Recently I have been having some serious electrical problems. They have only been happing on long trips about 2 hours or more. What is happening is that all of my electronics like radio, ac, gauges, sub, xm, and anything else on just randomly shut of and come right back on. Also for the first time today I actually had the whole car just shut off on my when I had my HIDs, fog lights, radio, sub, ac, and my brother was using a laptop on a power invert hooked up to the cigarette lighter in the armrest. When I got off a high way and got to the end of the exit ramp and was ready to make a turn it did the normal part of everything flashing off like it has been recently and this time when it tried to come back on it didnt and my steering locked up too.

 

Are you running the Optima Yellowtop?

 

If he is, I think you are on the right path.

 

pulley?...

this sux....

 

Yes he is... see pics of it before.

 

Maybe you're drawing off more power than your alternator can provide...

 

Don't do underdrive pulleys whatever you do

 

Sounds like the problem exactly...

Using ALL those accessories will draw a ton of current from the alternator. The YellowTop can only provide the power (and only 12V at that) for so long before it dies, too, as the alternator is overworked.

Keep doing this and you will likely toast your alternator prematurely.

 

If he has the Optima yellow top 51R, then that particular SKU has a known issue with internal defect. Contact Optima for a refund or replacement. Keep in mind the 51R has been discontinued due to the problem.

Edit: I would check the obvious stuffs like wiring connections first though.

 

That's good to know. I hadn't heard of yellow top issues before.

 

I used to have the 51R and never had problems with it and then it died after a year of use and I called Optima and they didnt care that it was a 51R and wouldnt replace it for free.

 

wahts the deal with optima,

 

That is odd. What does it say on the battery? My Optima has "3 years free replacement warranty" right on the battery. A local member recently replaced his yellow top 51R due to the defect probem. The engine just died and wouldn't start.

 

i read about problems w/ 51R on honda-tech and everyone said they got a replacement for free

 

well actually when I called optima they said that you get one year free replacement then the last two years are a re-imbursement plan that decreases in value over those last two years.

You also have to have the receipt for the place you purchased it from which I had lost.

 

Any battery I have had problem with has always just been replaced or pro-rated credit towards a new one, depending on the date code stamped or punched into the top or label on the battery - no receipt necessary (you just have a shorter warranty by a few months difference between manufacture date and purchase date). I don't know why Optima would be any different but evidently they are.

Have you tried bringing the battery back to a shop that carries Optima batteries, instead of dealing with Optima directly? I know Walmart and some other big-box stores here (Canada) carry red and yellow tops... maybe they can exchange it for you?