Hey everyone,
If the search worked, I would not need to ask this question, which I'm sure has been answered numerous times.

For those that have a 96 or even a 95, with original battery, do you know how long the life expectancy is? How long did yours last before having to replace it? is your original still going strong? What exact brand did you replace it with? and could you re-post the step by step instructions for removal and the exact tools required. Thanks for your replies.


:seeya

 

even the best batteries only last 7 or 8 years in our climates :yesnod:

 

I'm pretty sure that the replacement battery of choice will be the Optima Red Top. It's a little more than a "typical" battery...but WELL worth the money!!!

So far as the replacement goes...it's pretty straight forward. The first thing ya gotta do is remove that side body panel. With the hood up, there are 3 torx screws in the fenderwell that gotta come out, one on top, and a 10 mm "bolt". There's another 10mm bolt under the panel that's gotta come out.

After that, you can disconnect the battery terminals with a 7mm (or is it an 8mm) wrench and remove the battery from the side. :thumbs:

 

I bought my 96 in October of 01 and the original battery had already been replaced with an Interstate battery. So far, no problems with this one. Dont know when or why the original was replaced since I bought the car from a dealer.


[Modified by longhorn_vette96, 12:45 PM 2/1/2004]

 

If it's original and you still have it, you got lucky. The AC Delco batteries have a bad habit of falling apart. I'm on my 3rd(maybe 4th) battery. I spoke withthe original owner, she had replaced it twice and she only had it for three years. I replaced it once, don't know about the 2nd owner.

8 years is a lot for any battery, keep an eye on it.

To replace,(I forget the exact sizes), you need to remove the screws in the wheelwell area(3 I believe), there is a 10mm on top of the panel which is easily visible, remove that, then at the bottom of the panel, you'll need an open end wrench to loosen(not remove) the bolt between the rocker and the gill panel, slide the panel out(towards you), thendisconnect the batterie and remove the hold down bolt(you'll need a fairly long extension), lift and slide the battery out.

I currently have a NAPA Gold battery in mine, been there almost 4 years and I have a NAPA spiral core battery in the other one. That one took some work to get in since it didn't exactly fit the battery tray.

 

The batteries today seem to expire without any warning.Crank up fine and then next crank they're are dead. I had my battery for around 4 yrs and was
going to replace it before it went out. I didn't and sure enough it went out while I was on the road. It also ended up shorting out and I couldn't jump start it. I just changed it in place.

 

You've been really lucky to have stretched this far. Normally a battery comes with 36, 48, and 72 months warranty. You can pretty much judge from those numbers maybe 75% would be its life cycle. (Depending on driving too, if its lots of short hops and starts and stops it won't last as long as a start then long drive and stop. Gives it a chance for a good charge.)

Changing it out is not too difficult as the others have stated.

A couple of additional notes, if your using a small rachet with your torex drive for those screws in the wheelwell turn the wheel such that the rear of the tire is inside the wheel well (left turn). This ensures the tire is out of the way.

The thing you need to be concerned about is corrosion at the terminals and under the rubber covering of the positive attach. If you have corrosion after you have the battery out, sprinkle baking soda thickly over the connections and the corrsion. The soda will neutralize the acid which is what is causing the corrsion. The fumes from the battery venting is corrosive and causes this. Also while the battery is out clean out the area in there make sure no other piece has corrsion. Rinse and let dry. It make take two applications you'll see when you rince it, if its real subborn use a wire brush on it. (This assumes you have corrsion.)

Installing the battery connections its is important to torque them. They have a tendency to work loose. 15 Nm or 11ft lbs. One nice thing about fiberglass unlike metal is if your wrench touches the wheel well when tightening or loosening the battery connections it doesn't spark :thumbs:

As far as sizes a normal set of metrix wrenches and torex drives for your rachet, and a couple extensions or one really long one to get at the battery hold down nut (its at the rear of the battery).

You might want to consider getting those corrosion preventers that you put on each of the termals. It helps slow down the corrsion.

On the single nut that is in the seam at the bottom, it only loosens. The fender only slips over it, well slides in and out better describes it. You'll see once you have it out. Use a small open ended wrench to loosen it.


[Modified by 93JetJocky, 8:22 PM 2/1/2004]

 

Some excellent hints here. THANKS all!!

 

Still have the original in mine but it loses it's charge after a couple of weeks without use. Gonna be replacing it come spring. 8 year for a battery is about normal I would think

 

Replace with Optima Red Top!

 

Thank you all very much. :seeya

 

Don't ya just luv this place? :D

 

Yeah, I do love this place! :) By the way, just for the record, I just talked with the previous owner of my vette and my battery IS the original one! and, as of yet, there is NO problem with it, it's still holding a strong charge. I was just getting prepared for when the time will come that I need to replace it. I printed out all your posts for my reference. I'm sure I'm pushing my luck, and I will replace it before Bowling Green. :seeya

 

Dealer put a new Delco battery in the car when I bought it 4 years ago...
and that one lasted about 3 years...I replaced it with an Exide....
:seeya

 

My '96 had its original battery until last Spring. I went back with the exact same Delco battery.

 

I don't know how long the original lasted, but what was in the car when I got it (and still is) is a Diehard Gold series. I can tell you this the summer usually takes a told on batteries and in the winter is when they show up with problems. :skep:

 

Just a trick... put a piece of tape over the panel and door, cut with knife... and when you put the panel back... Note: do not remove it, just move it... align the tape .... :thumbs: