Won’t start, won’t crank

[twecomm]

As I indicated in an earlier reply, you can charge a defective battery, it will probably measure OK on a volt meter under no load, but can't supply any current needed to turn that starter or even close the solenoid. Under the significant load of a starter motor, which is typically in excess of 100 amps, voltage will drop to virtually nothing under a load. Batteries can act weird when bad or going bad.. Glad you are up and running.

 

[Geoff 2]

I had a Red Optima, still under warranty, fail while I was going down a steep hill. It shorted out internally which killed the ign. Lost brakes & steering. Best place for an Optima is on the dealer's shelf.....

 

[Don Frelier]

As I indicated in an earlier reply, you can charge a defective battery, it will probably measure OK on a volt meter under no load, but can't supply any current needed to turn that starter or even close the solenoid. Under the significant load of a starter motor, which is typically in excess of 100 amps, voltage will drop to virtually nothing under a load. Batteries can act weird when bad or going bad.. Glad you are up and running.

My uncle was a mechanic. He worked as a rebuilder for starters, alternators and magnetos later in his career at a large parts distributor.

They would take in pallets of used batteries from other stores.
His quick test was to take a piece of angle iron and dead short the battery quickly.
He would gauge the intensity of the spark and sound and set the good ones aside.
Those would then be charged and load tested.
He had a shelf with several of these at all times.
I didn't buy a battery as long as he worked there

 

[Qwick68]

optima?? JUNK not like they used to be

No not an optima, one of the Mopar restoration batteries made by turbo start.