Page 1 of 1
Red top or not
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 3:44 pm
by scumby
so my optima is shot. i've heard mention the newer optimas are poo. any comments on that? if not optima then what's the next choice of seasoned off roaders? what's everyones favorite establishment to purchase said favorite battery?
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 4:40 pm
by TJDave
I have heard the same: "Optima was bought out by Johnson Controls, moved the production facilities to Mexico, and the quality and longevity has gone to poop."
The battery everyone is talking about for TJs is the Sears Die Hard Platinum P4 size 34, which is an AGM battery made by Odyssey.
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 4:45 pm
by SquirrelCrusher
I have the sears AGM battery and so far it hasn't let me down. I got the group 34 size with dual posts for eventually hooking a winch to it.
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:02 pm
by iaccocca
SquirrelCrusher wrote:I have the sears AGM battery and so far it hasn't let me down. I got the group 34 size with dual posts for eventually hooking a winch to it.
I'd strongly recommend against hooking the winch to the signposts. (Hijack over.)
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:09 pm
by White trash
iaccocca wrote:SquirrelCrusher wrote:I have the sears AGM battery and so far it hasn't let me down. I got the group 34 size with dual posts for eventually hooking a winch to it.
I'd strongly recommend against hooking the winch to the signposts. (Hijack over.)
Yup hooking your winch power leads up to a signpost won't give it the power needed.
I highly recommend hooking them up to the top posts rather than the side posts.
As to the question at hand yes, optima is junk these days. If you want to read a optima rep talking in circles telling you that a red top was not designed to be used for anything but a stock rig as a starting battery. No stereo, no winch nothing but stock usage. Search "optima jim" on pirate.
The aforementioned diehard platinum is the best bang for the buck these days. It's the next battery I'm buying once the nearly 10 year old yellow top in the wifes runner finally dies.
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:31 pm
by scumby
TJDave wrote:I have heard the same: "Optima was bought out by Johnson Controls, moved the production facilities to Mexico, and the quality and longevity has gone to poop."
The battery everyone is talking about for TJs is the Sears Die Hard Platinum P4 size 34, which is an AGM battery made by Odyssey.
is this a gel cell, absorbed electrolyte or lead acid?
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:24 pm
by OldGreen
It is AGM. Same as Odessy
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:09 pm
by SquirrelCrusher
iaccocca wrote:SquirrelCrusher wrote:I have the sears AGM battery and so far it hasn't let me down. I got the group 34 size with dual posts for eventually hooking a winch to it.
I'd strongly recommend against hooking the winch to the signposts. (Hijack over.)
Good to know. Well it had side post for some kind of accessory if I ever need it.
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 6:00 am
by scumby
AGM absorbed glass mat just like the optima but not spiral so it seems.
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:00 pm
by Roman
Same chemistry, different design, BETTER BUILD QUALITY...
Spiral cells aren't the problem with current Optimas.
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:24 pm
by Chrispy
Roman wrote:Same chemistry, different design, BETTER BUILD QUALITY...
Spiral cells aren't the problem with current Optimas.
No there just junk. I had two of them. JUNK.
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 7:39 pm
by scumby
bought installed and tested today, all is well. die hard that is.