I have a kind of strange problem I have not seen as of yet. Maybe someone has some insight. I bought a Optima D35 about a month ago & installed it. Seemed to have no issues (started even stronger it seemed) until yesterday. I tried to start my 8 and instead of starting just got some almost violent clicking. Seemed like the battery had plenty of power to start, but just didn't. Thought it might be a starter or something, but because I had the original battery, I decided to start there just for fun. Started right up.

So, swapped the Optima YT back in to see if maybe it was a loose connection or something in the terminals connections, but soon as the YT was back in & tried to start...more violent clicking. Inside lights work but flash as it clicks. Any ideas would be awesome, because, I haven't actually tested the battery yet, but it seems to have plenty of power.

 

Based on what you say, it seems pretty obvious to me that the problem is the Optima battery. Maybe an internal short. Take it back to where you got it and have it checked.

 

Yeah, that would be my guess, unless it can somehow push to much power for the car/starter to handle or something. I am not real experienced on the electrical end of things, so not sure if that is even possible.

 

The ratings for that battery are fine for the car. As long as you connect it properly, it should work with no problems. It's a series 35, 12-volt battery with plenty of cold cranking amps, which is just what the car requires.

I'm not a fan of Optima batteries, primarily because of the cost, but also because of some negative experiences an aquaintance had with them. I don't recall the specifics of his problem. Others swear by them.

 

Go48 is right again - the clicking is the solenoid slamming in, then the voltage can't keep it in so it falls out, when it disconnects and the volts rise and slam it back in.

Battery is dead.

S

 

dead battery

 

I had an Optima battery in my Brother's SER, its a pretty big battery.

How do you fit it inside the small battery box in our 8 ?

 

The violent clicking you describe is a symptom of a run-down battery. Either the battery is failing, the terminals were dirty, or your charging system is ill.

As others have said, take it back to where you bought it for them to see if it's OK. If it's a quality shop, they'll be able to check your charging system. Might be a freebie as part of the battery test. I know Merchant's (not a quality shop) always checks the charging system in an attempt to wriggle out of a battery warranty claim.

Ken

 

No worry, that's not how it works. Batteries push voltage, not amps. The starter pulls only as many amps as it needs from the battery. Or in the case of a weak battery, the starter TRIES to pull as many amps as it needs, but the battery can't deliver.