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just curious what batteries other members use

I use a red top that has been in like 5 of my cars and still rock solid.Some have had bad experiences but mine is a machine!

ever think of using a yellow top?

The red tops are cheaper and work just fine. I've had two. And only because my step dad sold our boat and he forgot that he had borrowed my first one and used it in the boat and didn't get it back before selling it. The first one lasted 5 years and was still running strong. This one has only seen 3 months of use but I'm guessing it will last for years to come.

I have a red top.

I have used both current yellow top 5 years goin strong.

The Optimas aren't any lighter than regular lead/acid batteries, are they?

I use whatever Die Hard or such that's handy on rare occasion I need one. The only time I've had a battery not last over 10 years was when an alternator killed it or it was left sitting for years (obviously). Daily drivers, of course. I had an Interstate once that worked fine, but was bigger (and heavier) than necessary as these engines could probably be kick started by a squirrel (especially the EA81 I had it in). I'm not a big fan of that company, but I didn't have a problem with the product.

Nope, they're heavy as hell.

Optima is the way to go I heard a story from my teacher that I would like to share. He use to work at summit racing and one day this guy called and said hey I got a question I got a yellow top optima in my jeep and I was out four wheelin and well the battery slid and hit my fan and the fan has cut off two cells. He then said he ran the battery for a month and just decided to call in to see if the warranty would cover it. My teacher wanted to see it he had a pic the battery had two cells chopped right off and the jeep started just fine just a turn of the key and it just started right up. So therefor I will always run optimas yeah they are expensive but that's just to crazy to not trust in the battery.

Or you could properly secure a battery. Tomato / tomahto.

But for a battery to work perfectly after it's been cut says a lot. Cut your regular battery in half and see what happens bet it won't start for a month just fine.

I make a practice of not cutting my battery in half. That is impressive, and our marina could maybe have benefited on the Travellifts and such as they'd also be unlikely to blow up as they did, but for most people it seems like wearing a bullet proof vest to commute to work in the suburbs. There's safety and there's paranoia. Most of the cars here are daily road cars, not extreme situation vehicles, and a race car would benefit from a lighter battery altogether. Had I an armored car and did high end security, I'd get one, but otherwise . . . well, it's your money so whatever makes you happy.

The real benefit is when you leave your dome light on for like 40 hours and the thing can still somehow start with ease.

I did that for a day or two once in my old legacy wagon with my old red top and it started right up.

I had to return 2 or 3 of them for warranty replacement. No matter what their flashy ad says, they will not handle sitting on a shelf for any extended amount of time. I think mine died after about 18 months of non use. I use a small Odyssey 680 in my Impreza which has it's own drawbacks, but was quite a bit cheaper and a lot lighter.

-Rob

If they do die they can usually be recovered if charged properly.You need another good standard battery in between your charger and optima for whatever reason as a buffer but it works on otherwise "dead" ones.

rob wrote:I had to return 2 or 3 of them for warranty replacement. No matter what their flashy ad says, they will not handle sitting on a shelf for any extended amount of time. I think mine died after about 18 months of non use. I use a small Odyssey 680 in my Impreza which has it's own drawbacks, but was quite a bit cheaper and a lot lighter.

-Rob

What color did you have? My red top sat for at least 2 years and still had a full charge and started up my legacy just fine. But then my step dad had a blue top marine for his boat and it got drained sitting for too long and wouldn't hold a charge afterwards.

Ik someone bought out optima and another company is running them so idk they changed something in them.

I've had my yellow top for almost 10 years now. and the one before that was a yellow top as well. They are good batterys. the ones I have heard of " going bad" ...including the one i had before my current. the owners didnt know how to recharge correctly....they require a certain type of charger to bring back from the dead.

Well even if they don't charge they will replace them if they're under warranty. They don't have a 6 or 7 year warranty as most do but oh well.

Red top, had it I believe 2 years, and it was used at that. No problems yet!

I've had two yellow tops. I got the second one because I thought it was the cause of my starting problem....it wasn't. I will say that they do require a special charging method or charger if their charge gets too low.

I've had a yellow top in my Jeep for couple years. I ran the winch for an hour with the engine off. It started right up. I've got a Napa brand dry cell in the Subaru, no problems with it either.

fngearhead wrote:I've had a yellow top in my Jeep for couple years. I ran the winch for an hour with the engine off. It started right up. I've got a Napa brand dry cell in the Subaru, no problems with it either.

hey got any pics of your jeep cherokee? i got a 95 xj

http://sprout.smugmug.com/Cars/Jeep/575 ... 5218_XpADE
My mom bought it new in '89. She's so incredibly proud of what I've done with it.