I now opt out of Optima Batteries

[shiftz33]

I returned from our Fairfield, CA run yesterday to find battery acid leaking from my 5 month old red top optima battery. I observed a white substance on the battery box a few weeks back I it did not appear to be battery acid and it had just recently rained. I pulled it out last night and found a crack in the casing at the base of one of the cells (cell near the negative post on the battery).

I contacted Optima this morning and I was instructed to take it to a local Auto Zone in town to have them confirm the leak and then Optima would ship me a new battery.

I get to Auto Zone (and they were very nice to me) and they contacted Optima. This time the same customer service rep that I spoke now states the battery is not going to be covered under warranty because the case of the battery is cracked. That's EXACTLY what I told her on the phone not 20 minutes earlier.

I've written a very strong email to their company and I would strongly suggest that you stay away from this company's batteries if this is how they handle defects of their product.

I've had the OEM battery on a battery maintainer so it went back into my SSR last night and will likely stay there until it dies.

Some much for Optima batteries being "tuff" batteries.

I hope everyone else's Monday morning started of better than mine.

[CQQL_SSR]

I was under the impression the Optima was a gel cell battery.

[DOOPHUS]

Originally Posted by CQQL_SSR

I was under the impression the Optima was a gel cell battery.

Me too, CQQL_SSR . . .

How could it leak?

I've had an Optima in my Jeep for years and, so far . . . NO PROBLEMS, even in this lovely desert heat!

and, Shiftz33 . . . I have a feeling a "nice but firm" letter will fix everything.

Good Luck,

Curt

! ! ! ! ! !

[Asphalt_04]

Originally Posted by CQQL_SSR

I was under the impression the Optima was a gel cell battery.

I'm pretty sure that the "Optima" is an AGM (absorbed glass matt) battery.
It must have had a small crack in the case when he bought it and it has now expanded and is leaking. I would insist on speaking to the Regional Manager for Optima.

[shiftz33]

Let's put it this way, battery "goo" was leaking and leaving a white residue on the bottom of the battery box and on the outside of the battery box around the drain holes.

[Paul Simpson]

Why don`t you just persue this in a mild manner and if you don`t get satisfaction, let us know and we`ll all get pissed off and write them an email. That might get their attention....Paul

[Flassh]

Originally Posted by shiftz33

Let's put it this way, battery "goo" was leaking and leaving a white residue on the bottom of the battery box and on the outside of the battery box around the drain holes.

I would Email Optima's customer service department a link to this thread, and maybe a link to the thread indicating up to 600 people at a time are watching this space.

[Boosted]

LOL... My factory GM battery is still working great...

The local Interstate battery dealer here told me not to buy an Optima just for this same reason as you mentioned.. I am glad I listened to him..

Godd Luck with yours!

[shiftz33]

I called back to customer service and requested a supervisor.

I spoke with Erica. Erica was not willing to replace the battery either because their policy seems to be that the customer must have abused the battery to cause the problem.

I calmly explained how the battery is installed in the SSR (in the box) and that the battery box was just fine (minus the paint removed by the leaking fluid). After "discussing" the issue for several minutes, Erica agreed to replace the battery this one time. How gracious of here, but if it happens again I will be denied a warranty replacement.

Very strange phone calls with this company.

We shall see if the replacement is any better.

[Mason57]

Just wondering. Why did you replace the factory battery?

[ssr71]

Originally Posted by Mason57

Just wondering. Why did you replace the factory battery?

I can understand. Delco batteries have been notorious for failing after about 2 years. Leaky side posts that break off, bad cells, etc. I had the leaky/broken side post failure on my Silverado's battery, but then again, it was 6 years old when it finally happened.

[CQQL_SSR]

I thought about replacing mine with an Optima just because of the problem I had with a Delco.
One of the side post poped out of mine in my Yukon Denali last Spring. It had to be taken to the dealer on a flat bed.The dealer replaced the battery under warranty but didn't even have the brains to rinse off everything before installing the new one.
I have since traded it in. The rusting battery box and inner fender is someone elses problem now.

I did not know that the Optima would leak.

[shiftz33]

Originally Posted by Mason57

Just wondering. Why did you replace the factory battery?

I had "heard" positive things about how durable the optima batteries can be in extreme conditions. I also had read how a few of the delco batteries had failed in some SSRs.

I was trying prevent a problem.....

[FreddyKaye]

I'm glad someone brought this up, I have 2 Optimas in my other car (2nd for stereo) but the second one is in my center console in the cabin, If it were to leak, I think my whole truck would melt... I'm going to keep an eye out...

[wildcat66]

can you get a new one under warranty and get a refund could the placement/location be a reason for this to happen?

[beer100]

My stock battery has not had any problems (Knock on Wood).

But I do recall my auto shop instructor (mid 70's) telling everyone that automakers generally don't install any more of a battery than absolutely necessary. He had a cutaway that showed the under size plates inside a full size housing.

Since then I've always considered it a bonus when the stock battery lasted more than one year.

[davisfire]

I haven't used the Optima in my SSR but i got tired of replacing batteries in my boat so I tried them. First one lasted a year and had a bad cell and replaced it without any questions. The second on has been in the boat for almost 3 years. The only thing I have to worry about is burning the starter up if it won't crank when it is in a bad mood. I can crank and crank and crank. Never has failed to work.

First time I had a boat with no cranking problems.

[turnheadz]

Thanks for the heads up Robert. Just the other day Wayne said I should check mine (Optima), to make sure all was dry..... Keep us posted.

[cruzned]

All this raises some interesting questions, since most of us early birds to the SSR are on our 4th year of ownership and usually, my factory battery dies around the 3rd or 4th year. I wonder when I can expect mine to expire? Will I get a warning signal, i.e., difficulty removing the key from the ignition, clicking of the solenoid, etc.? So far this delco is amazingly resilient. Man, I should not have said that.....you know how it goes....as soon as you say it....BAM!

[gsp]

This is the best battery you can buy! PERIOD.. Makes the optima look like a flash light battery.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc1500.htm

[Asphalt_04]

Originally Posted by gsp

This is the best battery you can buy! PERIOD.. Makes the optima look like a flash light battery.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc1500.htm

We used to own three BMW motorcycles. We used Odyssey, AGM batteries in each of them and never had a problem. They are used by many motorcycle riders as a replacement for their factory-provided batteries.

Does anyone know which Odyssey would fit the SSR?

[rick418cars]

I have had many problems with Optima batteries, seams like the quality went
down after they were sold to Johnson Controls.........Kinetic make a very good battery.