Optima Red-Top Slowly Dying

mastacox · 08-01-2006, 07:09 AM

Arg, so my 4Runner had been having some VERY slow cranking starts, it's literally getting worse by the day. Tomorrow, I fear I will not be able to crank the engine over so its time to get a standard replacement batt at Autozone.

I have an Optima Red-Top 34R but a few months ago it slipped out of the battery hold-down and ground against the power steering pulley, making a small hole in the case at the bottom (those Optimas are slippery little bastards). Everything seemed to be working fine, but now the battery can't seem to hold much of a charge overnight, and I'm guessing this hole is to blame (nothing really leaked out of the battery, it just has some acid build-up on the hole like you would see on the poles with a standard acid battery.) Probably some gases slowly escaping, making it hold less charge each day. In retrospect, I should have JB-Welded the hole shut... damn 20-20 hindsight.

I know what you're thinking, and yes my alternator is working fine. I have an MR2 alternator and an aftermarket digital voltage gauge, it cranks out 14.4V at anything over 750 rpm.

Anyway, this is more of a rant than a thread asking for advice, and I would buy another Optima since they are great batteries but I'm selling my 2nd gen in about 2 months so no need to buy a REALLY nice battery for the 4Runner. Just thought I'd let you guys know, crank that Optima down or it could be damaged by your pulleys (or visa-versa)

In retrospect, any stadard battery would have leaked all of its acid out and stopped working on the spot, so really the Optima held up admirably.

1styota4X4 · 08-01-2006, 07:45 AM

It should be under warranty 3 year free replacement...where ever you bought....if its autozone just rant and rave enough and they should replace it its there policy

mastacox · 08-01-2006, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1styota4X4

It should be under warranty 3 year free replacement...where ever you bought....if its autozone just rant and rave enough and they should replace it its there policy

My guess, the pulley damage voids the warrantee... but I suppose it's worth a shot for a $120 battery...

I bought it at Batteries Plus, maybe I'll try finding one and give them a call. Thanks dude

97Limited · 08-01-2006, 09:00 AM

Is your Red Top a Deep-Cycle/Starting Battery???

Because I have a Yellow-Top in my 4Runner and its a battery designed for Starting as well as deep-cycle!! But A battery will take a good 2 hour drive to fully charge up after a discharge like that!!

mastacox · 08-01-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97Limited

Is your Red Top a Deep-Cycle/Starting Battery???

Because I have a Yellow-Top in my 4Runner and its a battery designed for Starting as well as deep-cycle!! But A battery will take a good 2 hour drive to fully charge up after a discharge like that!!

I purposely took an hour and a half drive to see if it just needed a good charge, but the next morning the engine barely cranked over. Usually, it cranks quickly and starts in about 1 second. This morning, I turned over SUPER slow and took maybe 5 seconds to start. Once the engine is running everything is fine baceuse the alternator keeps everything happy.

Red-Tops are not deep cycle, to answer your question. Also strange, is if I have been driving around for a little bit and turn the car off, it will start rioght back up. But if it sits for a few hours it seems the battery begins to lose its charge, and after a whole night it barely has enough juice to start the car. This morning the battery registered 11.1 volts before I started it, but the previous evening it had 12.4 volts. I also have checked to see if there are any lights on or anything that might be discharging the battery, and nothing has been left on.

It's just finally giving out I think, barely holding any charge. I'm going to buy a cheapy $60-70 battery, and then see if I can get the Optima warranteed, which like I said I doubt because it has been damaged.

mastacox · 08-01-2006, 09:10 AM

I also checked the cables and connections, everything is spick-n-span.

TNRabbit · 08-01-2006, 10:29 AM

ALso, you may be due for a starter contact rebuild (kit from the dealer for $15)...

mastacox · 08-01-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNRabbit

ALso, you may be due for a starter contact rebuild (kit from the dealer for $15)...

Nah, I got a new starter about 5000 miles ago. 1.6KW unit from Checker, works great.

Mikestang · 08-01-2006, 02:24 PM

I burned through 2 red tops in my mustang. Once they lose their charge they're dead. I'll never own another red top. I'm going to try a yellow top in both the stang and the 4R.

4-RUNNIN' FREAK · 08-01-2006, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikestang

I burned through 2 red tops in my mustang. Once they lose their charge they're dead. I'll never own another red top. I'm going to try a yellow top in both the stang and the 4R.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

mastacox · 08-01-2006, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikestang

I burned through 2 red tops in my mustang. Once they lose their charge they're dead. I'll never own another red top. I'm going to try a yellow top in both the stang and the 4R.

Yeah, that's what I'm kind of thinking... but I love the extra side poles for accessories

I'm thinking about doing a dual battery set-up on my new 4Runner, perhaps dual yellow-tops. We will see, that's farther down the road...

4x4Lamm · 08-01-2006, 02:54 PM

Wow, same EXACT thing happend to my 92 4Runner with a red top. A few months after the damage it started sucking, I had it tested, 1 out of the 6 cells was dead.

Soultion, new red top and something better than a bungee cord!

Lamm

mastacox · 08-01-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4Lamm

Wow, same EXACT thing happend to my 92 4Runner with a red top. A few months after the damage it started sucking, I had it tested, 1 out of the 6 cells was dead.

Soultion, new red top and something better than a bungee cord!

Lamm

Ha ha! I'm not alone!

Yeah, stupid battery hold down.

