Battery
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 115
Likes: 17
From: Summit,Il
Battery
So I have a question for you. A lot of people on hear talk about that they would never put a lead acid battery in their vettes. they would only use a AGM battery. They are afraid the lead battery will crack and leak.
I'm 67 years old and have replaced many batteries here in cold Chicago, I have never had a battery crack or leak in any vehicle I owned. l have talked with a lot of guys my age and they told me the same thing. 1 guy did say he had a cracked battery but he said he dropped it by mistake.
So how many of you guys actually had a battery leak or crack?? very curious. I have used walmart batteries for a long time and have never had a leak. I was talking to some guys at acorvette show and they have the Walmart battery in their care. Said they had several and never an issue.
So I guess I would like to know how many of you ever had a cracked or leaking battery and what tpye and make was it.??
I'm 67 years old and have replaced many batteries here in cold Chicago, I have never had a battery crack or leak in any vehicle I owned. l have talked with a lot of guys my age and they told me the same thing. 1 guy did say he had a cracked battery but he said he dropped it by mistake.
So how many of you guys actually had a battery leak or crack?? very curious. I have used walmart batteries for a long time and have never had a leak. I was talking to some guys at acorvette show and they have the Walmart battery in their care. Said they had several and never an issue.
So I guess I would like to know how many of you ever had a cracked or leaking battery and what tpye and make was it.??
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 375
From: San Jose, CA
The C5 specifically has had issues with traditional batteries. It doesn't cost much more to eliminate that risk so the current mindset is to just get the nicer battery and never worry about it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
These are the first 3 hits from a quick search I just did. I definitely don't want to risk it 
Last edited by GCG; Mar 26, 2019 at 07:12 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
AGM batteries are lead acid. They just have fiberglass mats that soak up the acid. And they do leak. There was a recent post about a leaking AGM. If you are worried, get yourself a battery mat.
www.batterymart.com/p-battery-mat-black.html
When I bought my C5 I talked to a retired GM service manager about the leaking battery problem. He said most were caused when customers put their c5s away for the winter without disconnecting battery or using a battery tender. The battery would go dead and freeze, cracking the case. They replaced quite a few like that.
www.batterymart.com/p-battery-mat-black.html
When I bought my C5 I talked to a retired GM service manager about the leaking battery problem. He said most were caused when customers put their c5s away for the winter without disconnecting battery or using a battery tender. The battery would go dead and freeze, cracking the case. They replaced quite a few like that.
Last edited by JR-01; Mar 26, 2019 at 07:49 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
So I have a question for you. A lot of people on hear talk about that they would never put a lead acid battery in their vettes. they would only use a AGM battery. They are afraid the lead battery will crack and leak.
I'm 67 years old and have replaced many batteries here in cold Chicago, I have never had a battery crack or leak in any vehicle I owned. l have talked with a lot of guys my age and they told me the same thing. 1 guy did say he had a cracked battery but he said he dropped it by mistake.
So how many of you guys actually had a battery leak or crack?? very curious. I have used walmart batteries for a long time and have never had a leak. I was talking to some guys at acorvette show and they have the Walmart battery in their care. Said they had several and never an issue.
So I guess I would like to know how many of you ever had a cracked or leaking battery and what tpye and make was it.??
I'm 67 years old and have replaced many batteries here in cold Chicago, I have never had a battery crack or leak in any vehicle I owned. l have talked with a lot of guys my age and they told me the same thing. 1 guy did say he had a cracked battery but he said he dropped it by mistake.
So how many of you guys actually had a battery leak or crack?? very curious. I have used walmart batteries for a long time and have never had a leak. I was talking to some guys at acorvette show and they have the Walmart battery in their care. Said they had several and never an issue.
So I guess I would like to know how many of you ever had a cracked or leaking battery and what tpye and make was it.??
There is less risk with an AGM battery also the C5 runs much hotter than any other GM Car by design. it runs in the 190 to 230 F range making the under hood temp much higher than most any other battery has to endure. So a C5 should have a battery more designed to handle the heat and not dump 16 20 20 ounces of acid on the PCM and a dozen vacuum lines and a harness
Bill aka ET
IN both cases the leak was just a seep.. and never made it down to the tray.. problem is leaking acid is very explosive,
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Mar 26, 2019 at 08:20 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
What you do is place the battery in the tray as far forward as possible ( toward the front of the car.. then slide to the back of the tray. once seated in the back you can test to see if you got it in the right place by trying to lift the back upward.. you will know if you've got it right... Once in the rear slot you just bolt down the adjustable front hold down.
