Optima batteries used to be great. The Optima Red Top starting bats in my 1996 FT lasted more than 15 years! But now, this is no longer true. My 3 Optima Blue Tops dated 3/12 died in October. Less than 3 years for what had been known as a top-of-the-line battery. One apparently had an internal short and the other two would not hold a charge for any appreciable time. I disconnected the shorted bat and limped along with the other two until yesterday.
I have read many other similar complaints about Optimas made by the new owner, Johnson Controls. Apparently they bought the company in 2000 and moved the manufacturing to Mexico.
Yeah, I know others on this forum have reported problems with Optimas. I'm just adding my two cents worth.
I replaced them with 3 Deka Intimidator 9A31's. Replacing starting bats in a 2003 FT is really a %$##. Took me a couple of hours of not-fun work.
PS - No I don't have the original invoices as they were installed by the previous owner. Even if I had any warranty, I would not install another Optima battery.
One of my original optimas developed a short after five years, and I replaced it with a blue top I had around, I replaced them all a year,and a half ago. I cannot complain, as two of three lasted more than ten years. If this set goes south at age three, I'll probably replace them with a single 8D like I have for the house.
Fortunately, not having a tag axle, access to both banks of batteries is easy.