Possibly a new failed battery, not sure

[TJScott]

I have an 03 Sport 4.0. As the weather started getting colder my engine began sounding like it was struggling to turn over. Being the battery was about 4 years old, I replaced it. I bought a red top Optima. It’s been in there a month. I wasn’t impressed with the speed in which it turned over with this new battery, but it was starting. Then we left for a week where it didn’t run at all. I started it Monday and it seemed like the battery was low. Tuesday the same, then yesterday I brought a meter with me to check when I started it. Of course it worked fine. Same day after work it started quite slowly but started. I ran an errand and went to start it and it turned over like an almost dead battery. Tried a second time and it ground to a halt. Just like a dead battery. After about 20 minutes or so, I tried again and it started right up and is reading just over 14 volts charging. Went to the store I bought the battery from, shut it off and it restarted. All symptoms point to battery. Is there another item like a failing starter or something that exhibits the same symptoms as a dying battery? I’m going in the morning to try and get a new battery. Worried that they will test it and say all is well. But, I have zero faith in it right now. All my install work is clean and tight. We are supposed to go on a trail Sunday. Thoughts? Thank you.

 

[Jamison C]

My bet is on the battery. Symptoms seem in line for people struggling with a dying battery. Optima’s quality took a turn for the worst a several years back when they moved their manufacturing to Mexico and started using cheaper material to cut costs. Their quality is spotty at best now.

As far as testing, most parts stores don’t know how to properly load test a battery, and the test will show a false reading of the battery being good when it’s actually bad.

Get something made in the USA. I have a Duracell battery (East Penn Manufacturing) I bought over four years ago and not once has it remotely shown any signs of wearing out.

 

[A. Paul]

Yeah, you're about to have half the forum tell you how bad optima is. There is some truth to that but their products should still last more than a month, get it tested. It could also possibly be something else, electrical gremlins are not always easy to find.

 

[TJScott]

I went there this morning and they swapped the battery pretty much no questions asked. He also dated the receipt for today as though I just bought it. We will see what happens. I was concerned it could be something else and replacing the battery would leave me where I was. But, I no longer trusted the battery and we’re going out on a trail Sunday.

 

[TJScott]

I’m just updating this thread. It turns out the issue was with my starter. I didn’t know that they could go out and draw high current, making it seem like a dying battery. So the original battery was probably good and so was the first Optima. Sorry for the misinformation.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Glad you found the problem. The above comments about Optima's battery quality having taken a nosedive hold true though. I personally had three Optimas in a row die prematurely.

 

[TJScott]

I believe you did. I never got to premature before having issues. I really hope this resolves things. I’ve wasted a lot of money and time on this one.