Optima was carried by Sears for several years, they dropped them because failures were so high. I ran them for years, but they started failing...Optima was sold and it was all downhill after that, they have never recovered. That is when Sears made an agreement with Odyssey.

There are many batteries that can be mounted other than upright. Check the specs on what ever battery you choose.

 

Good to know, it's been 10 years since I've bought an Optima, but definitely will look elsewhere before I buy.

 

Optima is one of the brands now owned by Johnson Controls. I agree that Optima has went downhill since they were bought out.

 

As I understand it:

The big problem with Optima's after they were bought was a change was made to them internally, the result was they could not take the beating they were used to and they shorting out. My guess is the company saved a nickel, but lost major market share as a result.


Moab, Utah, 21 May, '08, Cliff Hanger Trail, side trail to observation point overlooking the Colorado River.

Weather was bad and getting worse, cold, raining and the temp had plunged from 98 to the low 50's daytime. It was the last trail of the day and we were on a side trail for the overlook in spite of poor pic taking.

After much looking and even some pics snapped and with darkness approaching we, George, Diane (Number 7) and Mike (Gearhead) my passenger loaded up to head to town.

The key is turned on in ole Cowboy and nary a light, click or buzz was seen or heard. WTF? Suddendly this is not looking good and its raining harder. 3 guys are crawling over the opened hood wriggling, pulling, pushing and hammering on wires and starters to fix or isolate the problem.

Its in the ignition switch, maybe, but I am thinking its in the starter relay, etc, etc. In the dimming light on occasion the lights of the dash would light up then go away as soon as they lit. Finally we got the dash lights to stay on and decided to try and tow start it,

George hooks up and pulls me, I pop clutch and the engine roars to life but dies if you try to let it idle. Nonetheless getting out is all important and I with heel on the accelerator, toes on brake, left foot on clutch, right hand on shifter poised to shift into neutral and left hand on the steering wheel.

Albeit Cliff Hanger is not a 5 rated trail its still a tough trail, but I am going down hill rather than up. Cowboy dies off several times like getting shot by the bad guy in a cheap western but only to revive again to struggle down another ledge.

After more hours than I care to remember we arrive at the trail head and then back at the Motel. Number 7 and Gearhead will swing by in the am to see if we can all get home.

They arrive the next morning and Cowboy is as dead as it was the day before. George, who had trailered his rig up to Moab says lets put yours on my trailer and Diane will drive the Jeep back. Makes sense as I go to set up my winch to winch onto his trailer. The winch is a no show:aagh: I then tell George that lets try to jump this thing and see what happens. George brings his Jeep over and the jump works.

We head south to Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Phoenix. Out side of Moab in a town called Blanding Cowboy dies again. George says take the battery out of my Jeep and put it in yours and lets see if that will work. It does and home I soon arrive.

Next morning: I have a hot Red Top Optima setting on my shop workbench and I pulled out Georges battery and put it on my charger. George's battery is fully charged????

I grab my Optima and run to AutoZone for a systems check. Everything is fine and then I take the Optima into the store for is check.

The guy hooks up the leads, pushes a button and looks up and me and sez, "I think your battery has taken a dump on you...bad-shorted cell."