Odyssey AGM Battery and Charger System Problems

Sharing my really disappointing experience with a $370 Odyssey PC1500 34R Battery and $240 Odyssey Charger. Long story short, the charger killed my battery and Odyssey couldn't care less.

I'm sure there are people who've had luck with these guys and will defend them. Hats off to ya and I'm glad you had better luck, but I've been doing this stuff for over forty years and can't recall a bigger disappointment in a product or company. My recommendation would be to find another company to put your trust in, in my experience Odyssey is sketchy as it gets.

[EMD_Ski]

Lots of great comments below with different ideas and suggestions, and for sure some that make no sense at all, but appreciate the interest from all. I didn’t realize how many views this had gotten so haven’t been responding to everything.

For posterity’s sake, an update. Short story, this was a definitely just bad battery that failed almost immediately and Odyssey refused to warranty it. Longer version, I ultimately replaced the main Odyssey with an Optima, did everything else the same way including keeping it on the maintenance charger when it sits for long periods of time, and it’s all still going strong. I use the Odyssey charger on a couple of other project cars and an RV with no issues, so definitely was just a bad battery, and Odyssey chose not to back it. That’s the full story.

Obviously most of the time people’s odyssey batteries work just fine, but like any company they’re gonna produce failures, and based on my own experience it would seem they’re not going care if you’re one of the unlucky ones, so personally I’ll never buy another one. Just my two cents.

Thanks for all the comments and experiences shared!

[sclm]

Just read an article by a guy that reviewed what he considered 6 of the best Odyssey batteries. One of them (the 6th one) was the Odyssey 34R-PC1500T Automotive Battery.

While praising these Odyssey batteries. There was a reoccurring 'CON' in his "Pro and Con' evaluation section regarding each of these batteries. Here's somewhat he says in a few of them:

1st. "Buyers reported about the battery dying after a few years or months of usage..."

2nd. "Buyers had a disappointing experience..." [with this battery model, stating] "...the battery stopped holding a charge after a few weeks of usage." Also, "...difficult to claim a warranty..." for this product.

4th. "...again, buyers complained about the battery not charging up after a few weeks of usage." Observing that this "...looks like a serious issue that Odyssey must solve..." Et cetera.

6th. Finally, regarding the Odyssey 34R-PC1500T model, he writes this battery "...has some serious drawbacks. Apart from the usual charging issues, buyers also complained..." that the battery sent to them, apparently, was not the one they ordered. He then adds that Odyssey: "...has a serious problem which it must address as soon as possible."


I'd still consider purchasing an Odyssey for my 4Runner. But I'll be sure to ask questions and get a copy of the warranty BEFOREHAND, and read it carefully, now that I've watched your video and heard your experience - as well as what this guy says about his BEST picks of the Odyssey brand.

[Now-Review-This]

I just installed a $400 Odyssey into my truck since I've had 9 bad FLA batteries in the past 12 years. I'm documenting the entire life of this thing on my channel. Wish me luck.... But if it fails within the 4 year warranty and they hassle me about replacing it, well, let's just say they will learn my name the hard way. Cheers 🍻

[GaryGilpin-orxr]

Just came across this vid as I was searching for vids on how to recondition AGM batteries. I have the same batteries (dual batteries) in my 97 Lexus LX450. I’m on my second set. The first set lasted around 8 yrs. The second set has lasted about 3 yrs. Something has happened with their quality. Agree that I will never buy Odyssey batteries ever again.
Had a cheap CarQuest marine battery in my boat for close to 10 yrs. Used the boat for only about 4 months/yr and never trickle charged it over the winter and had no issues for close to 10 yrs. In reality, ALL batteries in the last 5 or so yrs have decreased drastically in quality. Got a new Diehard “Gold” battery two years ago for a used 07 Tundra I purchased. Battery was bad from the get go. Had it replaced for free about 6 months after purchase. The second battery is now no good after 6 months. One day this week, truck wouldn’t start even though I had used it the day before. Decide to f’it, and got a new battery from Costco. We’ll see how long this one lasts, but seems that overall, folks are getting only 3 yrs max from batteries these days.

[johnnyhunterw]

You're not alone I have a brand new odyssey extreme dual purpose for my boat and it won't hold charge I'm still trying to get it changed.

[adamnowak]

I have a question: when this charger was connected to the battery, was the battery connected to the car's electrical system?

