ( @ a Interstate battery dealer ) and price was $160 per bat for a red top. Stated just had a price increase because they are selling all that they could produce. I put the MTP-65 battery in instead, $86 each. 875cca and 1000ca, 165min reserve capacity and 84 month warrenty. They wont fit into the battery tray, and you have to modify the hold downs to use them, but its the Interstate replacement battery.

Good luck.

DuaneW.

Commatoze

I got 'em, and I like the fact that they're sealed and don't puke acid like the OEM's did. But I don't think they have the cranking power or supply the sufficient current to the grid hearters like the flooded cells did. Paid $120 each at Pep Boys.

Geico266

Seems AGM (absorbed gas material) batteries don't do well with slow drain, grid heater cycling, hard drawing starting, diesels. They do okay, but they are not the end all to the battery like we thought. They need to be conditioned from time to time with a "desulphering" battery charger / conditioner. The best thing about them is they don't leak and damage the truck.

I have had to replace them after 2 years. Free, of course due to the warranty, but the new batteries don't come with a new warranty. The warranty starts when you buy the 1st set and doesn't start over with the new batteries. That isn't right in my book.

BOILERMAKER

I put a set of optima red's in. I can't say i'm extremely disappointed in them since my OEM's were giving up the ghost at around 35F out and I knew they wouldn't hold up to a cold snap. that being said, I believe they are overpriced for what they are.

I sure hope I don't have to replace these in 2 years. for what they cost, they should last at LEAST as long as the OEM's did ..... 5+ years.

Wet1

My local Interstate HATES them. They said they get more claims on these batteries than all others combined.

Personally I've had good and bad luck with these batteries. I've owned 3 (all non diesel applications) and one was a total POS which had to be returned... it would not recharge after it was acidently drained once. They did cover it under waranty, but I don't think I'll spend the money on another one unless it's going on the race track.

signature600

Dude, get a hold of me next time...I got them for way under that!

I've ran the red's for about 2 years in the 95...never let me down yet, and I've run them clear dead about 3 times. 3 hours on a 60 amp charge and they're good as new! Just put a set in the 98, and she fires up at 0* not plugged in, so I can't complain!

Chris

TorqueJunkie

I bought a red top for my race car and it took a total big hairy dump on me about 6 mths after I bought it. I bought it before they were really mainstream from a stereo shop in Vegas. I bought it because I was getting sent to Korea and my car would not get ran that much in the year that I would be gone. I bought it in Vegas and the car was in Oregon with the rest of my stuff and there was no warranty to be had because of the circumstances. So for the money I paid at the time, $150.00, I was very disappointed in it. I will stick with the AutoZone Gold series. I don't proclame much of anything that AutoZone sells to be the end all to say all in quality car parts, but their gold batteries are pretty dern nice.

Marine

I bought the Duralast spiral wound batteries from Checker Auto Parts. I think I paid 130.00 each.
I saw that Costco had the Red Tops for 103.99 for a while.

smokindog

Likewise! I've had my red tops in for about 2 years now and they haven't let me down even after being drained multiple times. I've let the truck sit for days in the winter without being plugged in and they have never given me a hard time starting the truck.

elandon1201

same here 3 yrs no problems with my redtops.

anpconnors

I replaced the stock batts after 5 Michigan winters with the Interstate MTP series. I did look at these http://www.odysseyfactory.com/ afterwards but decided the MTP's will go at least as long as the stock Interstates. The Interstate distributor did comment that they are eliminating the low volume Optima's. Good Luck with your choise.

J BODY

Not sure what happened around here, but the red tops have priced themselves out of the reach of most.

I installed a set of Mopar Pro 7's ($107 each my cost + rebate) which are the Exide spiral wound batterys. They've been in there since 05 and are CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!!! The interstates I had worked ok, but I was constantly cleaning them and trying in vain to keep the terminals corrosion free. I work on way too many trucks with no paint on the fenderwells, damaged cables, acid eaten cruise servos, etc....

98.5POS

I have 2 redtops that are both over 6 years old and still going strong! Knock on wood!

merrillr4

I have two of the D31A yellow tops for about a year now. ZERO problems!!