You dont have to take it out.. just take out the hold down bolt and slide it back as far as it will go, then bolt it down in the front.
You dont have to take it out.. just take out the hold down bolt and slide it back as far as it will go, then bolt it down in the front.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Mar 26, 2019 at 08:17 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
I think the OEM Delco leaked and fried the PCM
When I bought the C5 it was 2 years old. I drove it 1 week and got a check engine light. The PCM under the battery was fried by battery acid. The hard vacuum line controlling the HVAC actuators was melted. The Delco battery was the reason. For the last 17 years I have been using Sams Club batteries. The last few have been sealed with no way to add any water. No leaks from any of them.
Have heard some horror stories about the overrated Optima high cost batteries. If you are scared about acid leakage spend $10 for a acid protector mat on Fleabay and put it under the battery.
Have heard some horror stories about the overrated Optima high cost batteries. If you are scared about acid leakage spend $10 for a acid protector mat on Fleabay and put it under the battery.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,217
Likes: 784
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
Personally I have owned over 100 vehicles and had only one battery crack. It was very old and left in the car during 20 degree below zero temperatures. I have never seen a healthy fully charged battery crack or leak in the last 45 years. That being said when it was time to replace my C5 battery I went right to Walmart and got change from my $100 bill. There are only a few companies making batteries here in the US and companies like Johnson Controls put different labels on them for marketing purposes. The colorful expensive units look great at the car shows however.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,015
Likes: 7,321
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
On my lawn tractor? yes. Almost every year.
On cars and boats no.
That being said, I just swapped out my wally world battery on the C5 for an AGM battery. Was it necessary? really probably not.
On cars and boats no.
That being said, I just swapped out my wally world battery on the C5 for an AGM battery. Was it necessary? really probably not.
Last edited by Mr. Black; Mar 26, 2019 at 11:03 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 4,529
Likes: 41
From: CA
C5 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
St. Jude Donor '19-'20
I had a dead Walmart battery so I walked in the store and bought some electrolyte. Started to pour the acid out in the parking lot and it was melting the asphalt. Took it the open battery into a laundromat and poured the acid down a metal sink OMG it shocked the holy crap out of me! Dropped the empty battery on the floor but it didn't crack, filled it up with electrolyte put the tops on hooked it up and away I went. Battery acid is nasty
Last edited by coletrickle35; Mar 27, 2019 at 12:40 AM. Reason: Misspelling
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 275
From: Wichita Falls Texas
I just turned 70 on the "ides of March" so I know a few things too. Not much but a few.
I do know, after reading this forum, that if a battery leaks in a C5 the acid will cause a ton of damage to the electronics.
Why chance it? Put in an AGM and forget about it.
Having said that, I'm not sure I would pull out a fairly new battery and spend the money on a new AGM but if my battery needed replacing I would certainly replace it with an AGM.
Just my thoughts,
Good luck!
I do know, after reading this forum, that if a battery leaks in a C5 the acid will cause a ton of damage to the electronics.
Why chance it? Put in an AGM and forget about it.
Having said that, I'm not sure I would pull out a fairly new battery and spend the money on a new AGM but if my battery needed replacing I would certainly replace it with an AGM.
Just my thoughts,
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I had a dead Walmart battery so I walked in the store and bought some electrolyte. Started to pour the acid out in the parking lot and it was melting the asphalt. Took it the open battery into a laundromat and poured the acid down a metal sink OMG it shocked the holy crap out of me! Dropped the empty battery on the floor but it didn't crack, filled it up with electrolyte put the tops on hooked it up and away I went. Battery acid is nasty
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 675
Likes: 195
From: Green Oak Township, Michigan
Im 73. Ive never had a battery crack or leak in my life. At present, I have 3 pickups and 3 cars laying around .. Ive had a lot of batteries. They just go dead. At which point I change them. Ive had a few 5th wheel RV batteries also. Actually 5. I think that I will just stick to my $120 batteries.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,263
Likes: 4,577
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
I have the AutoCraft Platinum AGM Battery. It listed for around $179 less 30% off with their online coupon, came to $125. Do a search for Advance Auto discount codes. To me it's worth spending a few dollars more on an AGM battery for peace of mind. It doesn't matter who's name is on the case as long as it's an AGM battery.