Battery Maintenance
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 693
From: Lagrange KY
Battery Maintenance
Hi folks. It’s been a while. Former C5 owner here. Had an 98 Coupe, an 01 Convertible and an 04 Coupe, all before learning about this forum. Then moved on to a C6 and finally a C7. Have loved them all! Anyway, I’ve got a lead on another nice 04 coupe and am thinking about returning to the fold. Would just be a fair weather toy, with limited use during the winter months.
Now to my question. On my previous C5’s, I always ran into the issue of weak or dead batteries during the winter months. At the time I didn’t have a maintainer. Solved that issue on my C6 and C7 by purchasing one and connecting it using the cigarette plug adapter thru the hot accessory port on the console of the C6 and in the right hatchback area of the C7. Found that much easier than raising the hood and attaching the alligator clips to the battery’s terminals. Was wondering if the C5 has a similar hot port that can be used for that?
Now to my question. On my previous C5’s, I always ran into the issue of weak or dead batteries during the winter months. At the time I didn’t have a maintainer. Solved that issue on my C6 and C7 by purchasing one and connecting it using the cigarette plug adapter thru the hot accessory port on the console of the C6 and in the right hatchback area of the C7. Found that much easier than raising the hood and attaching the alligator clips to the battery’s terminals. Was wondering if the C5 has a similar hot port that can be used for that?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 741
Likes: 329
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Not to be "that guy" but don't buy cheap battery (like DieHard or Duralast). Delco's are a step up and I prefer Interstate. If you can get an Optima of course go for that.
Another thing I will be doing since I used to rebuild alternators and starters will be replacing that darn Valeo (junk) alternator with a Bosch.
Another thing I will be doing since I used to rebuild alternators and starters will be replacing that darn Valeo (junk) alternator with a Bosch.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 693
From: Lagrange KY
I tried to keep the cars as original as possible and used OEM Delcos as replacements. Didn’t seem to matter. Three or four weeks of inactivity in the winter and they all got very weak or went dead. Learned the secret on the C6 and C7 was to use a maintainer! Figure that would have solved my problem with the C5’s had I known.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,017
Likes: 7,323
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I keep my C5 plugged in year round with a Duracell AGM and a plain ole deltran battery tender. I just leave the hood unlatched when not driving it and hook it up via battery tender pig tail. I don't see using the hood on an occasional basis to be annoying at all.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 693
From: Lagrange KY
Didn't say it was annoying. Really not that big of a deal. Just seemed a bit more cumbersome than simply plugging into an accessory outlet. But to each his own. I always feared one of the alligator clips (they’re pretty small) might pop off a terminal and perhaps short something out. But I’m not the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to electrical stuff.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
An AC Delco battery is identical to an Autocraft sold at Advance Auto, or an EverStart sold at WalMart.... And Interstate? They're just a distributor now.
Last edited by Stingroo; Oct 23, 2020 at 02:56 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
was it diehard? No.. duralast? No....
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 741
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2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Making the assumption that all car batteries are "practically the same except for Optima" is a pretty ridiculous statement. That would be like saying a Ford Fiesta is the same as a McLaren because they have all the same basic parts of what makes a car go.
Also, are you saying there is no such thing as an Interstate battery?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
No, I'm not saying there's no such thing as an Interstate Battery. You obviously didn't read what I wrote. And I can tell you, they are identical. Interstate comes to my job with blank black batteries and puts stickers on them to have the branding we tell them to have.
You can believe what you want based on experience, but there is obvious actual verifiable fact that they are the same. In fact, I have a few of the stickers on my desk right now.
You can spend money on a name if it makes you feel better, but it is the same. Your Fiesta to McLaren analogy is irrelevant.
You can believe what you want based on experience, but there is obvious actual verifiable fact that they are the same. In fact, I have a few of the stickers on my desk right now.
You can spend money on a name if it makes you feel better, but it is the same. Your Fiesta to McLaren analogy is irrelevant.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Here, maybe pictures will help you:
AC Delco AGM:
Autocraft AGM:
You're buying a sticker and a warranty. That's it.
The best overall value in AGM batteries right now is the Duracell brand (sold at Sam's Club). It's a DEKA battery with a Duracell sticker on it. Nothing more. But a longer warranty - and cheaper.
But anyway - OP's question was about chargers and location. Center console 12V port is the way to go there.
AC Delco AGM:
Autocraft AGM:
You're buying a sticker and a warranty. That's it.
The best overall value in AGM batteries right now is the Duracell brand (sold at Sam's Club). It's a DEKA battery with a Duracell sticker on it. Nothing more. But a longer warranty - and cheaper.
But anyway - OP's question was about chargers and location. Center console 12V port is the way to go there.
Last edited by Stingroo; Oct 23, 2020 at 03:18 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 741
Likes: 329
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Interesting....
https://reviewjam.com/best-car-battery/
https://oards.com/best-car-batteries...d-hot-weather/
https://globalgarage.org/best-car-battery/
https://www.consumersearch.com/home-...-car-batteries
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/best-car-batteries/
https://www.maintainyourride.com/best-car-battery
The high-end DieHard makes some of the lists. One battery you don't see on any of these? Duralast. Shocker.
Lots of mention of Delco and Optima though - but what do I know?
https://reviewjam.com/best-car-battery/
https://oards.com/best-car-batteries...d-hot-weather/
https://globalgarage.org/best-car-battery/
https://www.consumersearch.com/home-...-car-batteries
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/best-car-batteries/
https://www.maintainyourride.com/best-car-battery
The high-end DieHard makes some of the lists. One battery you don't see on any of these? Duralast. Shocker.
Lots of mention of Delco and Optima though - but what do I know?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
My thought, just replace the battery every 4-5 years regardless of whether it is causing any problems. I do not go for the high end batteries. I have bought Walmart/PepBoys/Advance Auto in my cars using the 4-5 years replacement strategy since I consider a battery a maintenance item like getting oil/filter change every year regardless of my miles driven. After being stranded in the middle of nowhere with wife and no cars around for a jump start, it taught me not to squeeze out every last year of service from a battery. JMHO.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 601
Likes: 79
From: Georgia
I decided that my Die Hard battery was getting too old, so I bought a red top Optima last year. When the guys at the parts store took out the old battery, we could all see that it had swollen and ruptured the casing. Fortunately, nothing had leaked out.
Last edited by captaineddie; Oct 23, 2020 at 07:35 PM. Reason: Misspelled word
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 681
Likes: 275
From: Cincinnati Ohio
I buy Interstates from Costco because they have an extended year warranty with the Costco Citi Visa card and the last one I bought had a 42 month Factory warranty. My battery died after the factory warranty and within the Visa card extended warranty and I got a full refund from Citibank.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 166
Likes: 66
From: Tijeras, New Mexico
I do exactly this as well.