Optima Red Top Battery

[Stumper]

Just a general question. I have a Red Top battery in my car with the AGM "technology" - basiclly saturated fiberglass. My charger and it has settings for standard, AGM and Deep Cycle and out of old habit I guess, I've just been leaving it on standard when I put the Red Top on the charger. Do you think this has hurt the battery any - what is the difference in the two settings on the charger? I guess i should be using the AGM setting?

 

[Moparsmitty]

What we have been told by our battery dealer is that AGM batteries are very susceptible to overcharging. Especially if they are left on any charger that's putting out more than 13.8 volts. Even a trickle charger. He recommends a Battery Tender Plus that has an AGM setting for long storage. Optima.com has a lot of good info about the proper way to charge and maintain AGM batteries. Only time will tell if you have damaged your battery. You can charge it up to 13.8V , then let it sit for a month or two and check the voltage again. It should still be at least 12.5V if it's in good condition.

 

[Stumper]

Every time I put the charger on it it shows around 12.7V so I guess it's holding the voltage. My car system doesn't seem to maintain the charge well (electric water pump, fuel pump, fan. etc.) and every so often I put it on the charger just to top it off. The battery is about 4 years old now so I guess it is normal to start losing charge more frequently. I checked the Optima site earlier but didn't see anything on charging / maintaining them, I'll look again. Thanks for the help!

 

[lewtot184]

i've got an optima sitting on the bench thats 9 yrs old and still holds 12 volts, and it hasn't been used in a year. best batteries i've ever used.

 

[soundhd]

I have 4 Red Tops........keep a battery tender on all of them when vehicles are parked...have never had a problem or a failure........

 

[Bruzilla]

Glad you guys are having better luck than I had. I had an Optima red top and one of the cells shorted out after about two years. It gave all the indications of being charged, but nothing in the car would work. I spent two weeks troubleshooting before deciding maybe that battery is bad regardless of what all the tests show. I swapped out the battery and the car started right up. I've been using nothing but Walmart batteries ever since.

 

[Stumper]

I swapped out the battery and the car started right up. I've been using nothing but Walmart batteries ever since.

Nooooo, not Chinese batterys??

 

[5.7 hemi]

Love my redtop and battery tender plus.

 

[Bruzilla]

Nooooo, not Chinese batterys??

Absolutely! I have Walmart batteries in all my cars. They last just as long as anyone else's, plus if I ever have a problem I just go to the nearest Walmart and trade it in. Best thing is Walmart has a very generous warranty plan. They have a 100% replacement guarantee for the usual 24/36 months, but they also have a pro-rated warranty that goes beyond that. I didn't know this until I took a 24-month battery that I had for well over 24 months that had been sitting around from an old project car to use as a core charge for a new battery for a car I bought that didn't have a battery. The gal at customer service saw the battery was one of theirs and said she would check it to see if any warranty was left on it. I told her not to waste her time because it was way over 24 months old. She scanned the label and up popped a warranty value of $35! I turned the old battery in and got a new one for roughly half off. Can't beat that deal anywhere.

 

[67 coronet]

Absolutely! I have Walmart batteries in all my cars. They last just as long as anyone else's, plus if I ever have a problem I just go to the nearest Walmart and trade it in. Best thing is Walmart has a very generous warranty plan. They have a 100% replacement guarantee for the usual 24/36 months, but they also have a pro-rated warranty that goes beyond that. I didn't know this until I took a 24-month battery that I had for well over 24 months that had been sitting around from an old project car to use as a core charge for a new battery for a car I bought that didn't have a battery. The gal at customer service saw the battery was one of theirs and said she would check it to see if any warranty was left on it. I told her not to waste her time because it was way over 24 months old. She scanned the label and up popped a warranty value of $35! I turned the old battery in and got a new one for roughly half off. Can't beat that deal anywhere.

same deal as the interstates we sell here at the shop.
hey stumper,you might look into getting a more powerfull alternator.could give you more hp as well as curing your low charge problem.low power to ignition is a common problem overlooked by many who put on lots of electrical options on an old charging system.

 

[Stumper]

same deal as the interstates we sell here at the shop.
hey stumper,you might look into getting a more powerfull alternator.could give you more hp as well as curing your low charge problem.low power to ignition is a common problem overlooked by many who put on lots of electrical options on an old charging system.

I think my alternator is a 100 amp - (its a newer GM ...). I do run an electric water pump, cooling fan, fuel pump and the MDS ignition. Occasionally lights if I'm out at night. Do you think I might need like a 130 amp?

 

[1948 santa]

I'm sure it's the GM part that you mentioned.LOL

 

[sublimegtx]

Have a friend that left his optima red in the car withbattery switch off for 5 years without charging it. Turned the switch on and itwas good to go, found it kinda unbelievable. But somehow i seem to end up with walmart batteries