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Battery Question

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Old Nov 3, 2005 | 12:29 PM
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Went to buy a replacement battery at dealer. I was advised that the 75P-7yr currently in my 2002 has been replaced with 78H-7yr. Can anyone confirm this GM update on batteries. Thanks.
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Old Nov 3, 2005 | 02:56 PM
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Why would you buy a GM battery again? Most folks get an Optima. Either a Red Top (Normal Use) or a Yellow top (For those with stereos loud enough to use as PA systems). Most folks shy away from the GM stuff because the originals had a tendency to sprout leaks and dribble down on the Harness / Module under the battery tray. Good luck whatever you decide.
I have a Red Top myself and Love It!
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Old Nov 3, 2005 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Lovin It!!! - C5
Why would you buy a GM battery again? Most folks get an Optima. Either a Red Top (Normal Use) or a Yellow top (For those with stereos loud enough to use as PA systems). Most folks shy away from the GM stuff because the originals had a tendency to sprout leaks and dribble down on the Harness / Module under the battery tray. Good luck whatever you decide.
I have a Red Top myself and Love It!
If it wasnt for the PCM being underneath the battery location, we could all run $30 wal mart batteries... I like the dry cell red top Optima!
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Old Nov 3, 2005 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Lovin It!!! - C5
Why would you buy a GM battery again? Most folks get an Optima. Either a Red Top (Normal Use) or a Yellow top (For those with stereos loud enough to use as PA systems). Most folks shy away from the GM stuff because the originals had a tendency to sprout leaks and dribble down on the Harness / Module under the battery tray. Good luck whatever you decide.
I have a Red Top myself and Love It!
The original ones that had a tendency to leak, even though my didn't, had it for 6 years, were the side-post. I haven't heard that any of the top-post have had that problem.
The battery I have now is a DieHard. Cheaper than the Red Top, and a better warranty.
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Old Nov 3, 2005 | 08:41 PM
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Thanks for the suggestions. My current battery is four years old and still ok/only problem is slightly slower cranking after sitting 5-10 days. More concerned about the age. The battery installed is the glass mat (AGM) and to the best of my knowledge this battery was designed to eliminate the leakage problems that some have experienced. I have heard of several issues with the optima, that is why I am looking at original equip.
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Old Nov 3, 2005 | 08:59 PM
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Went to NAPA and bought the legend gold series....770CCA vs. 550CCA from Delco. More is better in a battery..$65 out the door.
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Old Nov 3, 2005 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Lovin It!!! - C5
Why would you buy a GM battery again? Most folks get an Optima. Either a Red Top (Normal Use) or a Yellow top (For those with stereos loud enough to use as PA systems). Most folks shy away from the GM stuff because the originals had a tendency to sprout leaks and dribble down on the Harness / Module under the battery tray. Good luck whatever you decide.
I have a Red Top myself and Love It!
Get a Red Top 75/35 and never worry about a leaky battery again.
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Old Nov 4, 2005 | 12:24 AM
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Another option is the excide orbital amg battery. It looks more like the original battery. The battery in my 02 was 3 ½ years old and gave a hint once something was wrong. Charging fault appeared on the dic for a few seconds. One week later I drove the car ten miles, charging was normal. After returning to my car, the battery was completely dead, I could not jump-start it. A 3 ½ to 4-year-old GM amg battery is an old battery.
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Old Nov 4, 2005 | 03:32 PM
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Actually, the AGMs were designed for long life. Driving short distances is a sure-fire way to reduce the life of the battery, regardless of type. My OEM ACDelco AGM is now 4.5 years old and still cranking like it was new. Red Tops HAVE had plenty of problems, but are one of the few AGM-type batteries out there. The Excide may be a good option if you want to stick to a leakfree battery.
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Old Nov 4, 2005 | 04:36 PM
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Agreed
Happy with my excide.
Ron
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Old Nov 5, 2005 | 12:21 AM
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Had a really bad experience in my C4 with a Delco so now I use a red top Ultima in my C5.
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Old Nov 5, 2005 | 10:05 AM
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Why would you buy a GM battery again? Most folks get an Optima. Either a Red Top (Normal Use) or a Yellow top (For those with stereos loud enough to use as PA systems
The P.A. System in my 2000 Is supported buy a 1800 amp gel cell Kinetik.... You could drive the car home on just this batt. if you had too. They are a bit pricey 369.99 M.S.R.P. but it should be the last batt. you buy for a long time..
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Old Nov 6, 2005 | 12:40 AM
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Originally Posted by xlr8shn
If it wasnt for the PCM being underneath the battery location, we could all run $30 wal mart batteries... I like the dry cell red top Optima!
Except that the Optimas are not a dry cell battery. They also are not a gel cell battery as others often refer to them. According to the Optima web site, the Red Top and Yellow Top are Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. AGM batteries use a liquid acid electrolyte like other conventional lead acid batteries. The difference is that in the AGM batteries the acid electrolyte is absorbed in the glass mat which makes them much less likely to leak:

"All you ever wanted to know about AGM and Gel Cell batteries"
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