battery swap
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
No, it is just like swapping a battery on any other car. Remove your negative side (8mm) and your positive, the size escapes me but I usually use a small crescent wrench. You also have a bolt that holds it down in the front of the battery. Need a long extension to get to it, it is either 10mm or 13mm.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by dima
might be time for a new battery.wondering if there's any procedures I should follow when installing a new battery in my c5. anything need to be reprogramed?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 760
Likes: 1
From: N.W. Arkansas
when i changed out my battery on my 04 due to a bad battery, i had the gauges go wild on me for a while,, called the gm man and he said that was normal,, sure freaked me out tho,, said the car was trying to relearn everything,, thus the screwed up gauges for a while,, all fine and normal after that,, later rj
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Disconnect the negative side first and re-connect the negative side last.
You should close your doors or anything that requires power to avoid any sparks when you re-connect the new battery.
You should close your doors or anything that requires power to avoid any sparks when you re-connect the new battery.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by dima
thanks guys, how do you unlock the radio?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=164&TopicID=1
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 2
From: MCO
If replacing the batt. with an Optima, be sure to "hook" the back end of the new battery under the rear lip of the battery tray first. Otherwise, it will appear that the battery is loose or doesn't fit.
This requires tilting the batt. considerably rearward.
This requires tilting the batt. considerably rearward.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach Va
I've not used it, but there is a device you plug a 9 volt battery into and then into the cig lighter. supposed to provide enough power to keep the system from loosing memory settings, etc.
Might work on the vette??
---
Tom
Might work on the vette??
---
Tom
Last edited by 5.0 RACER; Jul 2, 2006 at 04:15 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
I've not used it, but there is a device you plug a 9 volt battery into and then into the cig lighter. supposed to provide enough power to keep the system from loosing memory settings, etc.
Might work on the vette??
Might work on the vette??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,887
Likes: 2
From: Macomb MI
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by rph b b 01
Write down your code now so you can unlock after install. 
You can purchase it here if you like.
Computer Memory Saver
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Mtns of Western NC & SW FLA
My 'O2 w/orig batt., sat all winter while we were in FL,
so it was dead as a doornail upon return. Bought one
from BatteriesPlus, plugged it in, ( < 10 mins even for a
fumble fingers), and everything worked like normal
upon fire up: no codes, no resetting the DIC options, no
radio lock up...I was expecting digital/data mayhem,
but it all worked fine. Ran the trickle charger on the new
batt for a couple days before install.
GL,md
so it was dead as a doornail upon return. Bought one
from BatteriesPlus, plugged it in, ( < 10 mins even for a
fumble fingers), and everything worked like normal
upon fire up: no codes, no resetting the DIC options, no
radio lock up...I was expecting digital/data mayhem,
but it all worked fine. Ran the trickle charger on the new
batt for a couple days before install.
GL,md
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
It's my understanding that newer GM cars don't automatically lock the radio with the battery disconnected (whether lock code was initially set by owner or not). The computer and radio communicate through the VIN(?).
My '96 GM auto locks the radio, but my '02 GM auto doesn't...not sure on my Z16.
My '96 GM auto locks the radio, but my '02 GM auto doesn't...not sure on my Z16.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Sponge Vette
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
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From: Mustang OK
Originally Posted by hotwheels57
It's my understanding that newer GM cars don't automatically lock the radio with the battery disconnected (whether lock code was initially set by owner or not). The computer and radio communicate through the VIN(?).
My '96 GM auto locks the radio, but my '02 GM auto doesn't...not sure on my Z16.
My '96 GM auto locks the radio, but my '02 GM auto doesn't...not sure on my Z16.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK@ is designed to discourage theft of your radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever battery power is interrupted. The THEFTLOCK feature for the radio may be used or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the radio is not protected by the feature. If THEFTLOCK is activated, your radio will not operate if stolen. When THEFTLOCK is activated, the radio will display LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery power has been interrupted. If your battery loses power for any reason, you must unlock the radio with the secret code before it will operate.
THEFTLOCK@ is designed to discourage theft of your radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever battery power is interrupted. The THEFTLOCK feature for the radio may be used or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the radio is not protected by the feature. If THEFTLOCK is activated, your radio will not operate if stolen. When THEFTLOCK is activated, the radio will display LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery power has been interrupted. If your battery loses power for any reason, you must unlock the radio with the secret code before it will operate.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 2
From: MCO
Originally Posted by Dave68
This was not necessary when I disconnected my battery for four hours. There was absolutely NO memory loss. Maybe 01s and newer C5s incorporated this feature? - no sure. I do know that if I accidentally leave my door open, the car will turn off power after a time period, so as to avoid draining the battery.
Plus, the same device advertised at Corvette parts sellers SPECIFICALLY has disclaimers that say NOT for use on '97 -- '06 Corvettes. It actually isn't needed. The radio and other equipment is not affected UNLESS the battery has been dead or disconnected for a long time. How long is long, I don't know. The first time I replaced the battery on my '01, it was done in less than an hour and I had no loss of stations or other environment settings. The second time, it took me 2.5 hours to get a new battery (incl. time to "try" to jumpstart the Vette -- which failed). This required unlocking the battery and resetting seats and mirror memory, etc.