I've been in LA for almost 2 months now, and the max has been waiting patiently back home in the garage, but dad called yesterday and said the battery was toast, not even guage lights would come on. he has ran it once (idle) for about 15 mins, which obviously doesn't do much for the battery. and my brother has driven it about 2 miles, after my request that it be drivin once a week. (says it's to loud, he has a stock IS300)

Just seems like the optima (which was only 3 months old) would have held up better then that, i've never let a car sit that long, so i'm not familiar with battery life. Has this happened to anyone else?

Is it a Yellow Top? I'm sure the Yellow Tops r fine for cranking, but have heard a lot of people recommend the Red Tops for under the hood. I run both Red (under hood), and Yellow (n trunk)...I have been very pleased with them

my redtop crapped out on me less than a yr... didnt think they were so unreliable

Sorry, it's a redtop.

just go back to the store whre u bought it from. i used to work at pepboys and we either re-charge it or gie u a new one. if u dont have the receipt, they should still have you in the system...

I had my stock battery till about a month ago. When it's axle broke in the snow in Janurary and my cousin didn't feel like fixing it till the summer. When I tried turning it on, nothing went on. No lights or anything. My dad said he never changed the battery on it and we bought it in 99. So that battery was old, was about time. My cousin installed a interstate battery, lets see how long this on lasts.

try charging/jumping the car first and then run it for a while I am guessing the car just drained the battery becuase even when everything is off there is a certain amount of drain to maintain certain systems (radio favorites etc). Just get it charged and I am guessing it would work no problem.

sounds like it just needs to be charged

Try taking the battery out of the car and put it on a slow (10amp if I remember right) charge over night.

My red-top crapped out after a year also, now my second is starting to die frequently.

yeah just needs charged. Although i'm wondering if my dad was messing with the ignition keypad and messed it up. I will know tomm. thanks for the replies guys

Is it really dead (can't be jumped) or just drained? Probably just needs to be jumped. Next time it might be a good idea to disconnect the battery in addition to many other things if your family isn't willing to take it out once a week.

Maybe you could find a responsible org member in your area to take it out while you're gone .

I think it can be jumped, I hope. I'm not very happy with my family, as I thought they would at least run it once a week. I'll know when I get home tomm. night.

a friend of mines optima redtop melted yesterday weirdest thing ive seen in a while

Hmm glad I didn't go with an Optima now.

my red top has been great in 2 wisconsin winters. It's also been completely drained and charged twice. It's still going!

tank! dang man you finally back to PA? how was LA? Do you know the web site you got the keypad from? good luck with the battery

I'm finally back man, on friday. Goin back in 2 weeks most likely for at least a month, maybe longer. Did you already move?

http://www.apogeekits.com/ignition_kill_switch.htm

Theres the link for the keypad, I love it, one of the coolest mods I have, buddy of mine bought one also. Let me know if you need any help, it's pretty easy if you know wiring at all.

UPDATE: I got the battery jumped and it's doing fine, it was down to 8V, basiclly dead, the int lamp wasn't even commin on. Thanks everyone for your replies

Y'know there is a much, much better battery than the Optima. It doesn't look as pretty, but it will outlast and outperform it.

It is called the Exide Orbital, and it is sold, nationwide, by Tire Kingdom.

Do yourself a favor -- chuck the Optimas and go with the Orbital.