eblue2002

My car is an 02 MN6 coupe with 32k. I bought it from a private owner in Jan of 05 with 18k on it. The car had been sitting for a month or more at the time, and was on the stock battery. Within a week of buying the car, the battery died leaving me stranded (and I mean died fast, shut it off at the car wash with it having exhibited zero signs of looming battery failiure, got back in after wiping it off and DEAD, not even a click). Still being new to Corvettes, I figured I got water on something I shouldn't have, had it towed, and the stealership said it was just a dead battery and $200 later, I had a new stock battery.

Here we are 4 (nearly 5) years later. Car gets driven once a weekend or so in summer, once a month or so in winter. Same battery. After startup, DIC always shows it at 14.0 to 14.3, but I don't think that really tells me anything does it? If I want to avoid my earlier scenario, it's probably time for a new one, right? If so, what should I buy? Where's the most reasonable place to purchase? Also, after I install it, do I really have to clear the whole DIC a code at a time?

Thanks, and sorry so long for a simple question.

schpenxel

It's 5 years old and in a car that's almost never driven.

Replace the battery.

The voltage you're seeing just means the alternator is working, not that the battery is actually holding any of that energy.

capevettes

I just went through this on my low mile 02. Buy an AC/Delco Professional series battery and get yourself a C-Tek Battery Tender and you will not have battery problems for many years. I just bought the battery locally. They aren't cheap but batteries are one area not worth looking to save alot of money. You get what you pay for.

eblue2002

Besides the obvious battery swap, what needs to happen with the DIC post swap?

schpenxel

Pretty sure most things get cleared once you disconnect the battery for a few minutes.

Dave68

It is not uncommon for AC Delco Professional batteries to last 7+ years, so you wouldn't be crazy if you held out for another year or two. My OEM battery was 7 years old when I replaced it, even though it was starting my C5 perfectly well. Of course, I drive it three times per week, so the battery is always near topped-off.

Remember that to extract the longest life out of a battery, it should be charged regularly, either by sufficient driving time/distance or by keeping a battery tender on it. When you leave your car in storage for one month without having it connected to a "tender", you may be shortening its life.

You can find a store that sells AC Delco batteries by entering your zip code in this web page:

http://www.acdelco.com/parts/battery/

eblue2002

After doing a little searching, it looks like I may jsut stop and pick up an Optima red top on the way home one night this week. Is O'Reilly about as reasonable as anywhere else? And again, any confirmation that I can swap this battery like I would in any other vehicle without any special measures to reconfigure the onboard electronics?

schpenxel

Nothing special. Just change it like any other car.

Their prices are as reasonable as any of the chain stores. I'd just pick one up as you mentioned.

0HinsonSuperCars

$105 - Optima Red Top
$135 - Optima Yellow Top

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...ops-135-a.html

Seth