08-01-2006, 07:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
mastacox Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 2,453	Optima Red-Top Slowly Dying Arg, so my 4Runner had been having some VERY slow cranking starts, it's literally getting worse by the day. Tomorrow, I fear I will not be able to crank the engine over so its time to get a standard replacement batt at Autozone. I have an Optima Red-Top 34R but a few months ago it slipped out of the battery hold-down and ground against the power steering pulley, making a small hole in the case at the bottom (those Optimas are slippery little bastards). Everything seemed to be working fine, but now the battery can't seem to hold much of a charge overnight, and I'm guessing this hole is to blame (nothing really leaked out of the battery, it just has some acid build-up on the hole like you would see on the poles with a standard acid battery.) Probably some gases slowly escaping, making it hold less charge each day. In retrospect, I should have JB-Welded the hole shut... damn 20-20 hindsight. I know what you're thinking, and yes my alternator is working fine. I have an MR2 alternator and an aftermarket digital voltage gauge, it cranks out 14.4V at anything over 750 rpm. Anyway, this is more of a rant than a thread asking for advice, and I would buy another Optima since they are great batteries but I'm selling my 2nd gen in about 2 months so no need to buy a REALLY nice battery for the 4Runner. Just thought I'd let you guys know, crank that Optima down or it could be damaged by your pulleys (or visa-versa) In retrospect, any stadard battery would have leaked all of its acid out and stopped working on the spot, so really the Optima held up admirably. __________________ Brian 1998 4Runner SR5 Last edited by mastacox : 08-01-2006 at 07:20 AM.

08-01-2006, 07:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
1styota4X4 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 482	It should be under warranty 3 year free replacement...where ever you bought....if its autozone just rant and rave enough and they should replace it its there policy __________________ 1995 4Runner 4X4 V6 SR5 1.5 BJ spacers, OME Shocks & steering dampener, Sonoran Steel IFS truss, Panhard drop bracket, Downey Headers and Y-pipe, Flowmaster muffler, WabFab Sliders, 285/75R16 Nitto Terragraplers, and a Marlin Crawler Clutch. 1983 Hilux 4X4 SR5 3" Rough Country Lift 32" Goodyear Wranglers. I have a pair of ARB lockers ready to go in with 5:29 gears, a fresh 22RE, & plan on going to either marlin or TG 5 in lift and 35's.

08-01-2006, 09:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
97Limited Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 541	Is your Red Top a Deep-Cycle/Starting Battery??? Because I have a Yellow-Top in my 4Runner and its a battery designed for Starting as well as deep-cycle!! But A battery will take a good 2 hour drive to fully charge up after a discharge like that!! __________________ 1997 4Runner Limited; 3.4L 4WD; Rear E-Locker; OEM/Sonoran Steel 3.5" Lift; ARB Tacoma BullBar w/ 525 PIAA Dual-Beam Lights; Alpine/JL Audio; CompuStar; TRD Headers w/ Magnaflow custom dual exhaust; 305/70 MTR's on Blacked-out A/R wheels; Tundra Brakes; 4" Deckplate mod w/ TRD filter; ISR mod; Yellow Top Optima w/ custom tie down; Custom grille inserts; JDM Black headlights w/ 6000k HID's; Extended diff breathers PICS> ::97 4Runner Site::

08-01-2006, 09:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
mastacox Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 2,453	I also checked the cables and connections, everything is spick-n-span. __________________ Brian 1998 4Runner SR5

08-01-2006, 10:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
TNRabbit Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TENN Native Stuck in Maryland Posts: 2,013	ALso, you may be due for a starter contact rebuild (kit from the dealer for $15)... __________________ TNRabbit Stock '94 DLX XtraCab 4x4 5 spd, Newly Rebuilt 3VZE, 2006 Taco 17" Alloys, 224k miles, AISIN Hub Swap Kenwood Double-DIN Head Unit, 1x 290 watt Kenwood Amp driving 2 Klipsch speakers, 1x Kenwood 1000 watt sub amp driving 2x10" Infinity Perfect 10.1D subs

08-01-2006, 02:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mikestang Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ontario, southern CA Posts: 279	I burned through 2 red tops in my mustang. Once they lose their charge they're dead. I'll never own another red top. I'm going to try a yellow top in both the stang and the 4R. __________________ '04 SR5 4Runner v8 4x4 Magnaflow cat-back, rear diff breather mod, Surco rack, 265/75/16 Goodyear SA, Midland 75-822, Wilson 5000, Shrockworks bumper, PIAA 510s/580s, Scion T1806 w/iPod, Demello sliders, DR COs UCAs monotubes, Deaver coils, Pro Comp alloys, Slee SS lines, Garmin 276c, Optima yellow top, BudBuilt skids, 2wd sway, WabFab links, KurtFab LCAs www.mikestang.com

08-01-2006, 02:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
4x4Lamm Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 2,568	Wow, same EXACT thing happend to my 92 4Runner with a red top. A few months after the damage it started sucking, I had it tested, 1 out of the 6 cells was dead. Soultion, new red top and something better than a bungee cord! Lamm __________________ The Rescue Runner: 1995 4Runner SR5 Limited, 3.0 V6, Auto, 4x4, 4.88 Gears, Downey HD Coils, SAW Torsion Bars, OME Shocks and Steering Damper, 15x8 Outlaw II Wheels, 31x11.50R15 Mickey Thompson MTXs, Marlin Sliders, BCC Rear Bumper, TJM T-13, Warn M8000 w/ Rockstomper Line, Emergency Warning Package Destroyed By Fire: 92 4Runner, Lots of mods. I will miss it...

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