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Old 01-15-2004, 10:23 AM   #1
kenchan
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Default Optima Yellow Top: Will drain with in 2.5 weeks on WRX

I don't drive my car in the winter-time that much. My factory
battery died in 2 years. I looked around for a high
power battery and came across Optima Battery's advertising
campaign... that the Yellow Top was for cars that are not
driven all the time....only to find out that their battery is not
that great either. It drained within 2.5 weeks on my WRX;
no juice to turn over the motor. This was in a car that was
garaged in Chicago winter (approx 35F-40F inside garage)

It seems that the Subaru factory security system drains the
battery if you leave it armed. I would've expected the Yellow
Top to last at least a month without charging.

So as a warning, even if you do buy a Yellow Top thinking
that you can leave it a month without charging it, you're wrong.
Perhaps in warmer climates that may be true.

If you're planning to take a long trip leaving your car parked at
the airport for more than a week in cold weather, take a
spare battery with you and leave it in the trunk.
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Old 01-16-2004, 03:57 PM   #2
atomicapples
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you can get it under warranty.

btw : my redtop just died, so i got a yellow top.

its seems to be ok.
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Old 01-19-2004, 12:23 AM   #3
kenchan
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since the yellow top is a deep cycle battery it won't die as
fast as the redtops that can't be deep cycled. so even though
it may drain all the way within 2.5 weeks in the cold, just
charge it up before use (max 10A for 8hours) and you're set.
at least we have that benefit over the normal redtops or
any ordinary acid battery.
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Old 01-19-2004, 07:37 AM   #4
Mulder
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You may want to measure the actual standy drain in your car by disconnecting one of the terminals and connecting an ammeter in series. It's possible that something in the car is causing an excessive amount of drain. Normal standy or "parasitic" drain should be around 100-200 ma or so max, if it's much more than that the battery will drain if the car sits.
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Old 01-19-2004, 12:00 PM   #5
kenchan
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its usually the temperature that drains it more than the car,
i think. there are many people in chicago area that their
batteries died within 3 years.
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Old 01-19-2004, 12:02 PM   #6
elsanto
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why not just take your battery inside if your going to leave your car sit for 2.5 weeks.. it would be hard to steal the car w/o a battery IMO. would also solve this problem
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Old 01-19-2004, 02:35 PM   #7
kenchan
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cause you don't want to loose your ECU settings.
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Old 01-21-2004, 09:52 PM   #8
sirwrx273
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friend of mine had this prob with his optima red top, leaves his car in the garage here in the NW for weeks at a time...aftermarket alarm activated and everything.

He has since switched to an Optima Blue Top (deep cycle marine) and so far no problems in the last few weeks


Steve
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Old 01-22-2004, 01:29 PM   #9
kenchan
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deep cycle is the way to go. too bad these batteries can't
hold much charge over 2 weeks. my other car using a
normal oe battery could easily go one month without a
charge.
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Old 02-02-2004, 02:23 AM   #10
Redline8k
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Im looking into a yellow top and I also live in chicago, But I drive the car every day. I want to upgrade not only for weight but for my sound system too.

What model yellow top did you get? Im also looking into relocating it to the trunk. If anyone has more info on this please let me know.
thanks
-nick
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Old 02-05-2004, 10:15 PM   #11
Mishmosh
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Consumer reports tested an Optima a few years back... turned out to have pretty poor cold weather performance (CCA).
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Old 02-06-2004, 12:20 AM   #12
kenchan
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nick- im not sure which model number, but its the one that
has 750cca. I bought mine at Sears, but Autozone has it
about $10 cheaper (i found out afterwards )

If you mount it in the factory location, you need to get a
6" + jumper as the + harness will not reach the terminal...
well, at least on mine it didn't. The ground harness is fine.

Its not so light weight, imo, but should work great for your
stereo.

michmosh (is your name suppose to be moshi moshi as in
"hello?" in Japanese?) - deepcycle batteries run lower voltage
than regular batteries.
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Old 02-06-2004, 04:20 AM   #13
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If you used a 'trickle' or 'float' charger, like all stored batteries should...you wouldn't have this problem.
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Old 02-06-2004, 12:52 PM   #14
kenchan
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I know. but many people including myself do not like cables
hooked up to our cars while in the garage which people could trip over or accidentally come off, etc. while not supervised.
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Old 02-06-2004, 06:58 PM   #15
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Put the charger under the front of the car and put a piece of duct tape over the power cord....a 'Remove before flight' flag should prevent accidental, connected departures.
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Old 02-06-2004, 10:45 PM   #16
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why not jsut disconnect the battery while its stored for winter.......

I have an optima yellow in both the GVR4 and my other Z....both cars sit alot at various times during the year, and not a problem. Sounds like you have a drain someplace.
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Old 02-07-2004, 01:34 AM   #17
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the drain is from the security system, mostly. I don't arm it
in the wintertime. The 20F temps don't help either. Don't want
to reset the ECU. Don't want cords on the floor of the garage.

I do charge it at 2amps occasionally to get it fully charged
while im working on my other car or doing something in
the garage.
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Old 02-07-2004, 03:41 AM   #18
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There are several, logical, viable solutions that have been posted and some others I'm sure....
I guess some people don't really want or need an answer, they just want to bitch.
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Old 02-08-2004, 12:44 PM   #19
kenchan
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My answer is to charge the battery up occassionally on 2amps
while Im working on my cars...works just fine.

Sometimes your answer does not apply to everyone and
each household...
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Old 02-16-2004, 09:57 PM   #20
tdxflex
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what about using a solar charger and rewiring your cig lighter to a constant 12v instead of accessory powered 12v. Or just putting in a secondary cig lighter for the solar charger? It can stay inside the car so no cables to trip over.
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