[waterguy]

Wow...I'm surprised to hear or watch this...I just posted on Now-Review-This YT channel...Ive had this exact battery almost 6 years now, and its in my 3rd work van, current one is a Ram C/V (Dodge caravan), and it is just recently starting to show some signs its getting tired, I have a mildly slow to crank issue after the van sits for a few days, but other than that...have not had any issues with this battery...when i do my math it works out to about $65/ year...when it sat for a few months in between vehicles, I put it on a Schumacher battery charger and set in on the 12v/AGM setting...then a tender till i needed to swap it into the next work van....I'm disappointed to hear your having this issue with yours as well as the other viewers with the same thing

[CRXUGLYKID]

I have 3 oddesey extreme odx-agm31 batteries. They are fantastic and they charge fine with my agm charger. I use a ctek

[sclm]

Hi Eric. Sorry to hear your bad experience with the Odyssey AGM battery.

Love to hear or read a transcription of your interaction with Odyssey. They won't even take your Charger back to examine it?

Well I'm researching to see if I think it is wise to invest so much money for the Odyssey that I would require for my 2002 Toyota 4Runner. I can't even find any Odyssey's in stock locally.

I think you had a bad rep and a bad battery and/or charger as you say.



A suggestion (not knowing of course all that you have communicated already to Odyssey):

Try another call and ask for a tech if you haven't already. Ask questions that compliment the battery and 'concept' of the charger as you have here in your video. That 'know' that others have had great experiences with their batteries and recommend them - and that you would like to be able to do the same.

You may receive better intel and perhaps extra gratuitous help - or not. But maybe worth a try.

You could say that you would love to produce a follow up of your video that shows they've determined the issue and sought to rectify the particular situation in your case.

A learning experience for all involved...including your viewers (few though they my be at the moment).

[ldynasty.]

Thank you, I was about to buy an Odyssey, not anymore if customer service is bad.

[davidpowell]

Is it possible that the charger discharged the battery over the time it was connected?
That battery if near fully charged and not connected to anything should not lose more than a few percent of its charge in a month. In a modern car of course not being started and driven there would be considerable discharge in a month because of draw by the electronics in the car that draw standby current even when the ignition is turned off. Also if the car has a burglar alarm.

[scooter]

Something I’ve noticed in your video and idk if this is the reason why or not maybe you just moved the stuff to the floor for the video but I was always told not to leave a battery on concrete. Something about doing that for extended time kills batteries. Like I said maybe not the issue here just an observation. It was a long time ago older battery not these new ones but I’ve seen it happen before.

[mccullar]

Hey Eric, are you interested in selling that 20A charger?

[davidpowell]

If the voltage across the battery is only 9 with the charger connected and turned on, if there isn't at least several amps running from the charger through the battery I would think that the charger isn't functioning properly or is set for a 6 volt battery.

[ganzonomy]

If it won't go over 9 and 1/2 volts, could it be possible that the duration of the charge caused a dead cell? I do see that it's a 20 amp charger, and it's about a 68 amp power battery. So could the amount of amps in the charger be too great for the battery and as a result cooked a cell?

[donowens]

The Odyssey AGM battery may not be the answer you may have to use a harder charger for that

[jimmd]

I found out that Odyssey is no longer manufacturing the 20 amp charger/maintainer but I couldn’t find out why. The only Odyssey chargers available are the 6 amp and 12 amp chargers.
As for other chargers the research I did leads to CTEK or Battery Tender.
Sorry you had this experience with Odyssey but they really should stand by their product since their claim is that it has premium products. I have two 12 volt PC 1200 batteries in my vintage VW Beetles for the last 4 years and no problems. I also have the 20 amp charger the same as you have and again, no problems. It has charged both batteries as well as maintained them. After seeing your video I am thinking I am lucky so far.

[donowens]

And a 6 volt battery will read almost 9 volts because six volt batteries either a golf cart battery for the old fashioned truck battery that was made back either in the early 50s or 60s possibly in the early 40s

[donowens]

Take the measurement of the charger as you hook up the battery and make sure you leave that battery charger on the battery and if that AGM charger is not working try a different charger you might get better results shoemaker makes a better charger and believe me I have a good charger but you can go buy a battery charger decently from harbor freight it's got a quick charge it's got a slow charge and I would charge your AGM battery for over 13 maybe 14 hours it may take 3 days on a slow charge on a two to three amp charge with an arbor freight charger that I got I've had their luck with a harbor freight charger no other charger beats discharger so if you ever have a harbor freight store just try one of those what's the what's the worst you can do go wrong pick your battery to harbor freight do something different.

[Codeman]

So I have a question, I have a odyssey battery too, I bought it about 1.5 years ago and it has been great. Except my car needs work and it's been parked for about 2 months. The battery is completely dead, it will not jump, and it will not accept trickle charge or battery repair mode from a charger. Do you think this odyssey charger is able to repair my battery? If so, I will buy it no hesitation, because i think I spent 275 on my battery and I wanted it to last 5+ years.