Optima battery finally going bad?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,450
Likes: 70
From: South Jersey
Optima battery finally going bad?
First cold streak hit and I went to bring my daughter home tonight, go outside and truck fires right up and stop after ten minutes to fill up. go to start the truck and you hear IT that gut wrenching clicking!!!! tried a second time and same thing clicking gas attendant asked if I needed a jump and I said yes, while waiting I tried again and the truck fired right up like normal so now I'm like what?? I drop my daughter off at her mom's and go home, I shut it off and try again and it starts right up, I go in the house and waited twenty minutes and I just went out and it fired right up like normal SO WHAT'S GOING ON? I bought the battery in 2005 and had it in four of my mud trucks over the years then I cleaned it up and put it in my super duty a couple years ago, never had a single issue till tonight
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,450
Likes: 70
From: South Jersey
Been ten minutes since the first 20minutes after I got home and waited to see if it would start again. I have 12.38 at battery post with truck off I fired her up and it's at 14.2 at post, so should I let it go or could I have a different issue
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: MN
Could be the battery, starter solenoid, or the starter. Your battery is going on 12 years old, it paid for itself long ago. Thats where I'd start
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 29
From: Bismarck, ND
Load test that battery before you just start throwing darts at a dart board. Could be something else entirely. 12 years is still normal life span for an Optima. Maybe a starter solenoid, starter, or even cables/connections between.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Upstate NY
Clean/tighten the battery terminals, including the negative end on the engine. Then do a load test. I have an Optima that's 16 years old and is occasionally used to jumper start another vehicle, but is still strong. Then there is my current '11 truck with the original 2 batteries living on borrowed time if other folks replacements are my guide - I can hardly wait for that $225+ experience.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
Sounds like you need to clean up your battery terminals to me. A dead battery isn't going to magically fire right up after a couple of tries.
Batteries can last a long time. Sold a '97 Lincoln a year ago that had a battery with a date stamp of 2003. Got me through the previous winter without issues.
Batteries can last a long time. Sold a '97 Lincoln a year ago that had a battery with a date stamp of 2003. Got me through the previous winter without issues.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,450
Likes: 70
From: South Jersey
Parked the truck facing the wind last night after my original post, it's 38* with a steady 10-15mph wind which isn't cold compared to some places. Battery this morning was at 12.4 volts and after I started the truck which started completely normal is at 14.4 volts. All connections are clean and tight and covered with dielectric grease like I always have on them, I moved battery wires around and there is no cut or rubbed ones. Starter is tight and clean as well is the motor ground and chassis grounds. This is why I do all this inspecting and cleaning during the summer when it's nice out so I don't have any problems. I'm going to get the battery load tested but that doesn't seem to be the issue to me so I'll go from here and see what happens
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,266
Likes: 2,187
also check belt tension on alternator.....often old belts will slip under charge load while the alternator resistance builds up during after start-recharge.
what the idle time....most alternators do not kick into charge mode until you hit X rpms which is usally above idel RPMs.
what the idle time....most alternators do not kick into charge mode until you hit X rpms which is usally above idel RPMs.