Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Southwest optima batteries suck???

It's dead...not sure if I can get it replaced under warranty...kind of a perk of the job when I worked there.

This is the 2nd I have killed. I guess it's because the car is barely driven, but wow...I htough they were super duper batteries. then the guy at Autozone tells me he's seen a lot of them go bad quickly.

Now what the he!!!. Optima or regular? I have my battery in the trunk...fyi.

my brand new one I got for the volvo a couple months back is also dead (not an optima) but I think its from having my car be sitting there for two months.

I've gone with Optima yellow tops on all my vehicles and have NEVER had any issues with them.

I actually had one go bad on me as well. After taking it to the store I got it from, I talked with the owner while it was getting recharged. Turns out with the technology, some of the cores can get very very minor cracks that get passed over in the pre-sale testing process they do on each battery. Unfortunately, it's just an evil of the technology they use, and is pretty unavoidable. He said that that type of problem IS relatively common, about 1 in 10 get it. Usually shows up 3-6 months after the battery has been used, more quickly in extreme temps. But, on the same note, the ones that don't get it are damn near bulletproof. And if yours does, it can usually be fixed by a good over-charging which will reset it. That seems to have been the exact problem with mine, as it's been absolutely perfect for 3 months since I had it done.

So I'd stay stick with it, try to get it recharged and if it's still shot, have them send it to Optima. They have a killer warranty, IIRC.

I have to re-charge my red top every other month, I only drive my car about twice a week, and it has left me with no fire many times, very frustrating. I have jumper cables always on hand. I took the battery back and they charged it and said it was fine. It is not, but they wont replace it. Optima yellow huh, going that way next time. -B. Mine is in the trunk also.

Have you tried contacting Optima directly Randy? I bought my red-top from a battery specific store, Batteries Plus I think. They said if it craps out again, just bring it in and they'd send it to Optima for a replacement. Seems like your retailer should be doing the same if you push for it.

looks like mine will be replaced under warranty so it's cool I guess.

Maybe if I actually drive the car...the battery will work.

Don't let them sit! Mine just crapped out after sitting several months. I have a trickle charger handy that I failed to use too.

Greg