Upon lifting the hood to change my fuel filter I discovered that the 9 month-old OPTIMA 34/78 Yellow Top passenger-side battery had ruptured and leaked acid. The rupture had to have occurred in the recent past because (fortunately) the damage to my truck was limited to the battery tray and the tray support bracket, both of which I replaced.
Not being able to wait for a new battery, I bought a new OPTIMA 34/78 Yellow Top to replace the ruptured one from the passenger side. I never doubted that OPTIMA would stand behind their product and at least reimburse me for the price I paid for the ruptured battery, if not the higher cost (there had been a price increase) of the new one. Was I in for a shock!
OPTIMA completely blew me off. When I called their warranty department they had me e-mail them a picture of the rupture but they weren’t interested in examining the battery. Basing their judgment on a grainy e-mailed photograph they said it wasn’t due to a manufacturing defect and they refused to warrant the battery. This battery had never been subjected to any abnormal external stresses. The alternator is stock and the batteries were not overcharged, and there are no heat-producing mods under the hood. Since I don’t drive off road the batteries had not been exposed to any violent motion other than my truck’s stiff suspension. That being the case there are only two possible conclusions: 1) this particular 9 month-old OPTIMA 34/78 Yellow Top battery was defective; or 2) OPTIMA 34/78 Yellow Top batteries, as designed and manufactured, are unsuitable for normal use in GM Duramax Diesel trucks. I won’t generalize by saying that the OPTIMA warranty is worthless, but in this particular case OPTIMA did not stand behind their product.
I’m not going to immediately replace my OPTIMA Yellow Tops but I no longer trust them. I installed a layer of Quick Cable Acid Absorbing Mat under both batteries and I check them frequently. When I do replace them it will be with Caterpillar or Odyssey batteries, or something else.
Not being able to wait for a new battery, I bought a new OPTIMA 34/78 Yellow Top to replace the ruptured one from the passenger side. I never doubted that OPTIMA would stand behind their product and at least reimburse me for the price I paid for the ruptured battery, if not the higher cost (there had been a price increase) of the new one. Was I in for a shock!
OPTIMA completely blew me off. When I called their warranty department they had me e-mail them a picture of the rupture but they weren’t interested in examining the battery. Basing their judgment on a grainy e-mailed photograph they said it wasn’t due to a manufacturing defect and they refused to warrant the battery. This battery had never been subjected to any abnormal external stresses. The alternator is stock and the batteries were not overcharged, and there are no heat-producing mods under the hood. Since I don’t drive off road the batteries had not been exposed to any violent motion other than my truck’s stiff suspension. That being the case there are only two possible conclusions: 1) this particular 9 month-old OPTIMA 34/78 Yellow Top battery was defective; or 2) OPTIMA 34/78 Yellow Top batteries, as designed and manufactured, are unsuitable for normal use in GM Duramax Diesel trucks. I won’t generalize by saying that the OPTIMA warranty is worthless, but in this particular case OPTIMA did not stand behind their product.
I’m not going to immediately replace my OPTIMA Yellow Tops but I no longer trust them. I installed a layer of Quick Cable Acid Absorbing Mat under both batteries and I check them frequently. When I do replace them it will be with Caterpillar or Odyssey batteries, or something else.
