I'm looking for advice on if it is time for a new battery.

I have a red top Optima battery in my TL for at least the last 5 or so years. I've been thinking that the battery might need to be replaced because it seems to take longer to start then I think it should.

Before I went out tonight with my friend I got him to help me get some voltage readings off my battery. About 30-45 mins prior I was working on something in the interior of my car for 15-20 minutes with the lights an radio on (accessory mode). Before starting the car the voltage was 12.39. I had my friend start the car while I held the tester on the battery terminals. The lowest reading was 8.8 or something (at this point, I just remember 8 something).

I let the car run for a few minutes, then turned it off and let it sit for a few minutes. Now for the 2nd test, I measured 12.6v, then had him start the car. The lowest reading was 9.15 on my multimeter during the start.

I've tried looking on the internet for what the good/bad line is for car batteries. I'm seeing people say if it drops below 9.6 then it is bad. Then I see youtube videos of people showing bad batteries which drop to 7v, 4v...etc. People also say Optimas can sometimes last 10 years.

So my battery isn't hitting the lows that I've seen in some videos, and I have never charged my battery with an external charger (just normal driving/alternator). Should I bother giving it an overnight charge with an external charger? Or just replace the damn thing?

I can get the group 35 red top off of amazon for $144 (vs 225 in a local pep boys).

 

The only way to know, is to charge the battery, then test it: load test and/ or hydrometer test and/ or voltage test:

How to buy a new (and test an old) battery
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?p=14546038#post14546038

How to care for a battery, including comments on chargers
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=775689

Shipping from Amazon?

 

Nah man, Amazon is the seller and FREE Super Saver Shipping.

I've got to pay tax now in NJ but that is a given anyway for any other local stores I'd consider.

 

If you're having doubts, then go for it. If the battery is acting differently than it did for the past couple of years, then there may very well be something up with it.

 

Optima quality is horrible now, they're one of the worst batteries money can buy and that's including the $60 cheap batteries. I think you will be happier with a regular cheap battery or if you want one of the best on the market for $100 less than its rebranded counterpart, try the Sears Diehard Platinum. I've used about 6 Optimas over the years and the current Diehard is better in every way. Plus it has a 4 year free replacement and 100month pro rated warranty.

First I would make sure the battery is bad and that its not something like the HFL going bad.

 

What recent proof of this is there? When I googled about quality/issues, most of what I found was from 2010. It seems as though mexico production started in 2008/2009. So 2010 could have been "early issues" that were corrected?