1999corvettels1

So my AC Delco professional series battery I bought from a vendor on here is bad and out of warranty.

I think I bought that battery after seeing a tech video saying C5s need 120 Reserve Capacity, the one I ended up getting was 110 but was supposed to be 120, not sure why it wasn't 120.

Anyway, I looked up the Walmart everstart maxx 78, and it has 115 reserve capacity.

Ac Delco has better cold cranking amps.

Bill Curlee

Obtain a battery with 120 or better RESERVE CAPICITY and same or better cold cranking amps and you will be HAPPY!!

BC

Vetteman Jack

with Bill - get a battery with at least the same specs as the OEM one had.

1999corvettels1

I am not finding any with that, maybe AC Delco only makes 110?

What are you guys running?

Corvette#2

When I replaced mine, I went with an AC Delco Professional PS78. 700CCA 120RC.

If I remember correctly, the silver series specs were exactly the same as the gold series, except the warranty wasn't quite as long and it was a little cheaper.


Just saw the specs on your gold series. Weird. I just went out and verified my silver series. It's definitely 700/120RC. I bought it from a dealer like a year ago. Cost about $120.

DetroitPlac

Previous owner of my car put a Walmart battery in it. It's from 2009, and not showing any sign of slowing down, and the car has never had a battery related issue in the 3 years I've owned it.

Most batteries are produced by only a few suppliers. I've heard Walmart buys its batteries from one of the better ones. Make sure the specs line-up with factory and you'll be fine.

DDaaryl

There are only a few battery makers in this country. One is Johnson Controls and they make Walmart batteries. I have one in my C5 vert, no problems. Suppliers put different labels on the same battery. One day it's Walmart, later Die Hard, maybe Excide, Advance Auto, all the same stuff. Starting a Chevy V8 does not require a $200 battery. Most are not in use during sub-zero temperatures. The yuppie fancy colors look great in the car shows but are unnecessary unless you love spending money.

MikeG37

100%

Velocity_Vette

I don't know if it's available any longer with Sears having declared bankruptcy but I have a Die Hard Platinum in my C5. It's rated at 135 RC, which as has been mentioned above you REALLY need a battery with at least a 120 RC rating, especially from a longevity standpoint. That battery has been going strong for the past seven years.

I would imagine you could find a similar battery in the 120-135 range; Wal-Mart, Duralast, etc. Indeed unless you want some bragging rights at a car show there's really no reason to chunk out major change for a fancy battery, especially when often they don't have the proper RC capacity for the C5.

JR-01

Did you know AGM batteries have the same sulfuric acid in them as regular batteries?
Regular batteries are not often leakers. If they freeze and the case cracks, they will leak. I have never had one leak or know of anyone that did in 50 years of driving.
If you use a battery tender when you don't drive for a week or two then the minutes really don't matter.
Cold cranking capacity only really matters if you start it in really cold weather. Since my car starts instantly and I don't start it below 32 degrees the cold cranking amps are not a factor.
I have used an Exide non AGM on an acid absorbing mat for 5 years and it has performed flawlessly. I remove it over the winter and store it in the basement so it does not freeze. No need for an expensive AGM for me.

Cutlassmaster

I bought one from Advance Auto Parts. AutoCraft Platinum AGMBattery, Group Size 78, 740 CCA is what I believe it is. It is a AGM battery. I had a $20 off reward and then had a 30% off up to $50. So I paid like $120 or $130 out the door. The CCA says 925 and RC is 115. I've had no issues with it and in fact, bought the same type for my other 4 cars. Right now code SCW357 will get you $50 off. Good luck in choosing!
Chris

knewblewkorvette

I use the 34/78 but Optima's website says 75/25 for C5s.

I think anybody using a lead acid battery in their C5 is just plain nuts. My reason, read what 8VETTE7 said. Many C5 owners have had thousands of dollars of damage trying to save a few bucks on a battery

GUSTO14

I replaced the battery (Exide Orbital AGM) in my 2000 hardtop a few years back with another AGM for some of the same reasons mentioned above. I swore off of AC Delco's after one leaked in another vehicle back in 20001 and had one leak in a C4 around 2008.

