C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Battery life

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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 08:24 PM
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Default Battery life

A friend called and said the battery died in his 94. He's had the car over 5 years so he was not surprised. Took it out and it was original. Dated 1994. Hard to see a battery lasting 16 + years. Anybody else get close to that ??
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by JackDidley
A friend called and said the battery died in his 94. He's had the car over 5 years so he was not surprised. Took it out and it was original. Dated 1994. Hard to see a battery lasting 16 + years. Anybody else get close to that ??
That has to be a world record for an original battery in any C4 lasting that long.

16 years.

Battery deserves to be photographed.

Not recycled too.

Impressive.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 10:04 PM
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Thats a good idea. He is at work, 3rd shift. I'll see if I can get him to take pics tomorrow. I hope he didnt replace it yet.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 10:13 PM
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Originally Posted by JackDidley
Thats a good idea. He is at work, 3rd shift. I'll see if I can get him to take pics tomorrow. I hope he didnt replace it yet.
It wont be today...........

Someday when the US and now Global recession ends...............

People get along in the Middle East.............

Some sort of stability is back...............

Our C4 Coupes, Convertibles, and ZR-1 cars will be worth money again.

Who knows when.

But how many original GM batteries from a C4 will be around then ?

Likely none.

I know the battery is worthless now and cant ever be used to start a C4 again...

Who knows, someone may want it down the road and pay $$ for it on ebay.

Or just pitch it - recycle it.


Pontiac guys go nuts for such original items like that 94 C4 battery.

Be something if I could find a GM NOS battery for my 1970-1/2 Trans Am. Not a Reproduction.

One of a kind Item.

Brian
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 10:36 PM
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I just called him. Said he'd bring me the battery when he gets off work, in the AM. If he remembers, I'll post up a pic. I wonder if you could replace the acid and get a bit more life out of it ??
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by JackDidley
I just called him. Said he'd bring me the battery when he gets off work, in the AM. If he remembers, I'll post up a pic. I wonder if you could replace the acid and get a bit more life out of it ??
Maybe.
If the lead plates are not all sulfated up rock hard.
Been told then that they are a goner for good...and Rest in peace.

Excide batteries used to be in Rockford, Illinois.

Understood they made batteries for Interstate, Sears-Diehard, GM, and others.

Dont know if they are still there or not.

I used to date a girl from Rockford 20 years ago.

She worked at that Auto battery factory, how I know that factory was around.

GM used sealed batteries, maintenance free design since like 1971.

How would you get that top open safely to change out the sulfuric acid?
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 10:58 PM
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It isn't the sulfuric acid that makes the battery dead and gone. One thing that makes the battery still valuable is for guys that show their car for points. Original batteries working or not are sought after.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by JackDidley
A friend called and said the battery died in his 94. He's had the car over 5 years so he was not surprised. Took it out and it was original. Dated 1994. Hard to see a battery lasting 16 + years. Anybody else get close to that ??
Growing up in NY where it is cold we got a lot of years out of batteries. But in a hot environment like the South you could never have got away with that (16 years). Batteries in FL are good for 2 or 3 reliable years if your lucky.

Goes to show ya battery life and it's environment.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 11:07 PM
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Originally Posted by jfb
It isn't the sulfuric acid that makes the battery dead and gone. One thing that makes the battery still valuable is for guys that show their car for points. Original batteries working or not are sought after.
Yes, the original musclecar restoration guys go nuts for correct original or NOS factory batteries.

Like the Bloomington Gold Corvette weekand show and judge points - Bloomington, IL

I am that way with my Pontiacs.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 11:13 PM
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This car has around 75000 miles on it. Maybe that helps. Spent the first part of its life in Texas, the last few years in Indiana.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by JackDidley
This car has around 75000 miles on it. Maybe that helps. Spent the first part of its life in Texas, the last few years in Indiana.
Show us photos of that 94 C4 battery when convenient for you.

Brian
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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 03:18 AM
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The Napa battery in my Audi is now over 6 years old. I wonder if it being located under the rear passanger seat by the factory has anything to do with it.
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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 08:07 AM
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I got 10 years out of the Optima Red Top I replaced last year. Found the receipt taped on the battery. That is a record for me. Battery's in my vette used to last 2 years tops before that.
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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Flame Red
I got 10 years out of the Optima Red Top I replaced last year. Found the receipt taped on the battery. That is a record for me. Battery's in my vette used to last 2 years tops before that.
10 years is damn good. Ive gotten 8 years out of a couple Duralast gold and thought that was good. I hope he shows with the battery today. If not I'll start bugging him tomorrow.
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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 09:46 AM
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He just dropped off the battery. Looks to have a 1995 ?? date. Not original for a 94, for sure. Will try to get pics anyway, later today.
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Old Feb 26, 2011 | 04:42 PM
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My AC Delco battery is dated "0LN27". It finally crapped out his year. I called Delco and they told me it was made in 2000 in the New Jersey plant on November 27. I am impressed as hell. Gonna buy me another AC Delco.
Mike
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Old Feb 26, 2011 | 05:03 PM
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The last Delco battery I replaced was 7.5 years old and it still had some life in it. However, it had a fairly short chanking life of about a minute or so before it started to slow down substantially.

I think the key is to have a good battery charger like the Deltran Battery Tender + and using it on a regular basis even if you drive your Vette daily.
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Old Feb 26, 2011 | 10:01 PM
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Almost forgot this thread. Just now getting back to normal after being sick for several days. Now that Ive looked at the battery, Ive decided, no way it came in the C4. Its only 550 CCA. He really did think it was original when he called me though. It has a 1995 copywrite on the sticker, so he thought the battery was that old.
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Old Feb 26, 2011 | 10:27 PM
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You never know what you have sometimes.
Still a neat thought, running across an original battery from a C4 nearly 20 years later.
Working and starting the C4 like new. Or dead as a doornail.

Brian
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