Problem is a dead cell in your optima, happened to me too and now I run the stock battery. Somehow the cell doesn't hold up like it should, it's full but when you go to start the car or turn on the power that it drains quickly. Without all the cells in the battery working, not enough powers are produced. As for D51 vs D51R, I'm sure you'd already figured that the D51R has the postive and negetive post on the opposite side vs the D51. Same size but just different post positioned, hope this helps.

 

Phil, are you sitting in parking lots pounding the bass out in an effort to impress 17yr old girls again? At least leave the car running while you do this.

I would think you have some kind of excess draw. Especially with all the excess electronics on your gear. Look for a bad ground somewhere.

 

Just last week my 6 month old yellow top would not start the car after it sat in the garage for two weeks. Heated garage but below freezing temps outside, so maybe low 40s in garage.

Looking for my receipt (duh!) and running oem in meantime since despite having recharged my Optima I don't really trust it to start the car in the winter temps now.

 

use a lower charging current on these battries (optima yello) say 6a, manufacturer says they may degrade above this?

optima, their factory is local here, has closed their case51 yello battery production line, wonder why?? maybe quality problems along with other things.

for very cold weather put a trickle charger on it

 

My shop has returned 4 out of 5 Optimas that weve sold since Ive been there. Main reason why I didnt go with one. Also, the Optima group 51 battery for Hondas has stopped production for now. Im not sure of the reason.

I went with a SVR battery to try it out. Should have got here today but didnt. Ill let you know what I think.

BTW I was going to use a Tsunami competition battery, but I wasnt sure if it would fit.

 

exactly...

i've seen no signs of the alternator suffering at all. it's still outputing 14.x volts even at high volume. if it were a problem, i'd have noticed. and i have a volt meter ala the 8500 X50 running all the time.

replacing the alternator everytime your battery fails is ludicrous. my CRX went through 3 batteries in the 10 years i owned it... never replaced the alternator.

----
and GSteg - interesting that you mention it. if this one wasn't so cheap, i was not going to go get another Optima. but for $10 more than the Walmart - it was hard to walk away.

however, as i mentioned above - the 2nd battery never saw a draw deeper than 10.5 V (the Optima limit) --- hardly a 'deep cycle.' i was pretty cautious after losing the 1st and killing the OEM.


also - last year when the 1st optima failed, i had the charging system tested -- and it was fine. *shrug* all around? weird.

 

[QUOTE=ruexp67,Dec 19 2005, 10:34 AM] Phil, are you sitting in parking lots pounding the bass out in an effort to impress 17yr old girls again?

 

[QUOTE=PJK3,Dec 19 2005, 11:29 PM]

I am not so sure. When I was shopping for my Yellow Top, I had a hard time finding them in ANY size. One shop told me that the Group 51 (and a few others) were popular military sizes and the US government was buying them up. I have no idea the validity of this.

 

Phil....I have the 51, and so far, no problems. The difference (the only one) of the 51 and the 51R is the terminals are reversed. They are physically the same size. They both work, except you would just turn the R around....no difference otherwise. I have a red top in my Acura and a yellow in mine, and no problems with either. Hopefully, its just a fluke......twice.

 

thanks Dave.... i'm hoping it was a fluke 2 times as well. and thank you for the confirmation on the 51 vs 51R fitment. when i was given the price for the $50, i was told it was a 51R. when i arrived to pick it up, i found a 51. i checked fitment and installed it at the store -- it seemed (and seems) fine. i just now have the terminals closer to the outside vs inside.

btw - what wheels are those Dave? 18" OZ Superleggras? (sp?)


Pete - i hadn't heard that about the military, but wouldn't be surprised.



i appreciate all the info and feedback. i've got some vacation next week, so i'll try to get the charging system checked. i honestly don't see what they will find wrong, but...