At the time Exide, my preferred AGM battery, was going through a reorganization and was not selling AGM's. I chose the Interstate MT7 AGM. It fits perfectly, the price was good and it came with a 48 month free replacement warranty. I have had almost all of my AGM's last 10 years so I'm comfortable paying extra for an AGM.
It doesn't have the reserve capacity I would have liked, but it has performed flawlessly and I fully expect it to last as long as the other AGM's I've owned.

Exide is back selling AGM's a well, the Exide Edge which I will probably return to in the future.

Good luck... GUSTO

Omaha Flash

The Wal*Mart battery will do just fine. I installed one a year ago that has 800 cca and that is more than enough for the C5. Heavy duty pickups don't even require that much battery and I doubt that living in Arizona you have to deal with much cold weather related starting issues.

JR-01

I talked to a retired GM mechanic about the leaking battery issue. He remembered replacing a couple PCMs back when the C5s were new. All of them were caused by the same thing. People would buy new C5s, park them for the winter without disconnecting the batteries. Since C5s have a parasitic battery drain, the batteries would drain and the dead batteries would freeze, cracking the case. He told me not to leave the battery in the car over the winter and I would be fine. I put a mat under the battery just in case and have not had a problem. Most C5 owners have not had a problem with leaking batteries.

knewblewkorvette

True, most haven't but there sure is allot of them.
Personally, I don't want to be one of them.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rchid=66032435

dbgoodwin

Just because the batteries are made in the same plant doesn't mean that it's the same battery. I had a walmart battery that came in my car, but I replaced it with an optima within a year. The walmart started the car just fine but since I leave my lights up during short stops into restaurants or stores at night I noticed it was starting pretty slowly after 15-20 minutes with just my parking lights on. it was about 2 years old at the time, current optima will sit for an hour+ with the parking lights on without causing a slower crank.

Based on you cheaping out with all your accessories and maintenance items I'm not surprised you think all mods are crap... you probably bought all the cheapest stuff you could get

In reality guys, its maybe a $25-$50 difference if you buy on sale. Spending that much extra every 6 years for assurance that you won't have an issue is a no brainer.

Randy_in_MD

My first reaction was that putting a Walmart battery in a corvette is like putting a Spidel band on a Rolex watch.

My second reaction was that I would probably do both.

ninety6

I've used several Everstart Maxx batteries. I had one my garage queen (2002 Camaro SS) -- and after i let the battery die totally a few times (maybe 3 or 4?) the battery gave out. However, it was replaced under warranty, I bought a battery tender jr to keep on it, and I've had that battery since 2008. Still as strong as it was then. Battery tender is on it almost always, unless i'm driving it. If i drive it more than once a week i leave the tender off, but generally don't leave it off for more than a couple days without driving the car.

The other walmart batteries i had i don't remember anything in particular about -- but, i never had any problems...

GUSTO14

No offense intended JR, but the retired mechanic had to be blowing smoke, or he retired in the very early 2000 time frame.

Around 2002, my Brother-in-law had a 3-year old Tahoe (with the side terminal Delco battery) that he drove daily. It spilled acid out of the side terminals all down through the battery box onto the frame. He started having electrical issues (related to the acid) and took it to the dealer he bought it from. The battery box was shot and the paint was gone from the frame where the acid washed over it. They told him sorry the truck and battery were out of warranty, but they would gladly sell him a new battery at a discount.

By the time I bought my C5 in 2004, this Forum was full of complaints of AC Delco batteries leaking down on the PCM. GM even started using an AGM in the C5 around '02 or '03 for a year or two and then claimed to have fixed the problem with the wet cell batteries. (They switched to a top terminal battery in the Corvette.) A year or two later I bought a new AC Delco battery for my C4 and within a year acid was leaking from the side terminal. Fortunately I had an acid absorption pad under it and caught it in time.

It will be a cold day in Hades before I will ever get stuck with another Delco battery.

Never-the-less, I do sincerely hope you never have any issues with a lead acid battery leaking in your C5. The results are not pretty, or inexpensive.

Good luck... GUSTO