Optima Batteries
 

I have a optima in my car (as i know alot of you do...thats why im posting here).

It charges but it only gets to about 11 volts. I have left it on the charger for about 24 hours and all it does is gets hot.....really hot while on the charger. I dont think this is normal. Shouldnt it read just over 12 volts when fully charged? This thing is almost brand new. It has been in the car all winter but it should still charge fine.

Any thoughts? Maybe it needs to have the warranty card pulled and brought back at this point.

Re: Optima Batteries
 

Yea I would have the parts store test/charge it, I would drop it off cuz it can take like 45 minutes.
I have the red top and love it, my old advance auto silver battery was a piece of sh1t, they tested it once, said it was good, but it turned out to be bad, it got real hot just by cranking on it, finally i destroyed it good enough for their tester to say it was bad, used my warranty for credit on my optima.

Re: Optima Batteries
 

Is it possible that the voltmeter you are using is inaccurate? Have you checked the battery with a second DMM?

If you're sure the voltage is low, take it back where you bought it, and let them figure it out.


FWIW, I've been using an Orbital battery for a while now, and am really impressed with it. It's a few bucks more, but it beat Optima in every test, so I figured why not? So far, so good. I had both of the batteries in my truck die within 6 weeks of each other late last year. I bought the Orbital to replace the first battery, and planned on getting another, but I still have just the one in there now, but it's doing as good a job or better than the two batteries did. lol. Anyway, food for thought.

Take care,
~Chris

Re: Optima Batteries
 

Battery should read 12.5 volts fully charged. If your tester is accurate, sounds like the battery is bad.

I personally like Motorcraft batteries. As you know there are only 3 or 4 battery manufactores in the USA. They make all the makes we know and love.

Re: Optima Batteries
 

Its sounds like the battery has a bad cell. Bring it back. Does the battery have a rotten egg smell? Is on section of the battery hotter then the rest? If you answered yes to any of these questions you havbe a bad cell.

PS: I repair fork lift batteries for a living.