Well I think the 2 ½ old battery in my 02 corvette is giving up the ghost, I got in the car to start it last night and the DIC lit up like a X-mas tree. I put a Ctek on all night and it started fine without any errors this morning after taking the Ctek off. Got in it at lunch and same thing happened it started throwing errors and unable to comm. errors with the BCM.

I was wondering what is the most popular battery to use I was looking at the optimas but it even seems hit and miss with those as well.

 

I took consumer reports.com advice and went with the Napa battery. I paid $73.00 for it with core charge. Don't waste your time on the optimas. They are a great battery if you are one of the lucky ones that does not get a lemon. Their quality has gone down the tubes as of late. Don't ask me how I know
The sears platnuim is the #1 battery but it is heavy.
Have a good one
Fireman591

 

The AC Delco 7YR Professional is an excellent battery that'll last 7 years if you keep it charged by driving at least 7 or more miles at a time. They are a bit over $100. If you want to spend even less money, two batteries are good buys - the Kirkland battery at Costco and the EverMAXX battery at Walmart.

If you are somewhat wealthy and don't mind having your car gain weight, the Sears Platinum AGM battery is an excellent performer, but at $180, it's not cheap!

Before anyone warns you about leaking batteries, the last non-AGM battery with a case weak enough to leak was sold in 2000. The only newer leaker battery I've read about here in the CF was an Optima Red Top. As you said, they are often a hit-or-miss proposition.

 

I would go with a ACDelco Professional 7YR battery with a 50 month free replacement warranty. I bought mine for less than $100. Remember when batteries cost $1 per month of warranty?

 

Optima batteries can't leak...they don't use liquid in their spiral bound cells. So, it's not a "leaker". Neither are the Exide Orbitals which also do not use liquid in their spiral bound cells.

 

Yes the C5 requires a battery. I would highly recommend one!

I have a red top... going strong in my DD for 2 1/2 years so far..

Sarge

 

Who ever said they didn't require a battery?

 

optima

 

$70 Exide 60 here, works fine with a mat underneath.

 

You might want to read this:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...a-red-top.html

AGMs CAN leak!

 

I know this issue has been beat to death but........

I have been using Optimas since they came out. If your car is a daily driver they are great. If your car sits for more than a week at a time it needs to be on a battery tender or in short order the battery is toast.

Optimas have a place in this world but that place is not in my cars any more.

I have used Optima red, blue and yellow. The affliction affects them all.

Just took a Red top out of the Suburban as it started leaking.

I can't count how many Optima warranty swap outs I have had.

I test every battery monthly on my Midtronics conductance tester.

Currently I have 4 Optimas nearing three year old mark. Three red and one yellow. If they are left off the charger then In a week the CCA's drop 10%, 25% in two.

So about two years ago I bought an Exide Orbital 34XCD - purple haze for the Pantera. Sitting for a month it tests over 1000CCA on the Midtronics.

I now use the bel motorcycle tenders they sell at Wally World on my bikes and all my cars.They work nearly as well as any trickle charger out there for a fraction of the price.

So I am converting all my Optimas to Orbitals. Just put one in the C5 two weeks ago. Purchased on ebay. What a noticeable difference in cranking.

I just purchased a Sears / Enersys Diehard Platinum 34/78. Looks like a great battery but is heavy. However can sit for a year and not lose a charge.

So my recommendation today is for the Exide Orbital 34XCD Purple haze. Will see how the Sears holds up in a year or so.

 

my vote goes to this one: http://kinetikaudio.com/hc1800.asp

 

I just had my shop replace my battery. I went to go see what they put, and to my surprise I see this BRIGHT green battery under the hood. Interstate mega-tron II. Looks pretty funny.. Not sure how good this battery is but it works fine.

 

Kinetic HC 1800, wow that is quite a battery! A little high in the price but impressive specs.

RGaz

 

Another vote for the ACDelco Professional 7YR battery with a 50 month free replacement warranty and the balance of the 7 years prorated. I paid $108. I replaced an Optima Red Top (had problems with it, finally died. Not a good battery if the vehicle is not driven daily)

 

Best battery I have ever owned and will never buy anything else. I am going on 8 years with my Interstate in the 98. I have had Interstates for the last 15 years and NONE has ever died before the warranty was up by several years. They have never leaked and never stranded me.

I don't even own a battery tender, simply never needed it.

I finally need to replace the 98's, as it is now slowly beginning to die, but if I start it at least once a week and put a few miles on it, it is good for another week.
When the battery was seven years old, I went 2 months without touching the car, and it started right up, just as though I drove it yesterday.

 

ACDelco Professional, $113.00 out the door.