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suggestions on battery for C5

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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 12:49 PM
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Default suggestions on battery for C5

I am looking into purchasing a new battery for my 04 can anyone point me in the right direction
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 01:05 PM
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You need a group 86 top post. I just bought a Duracell unit from Sam's Club, with 690 CCA (590 CCA from OEM AC Delco) for $89 +$15 if you don't give them the old battery. Best price I could find for a better than OEM battery.

You can do a search on the forum and get widely different responses so take this for what it is worth. I've only had the battery for about 1-2 weeks, so I have no long term results and winter storage is quickly approaching here in Chicago.

I've seen others recommend Sears Diehard Gold, Optimas (albeit with mixed results/opinions), and even Costco units.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 01:38 PM
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I believe there are 2 or 3 companies that manufacture most of the batteries, so brand name isn't that big of a factor. As for the design and location of the battery tray I would recommend a battery mat no matter what you chose. I bought an Exide and have had no problems.
http://www.batterymart.com/p-battery-mat-black.html
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 02:27 PM
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I am currently running a Sears DieHard Platinum in mine. Been in there for four years with absolutely no problems.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 02:59 PM
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I put in an OEM AC Delco in the Corvette several years ago and haven't had any problems. Just recently I replaced the battery in our daily driver and picked up an Interstate (700 CCA) from Costco for $98 with a 42 month free replacement warranty. Doesn't get much better than that!
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 03:23 PM
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Die Hard Platinum here as well and works great. Those new Optima Red Tops are garbage. If you have an older one that was produced before the manufacturer moved to Mexico then its good.

Last edited by Maxx_Z06; Oct 27, 2014 at 03:46 PM.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 03:33 PM
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A vote for Optima Red Top. Those Sears batteries are garbage unless you got an older one produced before Sears began loosing money and started sourcing the batteries from oversees, then its good.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by tcrote5516
A vote for Optima Red Top. Those Sears batteries are garbage unless you got an older one produced before Sears began loosing money and started sourcing the batteries from oversees, then its good.


Somebody is butt hurt.
When did you purchase your red top?
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 04:35 PM
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Whatever you plan to buy, look at the manufactured date. Better to buy from a high volume outlet. The batteries don't sit around for as long. I'm running the Platinum. No problems, even when the car has been sitting a number of weeks - happens when there is snow on the ground.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
I am currently running a Sears DieHard Platinum in mine. Been in there for four years with absolutely no problems.
Die Hard Platinum P4 34/78DT CCA 880 RC 135 is what I have in my 04 Vert. If you tell Sears what car you want it for they'll tell you it won't fit. It fits perfectly. Interestingly enough, it appears to by an Odyssey battery made for Sears.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 05:23 PM
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I have a battery from Oreilly. A good quality battery is a good quality battery. I've had good luck with their batteries.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 06:08 PM
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Here we go, the 340th discussion of batteries for a C-5.........
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Last C5
Die Hard Platinum P4 34/78DT CCA 880 RC 135 is what I have in my 04 Vert. If you tell Sears what car you want it for they'll tell you it won't fit. It fits perfectly. Interestingly enough, it appears to by an Odyssey battery made for Sears.
Also got the duel post top and side post battery I use second set of post for battery tender plus permament connectors just plug in tender and your good no alligator clips used.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
I am currently running a Sears DieHard Platinum in mine. Been in there for four years with absolutely no problems.
Same here. This big battery has 850 CCA (Cold Cranking Amps). C5 Corvette is hard on batteries. What ever brand you get, buy a big powerfull battery.

Don
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Maxx_Z06


Somebody is butt hurt.
When did you purchase your red top?
Not hurt at all! That's just my opinion much like yours regarding Sears....where you butthurt by a Redtop in the past? For the record, I have nothing against Sears batteries because I have no experiance with them.

I have a 10+ year old yellow top, a 4-5year old red and a 4 month old red, all performing with no problems. The 10 year old still starts no problem but I haven't really worked it to see how much reserve is actualy left.

My opinion is whatever you choose just make sure its AGM (Sears sells these too) and I wouldn't talk too much trash about Optima unless you really have the experiance to back it up. In my experiance, if you treat them well they will more then offset the increased cost over time.
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Old Oct 27, 2014 | 08:12 PM
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Must be that time of year - asked the same question myself about a month ago
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 08:32 AM
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At a Paul Koerner seminar at Funfest a couple years ago he made a recommendation.

Due to the small (but normal) discharge that happens with our cars and sitting for a while, he recommended a 120 RC or more. The intention was to avoid the low voltage problems that can happen after sitting a while (like the column lock and other problems.)
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
I am currently running a Sears DieHard Platinum in mine. Been in there for four years with absolutely no problems.
Me too! Its been good to me.
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 11:39 AM
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I just put in a Sears Diehard Platinum 34/78 DT. Supposedly it is made by Odyssey battery and is the same as theirs but at a cheaper price. I do have to say that I had a Optima redtop for about 12 years.
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 12:14 PM
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I put an Optima Red Top in mine last July. Good battery but a little pricey. I bought it online at Advance Auto Parts so I could use some promo codes. I ended up getting $50 off the shelf price then just went and picked it up at the store.
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