??? Battery Suggestions
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
??? Battery Suggestions
I have a 98 that just had its 4th battery die. The last two have been Optima Red Tops. The first Red Top died after only a few months and the second lasted about 4 years. It will no longer hold a charge. I will jump start the car and drive it for the weekend then it will sit the remainder of the week and not start the following weekend. This is a high milage 122K+ Vette but is no longer driven daily and sits in my garage sometimes for a couple of weeks. I intend to purchase a battery tender to use while the car sits but want something that will last longer. So battery ideas are appreciated.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
it sounds like the battery isn't the problem. You might want to have your alternator checked out to see if it's properly charging your battery. If it's not, you will see battery failure after rather short periods. Alternators do eventually go out. take it by an auto zone and get it tested.
if it turns out yours is bad, i have a valeo alternator for sale on the parts section.
if it turns out yours is bad, i have a valeo alternator for sale on the parts section.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I'm not in the battery market just now, but would like some feedback on the Exide Orbital as this sounds like the perfect solution for our cars. And as you stated you should buy and use a float charger.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Installed the Exide Orbital years ago in my 98 after two Delco's bit the dust. No problems with the Orbital. I do put the battery tender on from time to time if the car is going to sit for over two weeks.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 1
From: Kingsport TN
I have this battery and the only time it died was when it sat in the shop for a month w/o a tender. Now that I know about the vette's power drain issues from electronics, I keep up w/ the battery tender jr, and no more problems. Great battery and significantly cheaper than the Optima. I think NAPA has them for $110 or so.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I installed an Exide AGM battery in my 1998 a few years ago, no problems. I use a Black and Decker Battery Maintainer (set on 1 amp) on it when I don't drive it for a few days. I would recommend it.
Someone just posted on the Odyssey Battery, classifified as a dry cell, it supplies a lot of energy for 5 seconds (to start) and can be deep discharged many times. It is good for 5-10 years and used by the Military. At about $150 it sounds like a good alternative to an Optima. Read about it here:
http://www.batteryweb.com/odyssey.cfm
Here is the Corvette Forum post, he has a picture of the install:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1559180381
Someone just posted on the Odyssey Battery, classifified as a dry cell, it supplies a lot of energy for 5 seconds (to start) and can be deep discharged many times. It is good for 5-10 years and used by the Military. At about $150 it sounds like a good alternative to an Optima. Read about it here:
http://www.batteryweb.com/odyssey.cfm
Here is the Corvette Forum post, he has a picture of the install:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1559180381
Last edited by Oldvetter; Mar 2, 2007 at 07:41 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
I will pull the altenator but I think its fine as it is charging the battery now and the car runs fine. The batter is not holding a charge.
On the Exide Orbital - which one fits in the Vette: 75DT Size 9X7X8 or the 78DT 10 1/8 X 7 X 8. The 78DT has a larger CCA Capacity.
This is for the Orbital Select. The other option is the 34XCD Extreme Deep Cycle
On the Exide Orbital - which one fits in the Vette: 75DT Size 9X7X8 or the 78DT 10 1/8 X 7 X 8. The 78DT has a larger CCA Capacity.
This is for the Orbital Select. The other option is the 34XCD Extreme Deep Cycle
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 193
Likes: 4
From: Houston TX
I have found that the solution to my car sitting in garage for extended periods of time is to connect a Deltran Battery Tender Plus ( http://www.batterytender.com/ ) $60 I normally had to buy a new battery every 2 to 3 years with the car ('81 Porsche) sitting in the garage. With the Battery Tender Plus, I am now on year 7 of the battery and it is even holding a charge (going on two weeks as I use up the one year old gasoline). So even though I don't really understand how the Battery Tender works (it has 3 charging phases but being an EE I need a circuit diagram), it has saved me a bundle in battery costs. I now have a second one hooked up to the lawn tractor and generator (can be paralled if the batteries are the same). Great product, I highly recommend it. The only problem is disconnecting the unit when you want to drive the vehicle but at least the vehicle starts like I had just driven it the day before.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I will pull the altenator but I think its fine as it is charging the battery now and the car runs fine. The batter is not holding a charge.
On the Exide Orbital - which one fits in the Vette: 75DT Size 9X7X8 or the 78DT 10 1/8 X 7 X 8. The 78DT has a larger CCA Capacity.
This is for the Orbital Select. The other option is the 34XCD Extreme Deep Cycle
On the Exide Orbital - which one fits in the Vette: 75DT Size 9X7X8 or the 78DT 10 1/8 X 7 X 8. The 78DT has a larger CCA Capacity.
This is for the Orbital Select. The other option is the 34XCD Extreme Deep Cycle
Both will fit. I was concerned about fitting and I bought the smaller, but my friend has put in the larger one in a 2000 C5, and it fits just fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
it sounds like the battery isn't the problem. You might want to have your alternator checked out to see if it's properly charging your battery. If it's not, you will see battery failure after rather short periods. Alternators do eventually go out. take it by an auto zone and get it tested.
if it turns out yours is bad, i have a valeo alternator for sale on the parts section.
if it turns out yours is bad, i have a valeo alternator for sale on the parts section.
C5 parts
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 731
Likes: 9
From: Ivins, Utah
DieHard gold, that's what is in my cars.