Toys4Life C5

Day after day, month after month, the regular battery most of us have in our C5 Corvettes it likely causing damage.
If you are lucky, you might not ever notice it. If you are less lucky, you will eventually have a problem and be hit with a repair estimate that can easily be in the thousand dollar plus range. There is a simple solution that virtually eliminates this problem.

I spent several hours researching the issue - so you don't have to!

rrwirsi

Since the no maintenance lead/acid battery's have come on the market, I have not observed any of the issues on the terminals that the video displays in any of my cars. Regarding the statement on the AGM battery that there is no issues, just do not totally discharge them. Unlike the lead/acid battery, they seem not take a direct recharge. My neighbor found that out in his passenger car several months ago. Just after the warranty ran out. Another $225.

Along with having battery mats underneath, I inspect my battery every time I open the hood in all my cars that I do at least once a month.

knewblewkorvette

OMG! I'm going to use this video over and over again when newbies ask what kind of battery to use in their C5s.

jackthelad

Nor me. Got to go back to era of vented batteries for that to happen.

Verrückt ZR1

Ugh. This happened to my '00 vert- twice. Another good video, brother.

pjdbm

Good vid
This is why I choose a good Redtop with AGM

OUTAKTRL

Optima red top AGM

Vetteman Jack

Never had a problem with lead acid batteries leaking, but I know others have. I switched to an AGM battery while unowned my 2nd C5 and that eased my concerns.

Smoken1

WalterSobchak

I just got a new Delco battery this summer. Stocker went 12 years no issues, then I got a Napa one that was junk after 3 years went back to Delco. I wish i had known about this before. I'm fortunate I've never had any mechanical issue with my C5. That's why she stayed when I got the C8 because this car has just been absolutely rock solid.

Jims2001

I caught mine leaking years ago have been using an AMG from NAPA ever since.

Jistari

Sorry to say......this is a solution looking for a problem.
The original battery (a Delco in 1997 thru ????) did cause this kind of damage.
You cant buy a battery (any battery) that will do this anymore.
No you dont "need" an AGM.
If you want to use one, fine, wont hurt anything, but if you are one of the people who have a car with higher parasitic drain (not all C5's drain the batteries) you may find your choice of a red top battery = headaches when your battery runs down.

The thing you need in most C5's.....is a battery that has an RC of at least 120 (original spec called for RC 90) and non AGM is better suited for that.

~Josh

I don’t like red or yellow tops. Prefer regular maintenance free acid type batteries.

Toys4Life C5

Not every sealed maintenance battery leaks. But more than a few do.

I believe "maintenance free sealed" batteries were invented in the early 70's. I grew up in the 70 and just casually observing, I have seen the damage these sealed batteries still manage to cause to multiple cars that my parents owned when I was a youngster, the beaters I purchased as a young man, customer cars at the shops I worked at as a young adult - and even some of the nicer vehicles I have owned as an adult. Usually it is just kind of ugly/nasty in the areas under the battery. I had one that had such a noticeable leak around the side-post I could hear the acid oosing out.

C5's are special - they have some pretty sensitive equipment down there and acid leaks can become a big deal.... PCM, harness, AC line etc.

Sealed batteries are designed not to leak. Until they do.
Main causes of leaks-
1. Overcharged
2. Defective post/terminal seals
3. Defective case/caps
4. Sustained too much vibration over too long a period.
5. Overheated

Clearly, sealed MF batteries leak a lot less often than earlier generation batteries - but they still leak often enough I don't want them in my C5. If your sealed MF battery leaks, you are not likely to receive a claim check from the manufacturer to get your C5 fixed.

TO PUT THE VALIDITY OF THIS ISSUE TO REST -
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN A MAINTENANCE FREE AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY - THAT IS LESS THAN SEALED?

rrwirsi

For the last approximately 20 years I have used maintenance free batteries in the cars I have owned during that time, I have observed "0" issues with any of them. But because of all the conversation I have read on this forum about the possibility of leakage, I do inspect the battery at least once a month in all the cars. Just my .04 worth.

ztheusa

grinder11

I'm running a Delco. One OEM product that is probably the best option for...MOST C5 owners. The battery the GM Stealership says is now the recommended replacement for all C5 years is the sealed, but vented Professional series battery. It has 2 little oblong "vents", 1 on each end at the top. GM makes a factory harness-like venting unit for, say, the now defunct Buick LeSabre, that would probably fit this battery, but I dont this for sure. I just made my own, with elbows, a "tee", fuel line, and a clear tubing much like a motorcycle battery uses. No rust, no fuss, no muss. It cranks my built, 11-1/2:1 compression LS7 over with power to spare. Specs are 800CCA, 110RC. Only thing I question is why GM would recommend a "vented", sealed (oxymoron?) battery for a car that has no vent system OEM? It has been a long time since I've seen the original battery on my 2000 C5, but I don't remember it having any sort of vent system. I made my own setup because I know having acidic fumes in a confined area isn't good for anything. I questioned the Stealer when I bought it, and they assured me the battery I was buying was the GM recommended replacement. Maybe the vents are blocked, and no longer go thru to the cells. Not trying to hijack thread, just trying to add additional info. I believe the OP would still benefit from the OEM A/C Delco, but I don't know if I should recommend the battery I have, or not. Do you think they lied about this? Anyone have any thoughts?

mstromquist

When I brought my car home in 2007 after I bought it, I tore the engine compartment apart to clean it and found that that battery from a previous owner had leaked at some point. They did a horrible job cleaning it so I had to clean up their mess too. They poured backing soda down into and behind the battery. It was hard as a rock when I found it and it sucked big time breaking it out of all the places it went, it was even in the wire harness. Never put another lead acid battery in it since I've owned it. I just replaced my old yeller top with a red top too.

dbgoodwin

I sell and install 10+ batteries a day, every day, 5-6 days a week. Even if I had to pay $200 every 2 years for a new AGM battery, that’s all I would put in my c5.

I’ve spent way too much time cleaning up acid to worry about the extra couple bucks spent on an AGM battery for my own car.

dbgoodwin

I took this picture earlier this year. The battery was soaked and covered in corrosion, and there was a pool of acid underneath. Buy what you want, but seriously consider whether or not the $50 savings every 3-5 years is worth it.