Changing my battery
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 24
From: Willow Springs Ca.
Changing my battery
Well my red top died after 8 years. Going to change it out.
I can't remember if I read on here that there is any particular sequence in how the cables get hooked back up to a hot battery??
I can't remember if I read on here that there is any particular sequence in how the cables get hooked back up to a hot battery??
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Clean the terminals before reconnecting
Reattach the positive cable and torque to 15 N-m (11 lb ft)
Reattach the negative cable and torque to 16 N-m (12 lb ft)
Reinsert the battery hold down retainer bolt and torque to 18 N-m (13 lb ft)
Good to see the occasional 8 year Red Top thread. Its a good battery if it's properly maintained.
Last edited by DeeGee; Mar 29, 2011 at 02:52 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
You may lose some of your memory features with the battery disconnected. They will require reprogramming at the DIC. It's not difficult, just an inconvenience.
Or you can use an inexpensive 9v battery memory saving device which plugs into the cigarette lighter receptacle and is available at most automotive suppliers. It'll retain the memory for the short time the 12v battery is disconnected. It looks like this...
If your OPTIMA is stone dead w/o any power remaining, it might be a moot issue. You might experience some erratic electrical behavior after a new battery is installed. It happens when the battery and computer can't "communicate".
Or you can use an inexpensive 9v battery memory saving device which plugs into the cigarette lighter receptacle and is available at most automotive suppliers. It'll retain the memory for the short time the 12v battery is disconnected. It looks like this...
If your OPTIMA is stone dead w/o any power remaining, it might be a moot issue. You might experience some erratic electrical behavior after a new battery is installed. It happens when the battery and computer can't "communicate".
Some of the accessory catalogs state that the little 9v battery things that plug into the battery charger should not be used in C5's. Not sure why but I guess they have a reason for putting that warning there.
Our shop has a device that plugs into the ALDL port to save all the settings if a battery is to be disconnected for any length of time. It has a small 12v battery and we have left in plugged into a car for over 2 hours.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
I believe the reasoning behind tightening the cables first then the hold down bolt as DeeGee described, is so you can put a torque wrench on the cables by tilting the battery slightly then after torquing, seat the lip battery base near the firewall and secure the battery with the hold down bolt. Otherwise, you will not be able to get the torque wrench on the fittings.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
