Need new battery
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Harbor Freight trickle charger about $5
Skip Starbucks and hit HF. Your vette will thank you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 1
From: North Topsail Beach NC
I replaced mine last November with an Everstart Maxx from Wal-mart. Says right on the label that it's made by Johnson Controls. I want to say it was around $85.
When I was looking the best price I saw was at Costco. Unfortunately our closest one is about an hour away, and I didn't have the time to get there.
When I was looking the best price I saw was at Costco. Unfortunately our closest one is about an hour away, and I didn't have the time to get there.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Oregon Ohio
Thanks for all the replies. Found a die hard platinum series and bought it. Paid $197 plus tax. I know that is a little steep, but the four year replacement guarentee sold me. Plus I've had good luck with other die hard batteries in the past. Once again, thanks for all the replies, it was very helpful.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I replaced my redtop this year with a battery from oreilly. 124 bucks IIRC. I also replaced my pick up batt with the same type batt. The last Oreilly batt I had on my pick up lasted 7 years.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 606
Likes: 3
From: Long Island
Thanks for all the replies. Found a die hard platinum series and bought it. Paid $197 plus tax. I know that is a little steep, but the four year replacement guarentee sold me. Plus I've had good luck with other die hard batteries in the past. Once again, thanks for all the replies, it was very helpful.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,367
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
The rule of batteries is this.
Summer will kill a batt. Winter will let you know how good your battery is.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 118
From: San Gabriel Valley California
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
I also have the big Die Hard (The correct Die Hard Platinum battery for the C5 is a
P4 34/78DT CCA 880 RC 135). As the post said, Sears computer is wrong, and will reccommed the wrong smaller battery. Demand this one.
It seems to have lots and lots of power. Which C5 needs. And, a good warranty replaceable at any Sears store, nationwide.
Note:: This battery was on sale, at Sears.com, when I got mine. They matched the price in the store, even though it was not on sale in store. Check on line first.
P4 34/78DT CCA 880 RC 135). As the post said, Sears computer is wrong, and will reccommed the wrong smaller battery. Demand this one.
It seems to have lots and lots of power. Which C5 needs. And, a good warranty replaceable at any Sears store, nationwide.
Note:: This battery was on sale, at Sears.com, when I got mine. They matched the price in the store, even though it was not on sale in store. Check on line first.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Carson City NV
Some more bigger capacity battery information
Either a Group 34 or a Group 78DT are probably the biggest capacity batteries that will fit into the 04 Corvette battery tray. The cold cranking amps (CCA) for these batteries seem to range from 780 to 850, depending on the manufacturer.
The Corvette OEM battery is a smaller Group 86 battery that only has a 630-650 CCA, so it's a good move to go to the higher capacity batteries just mentioned above. All three of these battery groups seem to sell for about the same $$$$, so it is really a no-brainer to go for the larger capacity Group 34 or Group 78DT battery sizes.
While there is no doubt that the Sears DieHard Platinum battery (P4 34/78DT), mentioned by others is a high end/premium battery, I highly doubt this $206 retail price battery (4 year free replacement warranty) will have more than twice the working life of the $85-90 Group 34 batteries (3 year free replacement warranty) sold by Sams Club and Costco. The big benefit of this expensive battery is that it is a gel/glass mat design (AGM) that will not leak battery acid into your Corvette.
If you like the AGM design, you should check the in store inventory at your local Autozone, Oreillys or Pepboys store to see if they have an AGM design battery in the Group 34 or Group 78DT sizes.
The Corvette OEM battery is a smaller Group 86 battery that only has a 630-650 CCA, so it's a good move to go to the higher capacity batteries just mentioned above. All three of these battery groups seem to sell for about the same $$$$, so it is really a no-brainer to go for the larger capacity Group 34 or Group 78DT battery sizes.
While there is no doubt that the Sears DieHard Platinum battery (P4 34/78DT), mentioned by others is a high end/premium battery, I highly doubt this $206 retail price battery (4 year free replacement warranty) will have more than twice the working life of the $85-90 Group 34 batteries (3 year free replacement warranty) sold by Sams Club and Costco. The big benefit of this expensive battery is that it is a gel/glass mat design (AGM) that will not leak battery acid into your Corvette.
If you like the AGM design, you should check the in store inventory at your local Autozone, Oreillys or Pepboys store to see if they have an AGM design battery in the Group 34 or Group 78DT sizes.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 3
From: Lake Orion Michigan
I believe CCA,although important,is less of a concern than reserve capacity unless the car is used in the winter in cold climates.
Lack of reserve capacity has been linked to the dreaded colume lock problem.
Some thing to keep in mind.
Lack of reserve capacity has been linked to the dreaded colume lock problem.
Some thing to keep in mind.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I've seen lots of people say they have problems with red tops, In my experience, I would recommend them to anyone.
Bill aka ET
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 74
From: KcMo.
2018 C5 of Year Winner
I also have the big Die Hard (The correct Die Hard Platinum battery for the C5 is a
P4 34/78DT CCA 880 RC 135). As the post said, Sears computer is wrong, and will reccommed the wrong smaller battery. Demand this one.
It seems to have lots and lots of power. Which C5 needs. And, a good warranty replaceable at any Sears store, nationwide.
Note:: This battery was on sale, at Sears.com, when I got mine. They matched the price in the store, even though it was not on sale in store. Check on line first.
P4 34/78DT CCA 880 RC 135). As the post said, Sears computer is wrong, and will reccommed the wrong smaller battery. Demand this one.
It seems to have lots and lots of power. Which C5 needs. And, a good warranty replaceable at any Sears store, nationwide.
Note:: This battery was on sale, at Sears.com, when I got mine. They matched the price in the store, even though it was not on sale in store. Check on line first.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
