Optima D34 dead after 2.5 years

[djhampson]

My fridge died at Luveka within 5 hours of arriving so I spent some time today testing out the 2nd battery.

The Traxide kit is working fine, 14.4v is delivered to the battery a few seconds after the engine starts. I've also confirmed that there isn't anything putting a load on the battery while the car is off.

So finally I disconnected the battery from the car and stuck it on the battery charger for a few hours.

After a few hours the voltage was sitting at 14.2v with the charger on but as soon as the charger was removed the voltage dropped to 11.9v and within 2 mins was sitting at 10.4v.

So I think my 2.5 year old Optima D34 battery is dead. Bit disappointing for something that cost $350!

I'm contacting Optima tomorrow to see if its still under warranty.

Anyone else had problems with Optima batteries? From what I've heard most people are happy with them.

[Jojo]

I have had an Optima once, it laid off after just three years. Not long enough to justify the price tag, so I am not using them anymore.
Cheers

[Slunnie]

Mine must have been in for about 6 years+ by now. Still going strong touch wood. This is a D31M BlueTop used as a starting/winching etc battery and located under the bonnet in the original batt position of a Disco2.

I also wouldn't recommend Optima as a 2nd battery, as for their size they don't have enough capacity. I run 2 batteries, the starting Optima is 75ah, the deep cycle is the same physical size, has the same technology as the Optima except no spiral cells and it holds 100ah - more efficient use of space within the battery.

[dullbird]

we have had optimas for years....with no dramas in fact the 90 when shipped over had it battery disconnected and when we went to pick it up at the docks 3 months after it was sent hook up the battery and it fired the car first time.

However I also no a specialist Land rover garage that does not recommend them. he said the quality has gone bad had a few fail one of them even had a terminal fall off! (this was a few years ago though) but one thing he did says was that the heat kills them (especially under the bonnet of a v8).
perhaps thats why I have never really had dramas because up until recently we have only had them in our defenders

[Presto]

Mine must have been in for about 6 years+ by now. Still going strong touch wood. This is a D31M BlueTop used as a starting/winching etc battery and located under the bonnet in the original batt position of a Disco2.

I also wouldn't recommend Optima as a 2nd battery, as for their size they don't have enough capacity. I run 2 batteries, the starting Optima is 75ah, the deep cycle is the same physical size, has the same technology as the Optima except no spiral cells and it holds 100ah - more efficient use of space within the battery.

Hi Slummie,
What do you have in place with 100ah?

[PhilipA]

My yellow top lasted 3 years as a second battery. Never taken below 11.5 and rarely under 12.
Started leaking from negative terminal.
IMHO over hyped. My Absorbed Power lasted 6 years and was only replaced as it had lost some capacity.
Regards Philip A

[Tank]

Needs desulphation, take it to an Auto leccy and get him to stick some boost into it it will either fix it or The Other Thing, Regards Frank.

[51jay]

Had one in the race car for about 6 months befor it exploded. Fortunately was in a battery box

[trog]

my yellow top lasted about 6 months before it gave up. unfortunately even though still under warrantee i had to get it to an approved deal for testing. but once tested the replacement was in ten minutes later. they said it could have been a dud and not specifically caused by coorogations or over use

[POD]

I bought one as an auxilliary battery immediately prior to a long distance trip in 2008, it died one week into the trip, had to buy another battery in Broome and carry the Optima as dead weight for 8 weeks as the WA distributor would not honour warranty on a battery purchased in Vic. Seller was not happy that I wanted money back instead of replacement when we got home. No more Optimas for me. I was charging the auxilliary off a second alternator, the auto elec in Broome confirmed that my charging system was all tip-top.

[Bushie]

Touch wood I've had a good run from the Optimas I've had, replaced one at 8 years and the other at 9 years.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/131190-cranking-battery-life-post1504773.html?highlight=optima#post1504011

Martyn

[slug_burner]

Same here, bought a D31A in 2005 for a trip as an aux, sat around for a couiple of years doing not much and a couple of months ago was pressed into service as the D2a starter battery. I have to charge it up every now and then as the D2a drains it when it sit without getting a run for a few weeks. Still going, can't complain.

[Homestar]

I've had a couple over the years, and no issue with them - been sold on with other vehicles. And I can get 'em for a great price, although, not having a Vendors subscription, I probably shouldn't be pedalling them here...

[Slunnie]

Hi Slummie,
What do you have in place with 100ah?
Presto its a Lifeline GPL-27T

Lifeline Batteries - Marine & RV Deep Cycle Batteries (http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/rvflyer.php?id=2)

[djhampson]

I returned the battery to the shop and they charged and tested it overnight. It failed quite badly so it looks like a dropped cell.

When I bought it the battery only came with a one year warranty but as they started offering 3 year warranty in 2010 and it was only 2.5 years old Optima sorted out a good price for me on a new one.

So while I'm not thrilled it died after 2.5 years, Optima have done the right thing by me.