Leaked Battery Question (Pictures)
10-29-2007, 12:05 PM
#41
Melting Slicks
None of my Delco batteries had the green eye but they ALL LEAKED
Just one more tid bit of info. If anyone still has an ACDelco with a
Hydrometer(the green eye). Be extra concerned or get rid of it.
These style batteries are the ones that are most common of acid leak.
If your ACDelco battery has no hydrometer green eye than no worries.
Can't remember the year, but they did away with the green hydrometer
when they redesigned the batteries using a gel to make the battery more
environmental friendly and to do away with leaks. So if your ACDelco
has no green eye than you know you have the gel style battery.
Supposedly this new style battery is suppose to eliminate leak problems
like in the OP pics.
Hydrometer(the green eye). Be extra concerned or get rid of it.
These style batteries are the ones that are most common of acid leak.
If your ACDelco battery has no hydrometer green eye than no worries.
Can't remember the year, but they did away with the green hydrometer
when they redesigned the batteries using a gel to make the battery more
environmental friendly and to do away with leaks. So if your ACDelco
has no green eye than you know you have the gel style battery.
Supposedly this new style battery is suppose to eliminate leak problems
like in the OP pics.
BIGHANK
10-29-2007, 02:24 PM
#42
Burning Brakes
call me the lucky one
Well knock on wood. I have owned several Chevrolets with ACDelco batteries original and replacement.
Never experienced what most are describing on any of my vehicles.
I guess me and my corvette tech got fed a of lot
from a parts repon the new style battery.
11-02-2007, 02:17 AM
#43
Le Mans Master
You trashed a perfectly good AGM battery. AC Delco started using these leak and vibration-proof batteries in 2001 C5s. In fact, I still have my OEM battery and it's almost 6.5 years old. (still going strong)
As was mentioned, the 2004 and newer AC Delco batteries are of a significantly strengthened design and are more more resistent to leakage, compared to their 97-00 versions of lead acid batteries.
As was mentioned, the 2004 and newer AC Delco batteries are of a significantly strengthened design and are more more resistent to leakage, compared to their 97-00 versions of lead acid batteries.
$100 for peace of mind and insurance of 10 times that amount in damage was worth it to me ... even if there was a good chance the OEM battery would have been OK, but I certainly wasn't going to wait around and find out.
11-02-2007, 02:27 AM
#44
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2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The post 2001 batteries may not leak but my OEM battery in the Vert (an 02) just died
I drove home from work one day and pulled into the garage. 20 mins later I tried to go out and it wouldn't start. It was totally dead. Not even the dreaded clicks from the relays. Tried everything but it just wouldn't play. I went Red Top.
The Camaro battery on the other hand was an old style leaker just like the one in the original post. Leaked on the tray but lucklily knowing the problems I caught it before it damaged the car.
I would say all those that have changed to AGM have made a smart move. With computers under the battery tray the risk is just too high.
Just out of interest I tried to get GM to pay for my Red Top as the OEM had died when the dealer was closed. The Tech at the dealer said, and I quote:
"You bought a Red Top. GM won't pay for that. It's a good battery". Read into that what you will.
I wouldn't buy another AC Delco battery.
I drove home from work one day and pulled into the garage. 20 mins later I tried to go out and it wouldn't start. It was totally dead. Not even the dreaded clicks from the relays. Tried everything but it just wouldn't play. I went Red Top.
The Camaro battery on the other hand was an old style leaker just like the one in the original post. Leaked on the tray but lucklily knowing the problems I caught it before it damaged the car.
I would say all those that have changed to AGM have made a smart move. With computers under the battery tray the risk is just too high.
Just out of interest I tried to get GM to pay for my Red Top as the OEM had died when the dealer was closed. The Tech at the dealer said, and I quote:
"You bought a Red Top. GM won't pay for that. It's a good battery". Read into that what you will.
I wouldn't buy another AC Delco battery.
Last edited by DeeGee; 11-02-2007 at 02:31 AM.
11-02-2007, 05:54 PM
#46
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CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
BC
11-02-2007, 11:22 PM
#47
AGM battery. That $50 or so extra is SO worth it. Enough things can go wrong with these cars. Why buy a $45,000 car, then quibble about spending $150 on a battery and dumping the original one. Go to Costco, get an Optima. If it dies, go back, get another one. When that one dies, go back again and get another one.... ad infinitum. They have a 3 year full replacement or something.
Dont care if the Optima longevity sucks...as long as it does not leak, will keep on taking them back. Costco is good about that. They probably just ship them back to Johnson Controls, so they know they need to make better batteries. Personally did that. So far so good this time. Takes 5 min to replace the battery, hours and lots of money to clean up the mess of a leaked batery.
Dont care if the Optima longevity sucks...as long as it does not leak, will keep on taking them back. Costco is good about that. They probably just ship them back to Johnson Controls, so they know they need to make better batteries. Personally did that. So far so good this time. Takes 5 min to replace the battery, hours and lots of money to clean up the mess of a leaked batery.
11-03-2007, 12:43 AM
#48
Le Mans Master
11-03-2007, 04:14 AM
#49
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11-03-2007, 08:47 AM
#50
Safety Car
I've had some batteries (willard) that had a nasty habit of leaking out the caps so you should check for that too. that's why the AGM like optima & exide orbital are so good you can run them upside down and they won't leak
11-03-2007, 09:19 AM
#51
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St. Jude Donor '08
I took the 2002 OEM AGM battery out of my ZO6 and installed it into my 98 coupe. It lasted 3 more years without any issues (total of 5 years) before it started to show its age and run down quickly. I feel confident that the AGMs are fine.
On a side note. the OEM battery in my 97 F150 is 11+ years old (Truck was buily in Nov 96) and still starts the truck when I ask it. It has been drained DEAD once and charged up just fine. The truck sits for weeks at a time and starts first time without fail
BC
11-03-2007, 11:57 AM
#52
Burning Brakes
You know how "rumors" get started on the internet.
I stumbled upon this statement that somebody made
C5’s because later C5’s used a gel-type battery that cannot leak, but I believe the problem resurfaced on ’04 or ’05 models again.
If an ACDelco side post is a gel type like the Optima, what is the
difference?
11-03-2007, 12:07 PM
#53
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shim batt terminal
Read a post, or info somewhere, that stated to place a brass washer between the terminal (post) and cable end. Apparently the terminal on some batteries is recessed from the batt case. When you tighten down the cable to the post, the case acts as a puller and pulls the post out to be flush with the case. This pulling of the post away from the factory manufactured position, causes the batt acid to find its way out around the disturbed terminal. That looks like what happened in the pic's posted with this thread. Makes sense that the brass washer would prevent any pulling action upon the terminal when installing the cable to the battery. Worth checking out.
