It turned over and...CLICK.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 0
From: PA
It turned over and...CLICK.
So last night I'm washing my Vette in the shop and I go to start it to move it. It turns about 2 cranks and then CLICK everything dies. So I start playing with the battery terminals to make sure they're tight...and they were. I changed the battery only to discover the original had shorted out. Anyone else having issues as weather gets a little warmer? I know dead batteries are famous in the winter...and have also seen shorts/dead batteries in the spring. What's your experience with this if any? 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
A battery can die at any time, more often between 6 months old and whenever. The earlier crashes are, more than not, due to mfgr defects or possibly a bad alternator. The older ones tend to be caused by cell sulfate which in turn is caused by extended periods of no charging. As it flakes and builds up from the bottom, it shorts out the cell(s). You are right, winter takes a heavy toll but it can happen anytime.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The stock AC Delco battery is notorious for just dying. Mine did the same after about a year. Earlier batteries leaked which, considering the computer and some serous wiring looms are under the battery tray is not a good thing
I have Optima Red Tops in both my GM cars now.
I have Optima Red Tops in both my GM cars now.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
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Batteries are a favorite topic with C5 owners. The early cars ('97 - '00) had traditional lead acid side terminal batteries. Those batteries were notorious for leaking all over the PCM and the wiring harness located beneath the battery - as DeeGee stated.
Chevrolet switched to an AGM (absorbed gas mat) side terminal battery in '01 through '03 and discontinued it due to premature and unexpected failures. In '04 - GM switched back to a traditional top terminal lead acid battery. I haven't read of a lot of problems with those batteries.
There are a lot of alternatives - the Optima is a popular choice (either the 75/35, 75/25 or the 34/78) Red Top. Another choice is the Excide Orbital. Both of these batteries are AGM's and have very tough cases with the specific intent to reduce the chance for leaking or cracking.
Good luck, and welcome to the club!
Chevrolet switched to an AGM (absorbed gas mat) side terminal battery in '01 through '03 and discontinued it due to premature and unexpected failures. In '04 - GM switched back to a traditional top terminal lead acid battery. I haven't read of a lot of problems with those batteries.
There are a lot of alternatives - the Optima is a popular choice (either the 75/35, 75/25 or the 34/78) Red Top. Another choice is the Excide Orbital. Both of these batteries are AGM's and have very tough cases with the specific intent to reduce the chance for leaking or cracking.
Good luck, and welcome to the club!
