RED75/35 Optima battery, opinions please

mjmcdowell · Post by **mjmcdowell** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:04 am

Looking to replace OEM batt. on my 02 CC and have been considering the ones by Optima, specificaly the RED 75/35 anyone have any input on these? At $120 or so I would like to know about such things as heat and cold tolerance and overall reliability from some of you users out there. I have read all the hype and have been to the web site. thanks, stay safe, mjmcdowell

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:49 am

I have the Optima red top in my CC and my SS. I purchased both from Summit Racing for $129.69, and their part # was ULT-9004-003. The stock Delco battery absolutely sucks.

I had two replaced under warranty before I reached 40k miles. Both developed leaks, and on one the whole positive terminal fell off leaving a hole the size of a quarter for acid to spill out.

The Optima's are much nicer, and should last 3 times as long. They have more CA, CCA, and can handle vibrations much better than OEM. I would recommend one to anyone still running their stock Delco. Luckily I was not deep in the woods when my stock Delco's failed.

Steve

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:41 am

Add to that - Autozone Batteries suck.

I have no idea why I keep going back there. After they failed to honor their "Lifetime replacement guarantee" last winter, I won't be.

They told me that I must have a drain in my system that is killing the battery (Only when it gets below 40 degrees overnight). I told their "expert" that I don't have a parasitic draw on my system. He told me it could be as little as a 2 milliamp draw killing that battery overnight.

I laughed at him. Asked him where he was taught that. Cause 2 milliamps over a 6-10 hour period, on a fully charged 650CCA battery shouldn't even make it blink.

Just to be sure, I pulled out a inductive current tester (Dad is an electrical engineer for Lucent Technologies) and we tested my system - .4 MAh - yep - that's a decimal. That was with the keyless entry and starter kill relay armed.

I'm just going to finally buy the Optima and be done with the whole ordeal.

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:04 pm

autozone now carrys optima....thats where I purchased mine

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:06 pm

Justin wrote:autozone now carrys optima....thats where I purchased mine

Same here.

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:09 pm

I have a redtop in my old truck that has been going strong for over 10 years. Needless to say my crew cab, HenryJ and Vega are all running redtops

This is the only battery that has started the HenryJ after sitting all winter. Nuff said.