Thanks Steve, Andre.
Yeah, I seem to recall a rebuild kit at Summit. I'll put a trickle charge on the battery tonight and Sat., see if it holds voltage (yes, take a before and after reading then let it stew like half a day off the charger and take a final read.)
Wondering if
antifreeze being sprayed on it for a few years, had anything to do with the alternator going out so soon - I had a nasty run of radiators leaks with a Ron Davis unit for a many years before getting a regular AFCO radiator. Fluid would be all over the housing of the alternator and I think later on, I could hear a faint squealing from the alternator but a few months later it just went away - I was fearing maybe all that coolant washed aways some of the bearing lubricant in the alternator.
I may just put in an order for a new Optima. I've NEVER had a battery last this long in any of my cars (I have 5). The Audi is still to be figured out - it was build and running in 4/2008 so it's had the original battery in the trunk for just over 5 years now.... tick tock...