Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: Mike2909 on November 09, 2013, 10:24:47 AM

Title: Optima Batteries
Post by: Mike2909 on November 09, 2013, 10:24:47 AM
I have to replace the battery on the ZJ. At present the ZJ has  a Bosch battery 3 year old. Due to not enough use, letting it go flat regularly , irregular charging it is giving it up.
The ZJ is very rarely used during the week so is often stood still for more than a week.

Question is, are the Opitma batteries worth the extra ££s or am I better just getting a heavy duty battery and a trickle charger?
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: bigjeepzj on November 09, 2013, 10:46:48 AM
Me thinks there not worth it
Other's will differ
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: daggie on November 09, 2013, 10:49:58 AM
 :iagree: :imwitstupid:
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: bigjeepzj on November 09, 2013, 11:46:22 AM
Re wired the Jeep so my battery is in the boot and changed it to a 90ah  Bosh silver
Optima are only 45ah max
Also zj will drain the battery something rotten fit an isolation switch if not used alot
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: bgbazz on November 09, 2013, 11:49:20 AM
Bosch Silver and the isolation switch is the way to go. Dunno about the UK, but the silver has a 3 year warranty over here.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: gordy on November 09, 2013, 11:50:37 AM
Optimas not the same since they shifted manufacture outside the USA a few years ago, check out the us forums, my red top went belly up a week or two after the two year guarantee was up, complained to Tayna but got told where to go, never again.  Can't review the yellow top as never had one.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: JamesH on November 09, 2013, 01:34:21 PM
Don't bother with Optima unless you are going to baby it.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Mike2909 on November 09, 2013, 01:55:21 PM
Have Bosh silver in at the moment but only a 60ah. S4005 . It has done well to say the abuse it has had  :jump_125: so might as well stick with Bosch. Isolation switch is probably above my pay grade   :100:  but will look into it.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: bgbazz on November 09, 2013, 02:49:05 PM
Between 5 and 35 quid on fleabay. The battery supplier might even have them.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: bigjeepzj on November 09, 2013, 03:17:07 PM
Have Bosh silver in at the moment but only a 60ah. S4005 . It has done well to say the abuse it has had  :jump_125: so might as well stick with Bosch. Isolation switch is probably above my pay grade   :100:  but will look into it.
Just disconnect the battery when  no in use
it's the immobilizer that drains the battery anyway
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: gordy on November 09, 2013, 03:45:33 PM
And pass on those solar trickle chargers too, they are crap! (In my opinion).  Been there done that, even the biggest one was not putting enough in to keep the charge steady, if anything it was draining the battery, since I removed it my battery (a 800cca exide premium) discharges much slower.

  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exide-Premium-Car-Battery-Type-110-85Ah-800cca-Sealed-4-Year-Warranty-EA852-/350884848883?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item51b25de4f3

This fits nicely into a TJ. 
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: bgbazz on November 09, 2013, 03:47:39 PM
Must be a Jeep thing. My Patrol holds charge for around six weeks without being started and that battery is 7 years old (and before you ask, she has an imob and alarm). My KJ, fitted with all the bells and whistles, could only manage a month in the summer..two weeks in temps below freezing.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Nosebolt on November 09, 2013, 03:55:52 PM
Optima are the titanium shackles of batteries, 5% better but 50% more costly, not worth it IMHO
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: dtooth on November 09, 2013, 04:17:43 PM
I must have the only good one (yellow optima) had it years brought it 2nd hand sits in truck for months on end gets put in any motor I need to move about , winched with  , jumped from never let me down
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Cockney Boy on November 09, 2013, 04:29:25 PM
 :iagree: I've a Yellow Top, had it around 2 years now and still going strong. If your discharging your battery fast (winching) then you need a battery that can take it.

Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Dodster on November 09, 2013, 07:01:48 PM
 :iagree:  Another vote for yellow tops, one is 6 years old..

Don't bother with Optima unless you are going to baby it.

Agree with James though, c-tech type charger to keep them charged whilst standing or if getting low..
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: gazjeep on November 10, 2013, 10:22:05 AM
:iagree:  Another vote for yellow tops, one is 6 years old..

Don't bother with Optima unless you are going to baby it.

Agree with James though, c-tech type charger to keep them charged whilst standing or if getting low..

Yep, 6 years old here too, done reasonable amount of winching in that time & yes got a cTek for any long periods of non use .... gets my vote
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: gazjeep on November 10, 2013, 10:23:04 AM
based on the last 3 replies, could it be that they like TJ's more than other Jeeps ?  :icon_winkle:
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Jonny Jeep on November 10, 2013, 01:12:50 PM
Pulling the IOD fuse when it's stood might help.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: dtooth on November 10, 2013, 01:25:35 PM
based on the last 3 replies, could it be that they like TJ's more than other Jeeps ?  :icon_winkle:

Mines an XJ  :098: although it has the same number of doors as a TJ  :icon_super: and I don't use a  charger well stood for a while
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: raps on November 10, 2013, 03:44:10 PM
I've got a red top on my KJ, previously on my Disco, about six years old now, works perfect no matter what I do to it
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: XJ Fan on November 11, 2013, 08:30:07 AM
I had a yellow top about 6 years ago - never let me down (well, only when the alternator died), and the car stood for months at a time without use, and jump-started fine.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Delk on November 11, 2013, 08:58:20 AM
I had a red top that worked fine for years. When I finally changed it I went through three replacements in as many months. They all had faults and went back under warrenty. Finally the shop said they had enough and gave me an Excide that worked a treat.

