<![CDATA[Battery problem]]>Last week I bought a Red Top battery and installed it in my car. The battery was dead so I jump started the car and drove it for about 15 miles. After returning home and shutting the car off the battery was still completely dead. I put my old battery back in and everything works fine. I bought the Optima used and the guy said it worked fine the last time he used it six months ago. Anyone know how I can find out if the battery is actually bad?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/topic/7274/battery-problemRSS for NodeThu, 28 May 2026 10:32:12 GMTWed, 09 Aug 2006 19:21:58 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:05:53 GMT]]>FWIW, the battery won't hold a charge at all. Joel trickle charged it for me and it still didn't hold enough juice to start my car.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111987https://fargostreet.com/post/111987Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:05:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:57:23 GMT]]>I love my optima and have never had a problem with it.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111760https://fargostreet.com/post/111760Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:57:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:22:56 GMT]]>

wannabe wrote:
Chuck, he never let the battery charge? cant really tell if its shot if it hasnt even been charged.

If it didn't have enough charge after 15mins+ off driving to even start the car, the battery is fucked. I'm not saying it should be fully charged by then, just that it should have sufficient charge to start the vehicle or at least turn it over a couple of times. Optima recommends charging them ON THE ALTERNATOR for 35 minutes to get a full charge and significantly longer if on a trickle charger.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111759https://fargostreet.com/post/111759Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:22:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:04:32 GMT]]>5 years ago they still made good batteries, it was in the last 2 or so years that their quality went to SHIT. Anyone from Tintmasters/Ground Assault wanna back me up here?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111757https://fargostreet.com/post/111757Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:04:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:00:31 GMT]]>I have had the same yellow top for the last 5 years. It's probably sat on a shelf not in use for 2 years though.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111753https://fargostreet.com/post/111753Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:00:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:20:40 GMT]]>

wannabe wrote:
sounds good BTW, why did u buy a truck/offroading battery for your accord?
I sold the rims and teins and bought a lift kit and swampers.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111741https://fargostreet.com/post/111741Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:20:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:05:51 GMT]]>

HandoEX wrote:
Sweet Joel! I'll give you a call when I get off work tonight.
sounds good BTW, why did u buy a truck/offroading battery for your accord?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111737https://fargostreet.com/post/111737Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:05:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:05:22 GMT]]>

tjamz wrote:
again, I'm willing to bet the battery is shot. My yellowtop was good for 2.5 months before it took a crap on me...I cannot get optima to warranty it either.
Chuck, he never let the battery charge? cant really tell if its shot if it hasnt even been charged.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111736https://fargostreet.com/post/111736Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:05:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:20:43 GMT]]>

wannabe wrote:
u have to trickle charge it, I have one that I could let you borrow. Or maybe we could just charge your battery here since the charger is actually not mine
Sweet Joel! I'll give you a call when I get off work tonight.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111729https://fargostreet.com/post/111729Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:20:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:18:26 GMT]]>again, I'm willing to bet the battery is shot. My yellowtop was good for 2.5 months before it took a crap on me...I cannot get optima to warranty it either.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111728https://fargostreet.com/post/111728Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:18:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:17:19 GMT]]>u have to trickle charge it, I have one that I could let you borrow. Or maybe we could just charge your battery here since the charger is actually not mine

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111727https://fargostreet.com/post/111727Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:17:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:45:09 GMT]]>

MisterCMK wrote:
Thats great if you want to destroy your meter by shorting out the terminals through the meter.
How would it do that?

he almost had it right....i think what he meant is to put a voltmeter set on amps in series of the - battery cable...which wont blow any fuse or meter unless you have a the key on or a very excessive load (over 10A).

ive done this many times and its a great test.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111702https://fargostreet.com/post/111702Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:45:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:12:44 GMT]]>Optimas do have a warranty, you can probably get it warrantied, even if it is used. Well that's assuming the battery is actually bad.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111695https://fargostreet.com/post/111695Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:12:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:10:29 GMT]]>yeah, but some meters like my cheapy are not fused. 😞

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111694https://fargostreet.com/post/111694Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:10:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:53:23 GMT]]>If you're lucky you'll just blow the meter fuse...

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111692https://fargostreet.com/post/111692Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:53:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:51:03 GMT]]>

JN607 wrote:
You should be able to hook up a voltmeter to it... switch it to amps and put the positive lead to the positive and the negative to the negative, if you don't get a reading, then you know it's dead...either that or bring it to a parts store. Normally, they will just switch them out for no charge. At least, not here anyway...

Thats great if you want to destroy your meter by shorting out the terminals through the meter.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111691https://fargostreet.com/post/111691Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:51:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:15:04 GMT]]>well i dont know about 3 days...takes more like 10 hours....and you have to use the slow charger....

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111688https://fargostreet.com/post/111688Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:15:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:45:08 GMT]]>

PSiedTSi wrote:
it takes like 3 days to charge.
Really? Anyone have a charger they could let me use?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111665https://fargostreet.com/post/111665Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:45:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:33:29 GMT]]>it takes like 3 days to charge.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111664https://fargostreet.com/post/111664Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:33:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:30:56 GMT]]>just take your car over to advanced auto. they do free battery checks. Go to the one on 13th and 25th and go when A.J. is working, he'll hooks you up.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111652https://fargostreet.com/post/111652Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:30:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:03:37 GMT]]>If its an optima there is a 99.9% chance its bad.....their quality has gone down the shitter lately.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111650https://fargostreet.com/post/111650Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:03:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Battery problem on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:29:26 GMT]]>You should be able to hook up a voltmeter to it... switch it to amps and put the positive lead to the positive and the negative to the negative, if you don't get a reading, then you know it's dead...either that or bring it to a parts store. Normally, they will just switch them out for no charge. At least, not here anyway...

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/111645https://fargostreet.com/post/111645Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:29:26 GMT