I have an Optima yellow top in the balt that is about three years old maybe a lil older. When I go to start the car the headlights are quite dim compared to after it runs for a couple seconds. I dont really remember this happening when the batt was just put in the car. Im thinking the battery is starting to go ka-put and not holding much of a charge, and the headlights are getting brighter when the alternator starts charing the battery. So far so good though, no starting problems.

So.....
Anyone else notice the headlights getting brighter a couple seconds after start-up? not during but after?

Any ball-park numbers on optima yellow top battery life? It was used with a decent sized system for about 2 years.

Think its time for a new battery?

 

If it was used with a system before, get a new one.

 

my stock one is getting weak with 2 years of use

 

Keep in mind yellow tops are not designed for "starting" the car, even so if it is getting worse the battery may be bad. If you have a load tester available, put it on the battery and see if it is green. Also, ive never had an optima last only 3 years, actually, ive only ever replaced one optima that was due to a friend using a red top that had to keep speed charging it because he had a short somewhere in the car. Needless to say, the redtop was not designed for constant drops and speed charges with a conventional charger all the time, and the battery turned bad. My question to you is, have you been abusing the battery (either now or in the past?)

 

yah it was abused early on in its life when I had a 1200 watt system in my chrysler on the stock alternator. Within one year I had a 245 amp alternator to help that problem but i know some damage was already done. I know the yellow top isnt really designed for starting but I had it in my old car so i figured what the hay why not?

Well im going to have it tested soon but i know its about at the end of its life span.

So any reccomendations?

Thinking about a red top but not sure. Would it be overkill? Dont have a whole lot of drain on the battery, just some led's and a radar detector. In the future it may see a water/meth kit.

 

A red top would work fine, but consider getting an Odyssey pc925. It's only 26lbs, has great surge capacity (for engine starting) and can deep cycle. It also has very little internal resistance, so it can accept as fast a charge as you can hit it wth without shortening it's life. The pc680 would work great for starting at only 14.5 lbs, but not if you are into stereos, cause it has very little reserve capacity.

Here's a link with more info: http://www.odysseybatteries.com/appl...o.htm#bcigroup