its not something i can explain scientifically (i'm at work) right now, but it has something to do with the way that some yellow tops are designed to hold their charges.

if you let them deplete completely...like 0V charge, you pretty much have to buy a new battery.

this is what i was told when i had 3 yellow tops (in a 2 year span, 1st 2 were under warranty - and they died at random, not because i left the headlights on or ran the stereo without the engine running) crap out on me on my old integra. i believe they've discontinued the 51R models specifically because they all eventually crapped out due to their design.

 

UH, My yellow top was at 0V and it was recharged and works great... in-fact last night I was stuck in the snow for over 3 hours and my flashers were on the entire time with out the car running... started up fine... the headlights didn't even dim when I cranked it to start.....