Sister needs help in Des Moines
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,548
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From: Hobart Indiana
Sister needs help in Des Moines
My sister has an '04 vert. It appears that over the winter the battery died. Died as in it won't even take a charge, let alone take one long enough to get the car started so she can get it somewhere to get the battery replaced.
Is someone available in the Des Moines area who can help her out?
Is someone available in the Des Moines area who can help her out?
1st Gear
Joined: May 2025
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Said sister chiming in...Promise I'm a nice person. :-) And my brother is even nicer for trying to help me all weekend.
Last edited by leighann1; May 11, 2025 at 08:35 PM. Reason: Addition to body not enough to add another reply to post.
1st Gear
Joined: May 2025
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Check this video. Works for any dead battery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slqd73ZOQvI
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '18
Changing the battery in a C5 Corvette is SUPER easy.
Literally a 10 minute job even for a newby. You only need 2 tools.
It's ALL in this video. Leighann, you can EASILY do this yourself.
Literally a 10 minute job even for a newby. You only need 2 tools.
It's ALL in this video. Leighann, you can EASILY do this yourself.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
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From: Orlando Florida
I’m much too far away from Iowa, much less Des Moines, but I have had to deal with a dead flat battery while on a road trip.
First suggestion is AAA. If you call AAA they can and will sell and install a new battery right where you are. Fairly certain you have to be a member, but it has proven worth while to me several times over the years.
Second suggestion is a jump stater, lithium or otherwise. Once started drive to an AutoZone who will also sell and install a new battery.
Third suggestion would be to call your local WallyWorld and see if they will install a new battery at the tire/oil change center. Still need a jump starter to get there. I’ve used the Type S with good results:
First suggestion is AAA. If you call AAA they can and will sell and install a new battery right where you are. Fairly certain you have to be a member, but it has proven worth while to me several times over the years.
Second suggestion is a jump stater, lithium or otherwise. Once started drive to an AutoZone who will also sell and install a new battery.
Third suggestion would be to call your local WallyWorld and see if they will install a new battery at the tire/oil change center. Still need a jump starter to get there. I’ve used the Type S with good results:
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Do you happen to have a mobile repair shop local to you that can come to your house and change out the battery?
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Running Guns & Moonshine
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From: CT
I still learned something new. I had already known that you can recover an AGM battery by charging it in parallel with a known good battery. The detail I picked up from this was to preferably not use a trickle charger and to use one with the desulfation mode preferably and which can deliver a 10amp feed. Good details to know since I'll be bringing one back from the dead soon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
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From: North Coast
I still learned something new. I had already known that you can recover an AGM battery by charging it in parallel with a known good battery. The detail I picked up from this was to preferably not use a trickle charger and to use one with the desulfation mode preferably and which can deliver a 10amp feed. Good details to know since I'll be bringing one back from the dead soon.
As for the need here you at some point need to get your hands a little dirty or call a flat bed.
Even my wife could change a battery.
1st Gear
Joined: May 2025
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Thanks, leadfoot4. I was able to get it started with a portable charger. I currently have an appointment with one of the local Chevy dealers for battery replacement and oil change. The third one I called. I left a message for one at 8:20 Thursday morning. Haven't heard a peep out of him. The second one I spoke to at noon on Thursday. He wasn't able to tell me if they had a battery in stock and would call me back. I'm still waiting. The third one I called was crazy helpful, said he only lets his more experienced techs work on Corvettes and called me back within the hour to let me know they didn't have the battery in stock but would have it in time for my appointment this Friday. Pray for sunny skies in Des Moines on Friday!
1st Gear
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It's not that I don't want to get my hands dirty...I just have no clue what I'm doing and I have zero confidence. My battery looks nothing like the battery in the earlier video. It connects on the top and the things that are bolted on are pieces of metal at a 90 degree angle. If I had someone to guide me at each step, I would have no problem trying to do it myself.
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1st Gear
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
I agree, and that's why I invested in an Optima charger, a number of years ago....