Battery.......
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 139
Likes: 12
From: Houston Texas..
Battery.......
Need a Battery for my 99,FRC....Dont drive it much, have a Trickle charger on it all the time...Last 6 years, been using the red top Optimal batters..There ****..Want a battery that will LAST?...Thanks....
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 677
From: Avon Lake OH
This should be in the Tech section, but...
Read these treads, but I would recommend a group 78 AGM battery
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-a-c5-z06.html
Read these treads, but I would recommend a group 78 AGM battery
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-a-c5-z06.html
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 200
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
6 years on these cars is awesome. My Optima in my 99 just turned 6 and still going. It has outlasted everything else I've used by at least 18 months. I've owned the car 14 years.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,502
Likes: 471
From: Douglas County WI
Yes. six years is probably over expected life, although I had an OEM AC Delco battery in a 99 Grand Prix that lasted 11. That car is hardly driven and has a tender hooked up all the time.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 207
Likes: 15
From: Southeast Tennessee
My first car had a interstate battery that lasted 12 years. Skip years ahead and I purchase an Optima red top for my C5. It lasted 4 months. They made it up but the replacement made it 9 months. You would think for the price you would get peace of mind. I'm sure people out there has had great luck with them and think they are the best thing ever. This is just my opinion with the experience that I've had. Also a friend told me not to buy it. Sometimes you have to make your own mistakes. My c5 now has an interstate battery with no issues for 4 years.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,338
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Batteries are a car maintenance item just like oil. How many of us stretch changing the oil to the maximum time/millage and over. I learned that changing the battery every 5 years or before prevents the no start issue.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Saying that you want a battery to “last” is a pretty loaded sentence. What is considered lasting to you? Practically speaking there are only about 3 or so manufacturers of batteries that are just rebranded.
Last edited by STRMLNE; Jan 5, 2020 at 11:08 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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From: Iowa
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,338
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From: Whittier California
I have an Interstate battery in my Vette now. I had a Optima Red Top battery in my Vette but because I only drive the car on weekends, the battery would drain down and my radar detector would show "low volts". If you drive your car daily, this probably won't happen.Hope this helps.
Navigator
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I currently run a Duracell agm from Sam’s Club, it’s goin on 6 years as well but it stays on a battery tender when not being driven. The previous battery was a optima red top and it had to be replaced twice under warranty before I switched brands. Although this car maybe gets 3000 miles a year put on it max.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I had an Interstate Mega-Tron Plus (MTP) in my C5 for just over 10 years. It finally died a couple months ago so I got another one. I keep the battery connected and its on a Battery Tender Junior over the winter months. This keeps the battery at a full charge and ready to go anytime.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,573
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
I went 15 years on my factory C5 battery. Still operated like new but I won a new one at a Chevy dealers Corvette show. Would have loved to see how long the original would have lasted.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
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From: Arizona
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,573
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
I agree but I was so caught up in this I took the chance. Running AGMs in all of them now.