First one was good but after the trouble with the others I will never go back.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: XJ Fan on November 18, 2013, 01:19:13 PM
So, any favoured places for getting the decent batteries at good prices? I'm thinking I may need one soon....
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: wildwood on November 18, 2013, 01:31:38 PM
 Www. Tayna batteries.co.uk.

Got 2 in the 1 Ton. 1000cca each for about £80 each I seem to remember! 3 year warranty. Just keep em charged when not in use to keep warranty terms.
they deliver to your house / work also.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: XJ Fan on November 18, 2013, 01:47:23 PM
What are people's thoughts on Halfords batteries?
(a la http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_264171_langId_-1_categoryId_165762#tab1)
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: JamesH on November 18, 2013, 02:20:23 PM
Tayna get my vote. Exide I think in mine form there - has taken more abuse that the Optimas ever did
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Bubba on November 20, 2013, 08:33:10 PM
I have still got my first optima must be over 10 yrs now the other two I had were bollocks
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: willo on November 20, 2013, 09:02:51 PM
Wow, 2 pages in and no-one has stated the obvious, buy a odyssey!
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Bubba on November 20, 2013, 09:15:04 PM
We are a bit slow and cheap here mate
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: JamesH on November 20, 2013, 10:00:46 PM
I've killed an Odyssey too, it took a bit more doing than the Optima's but my heathen ways still killed it . They are twice the price they used to be too.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Cockney Boy on November 21, 2013, 08:07:20 AM
Wow, 2 pages in and no-one has stated the obvious, buy a odyssey!

I ran out of Kidneys  :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: jay140285 on November 21, 2013, 09:06:31 AM
Interested in this to, ZJ dies if not used for a week and with the winch as well.

Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Mike2909 on November 21, 2013, 10:05:59 PM
Wow, 2 pages in and no-one has stated the obvious, buy a odyssey!
I thought Odyssey was a book by Homer (not Simpson duuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)  :098:
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: XJ Fan on November 22, 2013, 08:09:40 AM
No one recommends the Halfords stuff then?
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: wildwood on November 22, 2013, 09:38:36 AM
Depends???
Last 2 times I used them they insisted the wrong battery was correct for the vehicle.
Size was wrong and terminals were wrong way round.....


so on that experience alone......I have to say ....no.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: XJ Fan on November 22, 2013, 10:42:27 AM
Depends???
Last 2 times I used them they insisted the wrong battery was correct for the vehicle.
Size was wrong and terminals were wrong way round.....


so on that experience alone......I have to say ....no.

Ah, there's a difference between the quality of what they sell, and the quality of the people selling it to you. The latter is in no doubt generally bad. I was referring to the quality of their batteries though. I doubt they make them themselves, therefore someone must do it on their behalf.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: The Smiths on November 22, 2013, 01:05:58 PM
I would just buy from Tayna - if you want to buy from Halford just go and buy from them - there will be little difference in main sream batteries.

Last week I bought one from Tayna, for wifes car, bought the cheapest they did with a 3 year guarantee, they sent the 4 year one, that had about 12AH and 100cca extra - which is the one I nearly bought anyway.

The one on the Jeep is still going well, even after a bit of winching taking down to flat a few times

Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Jonny Jeep on November 22, 2013, 08:17:06 PM
We had an airstart unit where I work, that needed jump starting everyday so they replaced the four six year old batteries. Seeing the old Exide Marine Spiral AGM batteries (red top) in the recycle tub, I took them all into the charging shed and put them on charge - being of the mind that they should normally recover quite well from being flat. Guess what, ALL of them tested good. Rated 900A, the digital battery tester said they could all kick out more than that with one showing above 1000A. My standard lead acid was getting weak so I fitted one in the TJ. It's still working great nearly two years later.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Bulldog67 on November 22, 2013, 09:00:10 PM
I have no idea what you are talking about other than I think I might want one :003:
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Mike2909 on November 23, 2013, 09:48:59 AM
I have no idea what you are talking about other than I think I might want one :003:
:imwitstupid:
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: FunkyZebra on January 13, 2014, 08:12:41 PM
I'm with the Dawg..... Me wanty


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Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: PeteS on January 15, 2014, 09:35:23 PM
I have 2 yellow tops on the TJ and they are mounted on their side on top of each other, they work fine for me especially if you need to mount them in odd positions. Had to replace one as it was around 10 years old.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Jonny Jeep on January 15, 2014, 09:59:41 PM
Here's one of the airstart units from work. It has two outlets at the back with big pipes that supply air at 30(ish) or 45 psi for winding up jet engines prior to start, or supplying cool air to cabin interior. Only needed if the auxilliary power unit (APU) in the rear of the aircraft is fucked.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Cockney Boy on January 15, 2014, 10:05:31 PM
Is that Stansted?


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Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Jonny Jeep on January 16, 2014, 06:07:14 PM
Manchester.
Title: Re: Optima Batteries
Post by: Mike2909 on January 18, 2014, 07:13:33 PM
I discovered today that there is an Odyssey battery on the TJ. After 2 weeks  not starting or running it had no problem starting.