Leaky battery
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Stafford Virginia
Leaky battery
While installing a new PCM this morning the technician asked me if I knew that my battery was leaking. I didn't, but sure enough, the positive terminal was corroded and there was a visible trail down to the frame rail near where the PCM is mounted :mad. He said he has seen this happen quite often on the C-5's and that the dealer will put a new one in under warranty. I'm glad it was discovered before it became a bigger problem, but the car is only 1 yr old :cuss. Anybody else?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 993
Likes: 5
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Re: Leaky battery (AF-Vette)
The original Delco battery in my 1999 C5 coupe leaked acid. It damaged the frame, wiring, wiring conduit, and the battery insulator. It took three trips to the dealer for the proper repair. The "technician" that repaired my car (3 times) stated it did not damage the computer.
The location of the battery, or the critical components below it, are a very poor design in the C5.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: Leaky battery (AF-Vette)
Took the battery out of my 99 the other day.. no leaks and no signs of leakage.. car is always garaged...out of the hot sun.. not sure if that creates a problem.. the battery looked perfect..the tray below had no sign of any leakage.,,I put in a Optima Red top anyway..
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 26
From: Cypress TX
Re: Leaky battery (AF-Vette)
I posted these pictures several weeks ago:
and of course, this was my solution...
The leaky delco (positive post) is currently in my garage, digging it's way to China!
All Corvette owners, replace your stock battery before it is too late!!!!
Lates,
Justin
and of course, this was my solution...
The leaky delco (positive post) is currently in my garage, digging it's way to China!
All Corvette owners, replace your stock battery before it is too late!!!!
Lates,
Justin
Pro
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
From: Plano, TX, Collin
Re: Leaky battery (ambitin)
Are they expensive? How hard is the install? I usually have problems locking the batteries down. Last one I replaced was one in my Camaro and one in a Mitsubishi Eclipse.
Tek
Tek
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: SE Michigan
Re: Leaky battery (Tek)
I have wiped up ooze from the battery's green eye on two occasions! I think uderhood heat is causing an overcharge condition, leading to battery "boiling over". The alternator is supposed to compensate its output based on temperature (lower output, for higher temperatures due to faster electrochemical reactions in the battery). Given the distance between the two components, the alternator probably can not accurately compensate.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,018
Likes: 0
From: MD HUGE MEMBER
Re: Leaky battery (PawlRevere2)
One word OPTIMA.
Is it fair that G.M. allows its suppliers to unload their crappy parts on us? NO!
Will they fix screwups like this and the column lock issue under warranty? Yes.
Is it worth the extra out of pocket expense to keep your car from being towed to a dealer for what may be totally incompetent repairs and possibly secondary damage? Everyone will have to answer that question for themselves. For me the answer was yes, I got an Optima battery shortly after I started reading "leaking Delco battery" posts and got a by-pass when I read all the stories about locked columns.
Is it fair that G.M. allows its suppliers to unload their crappy parts on us? NO!
Will they fix screwups like this and the column lock issue under warranty? Yes.
Is it worth the extra out of pocket expense to keep your car from being towed to a dealer for what may be totally incompetent repairs and possibly secondary damage? Everyone will have to answer that question for themselves. For me the answer was yes, I got an Optima battery shortly after I started reading "leaking Delco battery" posts and got a by-pass when I read all the stories about locked columns.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
Re: Leaky battery (AF-Vette)
Based on some previous threads it's probably not the Delco battery itself causing the leaking. The terminal bolts are being over-torqued at the factory, causing the case to crack at the terminal.
I checked mine and they were so tight I wasn't able to loosen the bolt using a box wrench. Only a socket worked, after which I just snugged them up. I'm hoping this will alleviate the possibility of leaking later on.
I checked mine and they were so tight I wasn't able to loosen the bolt using a box wrench. Only a socket worked, after which I just snugged them up. I'm hoping this will alleviate the possibility of leaking later on.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 0
Re: Leaky battery (AF-Vette)
Yup, happened to me after a year. Fried a whole bunch of stuff which was replaced under warranty. Real genius went into designing the battery above sensitive computer components!
The dealer replaced it with a Delco 6 yr. Professional. I'm wondering if anyone has had one of these leak?
The dealer replaced it with a Delco 6 yr. Professional. I'm wondering if anyone has had one of these leak?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Stafford Virginia
Re: Leaky battery (fxrhm)
fxrhm Did you ask the dealer to switch to the Delco 6 yr Professional, or did they just do the right thing? This has become a "watch closely" maintenance item for me now that I know how many important pieces are located under the battery. I am considering asking the dealer for a "credit" so I can put in an Optima and just be done with it.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 10,976
Likes: 21
From: FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Leaky battery (Silver2k)
Silver2k is correct...From what I have been told,the robot over torques the + terminal on the battery on the assembly line.It is always the + terminal that leaks.I would asume that the - terminal is manually installed as one of the last steps on the line.The problem is that this has been happening for years on all GM models...Even if they dont leak,the green dot means GO to the store and replace it with a different battery as I can assure you that the Delco is junk :smash:
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: decatur,alabama,usa
Re: Leaky battery (fxrhm)
c5 delco batteries manufacturded in mexico sux.i can not believe gm put a battery like this in a vette.i replaced mine with a red top optima because i dont trust another delco.the delcrap went dead after the 2nd week of ownership and again 2 weeks ago.dont take a chance and it could be your wife out at night in a bad location with a dead battery.take my advice and replace it NOW. :mad :confused: :boxing :cry :nono:
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 98
From: Jacksonville FL
Re: Leaky battery (c5magred2)
Has everyone with this problem had their battery replaced under warranty? I had my car into the dealer last week because the climate control wasn't working, and they informed me that the battery had a small leak in it. I was told that this wasn't covered (I have the extended warranty form GM) and that the repair would be over $100 for a new battery plus the install. I told them to forget about the new battery - that I would take care of that - but when I picked up the car, there was still a $60 labor charge for "cleaning the battery terminal." What's up? Warranty or not? Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati OH
Re: Leaky battery (99HRDTP)
Has everyone with this problem had their battery replaced under warranty? I had my car into the dealer last week because the climate control wasn't working, and they informed me that the battery had a small leak in it. I was told that this wasn't covered (I have the extended warranty form GM) and that the repair would be over $100 for a new battery plus the install. I told them to forget about the new battery - that I would take care of that - but when I picked up the car, there was still a $60 labor charge for "cleaning the battery terminal." What's up? Warranty or not? Thanks.
:mad
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Re: Leaky battery (VetteMan2k1)
Didn't notice my leak untill two months after the warranty ran out...the air control was stuck on defrost...leaking POS battery took out the vacum line & tank..did not hurt the PCM though...$270 fix from the dealer...should have done it myself! :mad
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Leaky battery (Evil-Twin)
Took the battery out of my 99 the other day.. no leaks and no signs of leakage.. car is always garaged...out of the hot sun.. not sure if that creates a problem.. the battery looked perfect..the tray below had no sign of any leakage.,,I put in a Optima Red top anyway..