Optima Battery Opinions Needed Please......

[speedracer013]

I have a Brand New Optima #3478 Red top as shown here:

http://www.bohannonbattery.com/html/optima/3478redtop.html

 

1000 Cranking Amps, 800 Cold Cranking Amps

 

I bought the battery for my previous truck but never installed it, it is brand new never been connected....my question is should I install it in my 2009 Silverado now / later / ever? My truck only has 3000 miles on it, and starts no problem of course. But here in ohio its gonna be freezing cold here soon. Im pretty sure its compatible with this truck. Whats everyones thoughts?

 

Thanks!!!

Brad

[RyanbabZ71]

put it in now

[importkiller76]

Toss the one in the truck now and put the optima in because I know how you feel. I'm in Saskatchewan here and go out of town lots where the truck has to sit outside in the cold for long periods of time and that is always my first mod is to swap batteries!

[Pilot12]

Make sure you test it thoroughly before you rely on it.

 

I bought one of those and left it in the garage for a few weeks, then installed it. It lasted about 3 months/ 1000MI and wouldn't take/ hold a charge. Must have got a bad one. Money back at Costco, but that won't make you feel any better if it's 20 below and 3AM when the truck won't start.

 

I'm going to install an aux battery.

[speedracer013]

Thanks for the messages so far.

 

Kelly - Yeah I thought about using it as a second battery, but im not sure if its needed.

[Pilot12]

I thought about using it as a second battery, but im not sure if its needed.

 

In case you do that, FWIW:

I did a LITTLE research and was told I should use the Red Top as the main/ starting battery because of the cranking amps and to use a deep cycle for auxiliary/ backup. This is as a rule of thumb, not specific to our trucks.

 

Unless you go off roading and camping or have an inverter for power tools or have mad cow desease and forget to turn off your lights a lot, it might be overkill.

[jrod332]

i had one in my old truck. They are really great batteries. Dry cell so theres no water or chemicals to deal with. They will run longer without the truck running if you want to keep the stereo on.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Thanks for the messages so far.

 

Kelly - Yeah I thought about using it as a second battery, but im not sure if its needed.

 

If you do go with an aux battery setup, just make sure the two batteries are both the same brand/type and carry the same number of rated CCAs.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Thanks for the messages so far.

 

Kelly - Yeah I thought about using it as a second battery, but im not sure if its needed.

 

If you do go with an aux battery setup, just make sure the two batteries are both the same brand/type and carry the same number of rated CCAs.

 

 

 

[rogerf]

Thanks for the messages so far.

 

Kelly - Yeah I thought about using it as a second battery, but im not sure if its needed.

I share the same Ohio cold...a second battery is a waste of time and money. Mine sits outside for days without use and never has cold starting problems.

[clemsonblozz]

Thanks for the messages so far.

 

Kelly - Yeah I thought about using it as a second battery, but im not sure if its needed.

I share the same Ohio cold...a second battery is a waste of time and money. Mine sits outside for days without use and never has cold starting problems.

 

 

 

I've had two optima redtops and they were both junk.. the last one I had was so crappy and weak,, that it made my tranny shutter on the 1-2 shift.. there is a tsb about the signal to the line pressure solenoid, and the fix is a jumper from the large post on the alternator to one of the wires in the plug... installed an interstate megatron, problem solved..

the interstate battery driver(who I bought my red top's from) told me that optima's about 5 or 6 years ago were great,, but they are being made by another vendor now, and they are having an astronomical failure rate..

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Optima batteries are still made by Johnson Controls and have the highest satisfaction rating out there. Tell the Interstate man to stick it. He does not know what he is talking about.