I decided on a Kirkland battery from Costco because they were #2 in Consumers Reports and they have a 3 year no question replacement.Problem is all the batterys I saw including the one recommended for 2000 C5 have the terminals on the wrong side.I want the positive side to be closest to the motor.Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks

 

I have never heard of kirkland it might be a good battery, but the only battery i ever buy is ac delco. I have always been satisfied with them, last a long time

 

I use Advanced Gold Batteries. Never had an issue with them. Or Optima.

 

I have a Kirkland side terminal battery in my 2001. The terminals of their group 78 size battery are on the correct side for C5 applications.

Kirkland and AC Delco batteries are both made by Johnson Controls.

 

I have a cheep *** WALMART battery in my 06 Coupe and the next battery for my 02 Z will be Wal-Mart. They fit like OEM, and perform flawlessly "AND" there 0NLY $75. It also has a very good replacement warranty.

Having purchased an OPTIMA back in 03 for my 02 ZO6 and had it croak with-in weeks on installing it, the replacement OPTIMA is still working. Its showing its age but still works fine..
Having said that, it was a rather EXPENSIVE battery (even back in 03) and I don’t see that I gained any thing over a regular everyday lead acid battery.

My feelings are that we as "CORVETTE" owners get too wrapped up in fancy batteries thinking that there going to make our cars run BETTER.

I have a Guardian regular old lead acid battery in my 98 jeep that’s "8" years old and still works flawlessly. The Ford OEM Heavy duty battery in my 97 F-150 (purchased the truck in Dec 97) still worked when I sold the truck in March of 08. It was drained dead to nuts twice and recharged. It was 11+ years old and still worked fine when I traded the truck in on my 08 Jeep.

Purchase what you like but, our C5 & C6 Corvettes really do not require any "SPECIAL" battery to do it's function properly and a standard lead acid battery will function properly, wont leak and last just as long if not longer than any fancy high dollar battery.

My 2 cents

 

Sounds like the battery is correct and your car is backwards. On my 2000, the negative is closest to the engine. The service manual also shows the negative closest to the engine.

 

Thanks.I have a TTI kit on my 403 and would rather have the positive closest to the engine.You've cleared up why I thought the book was wrong.I still can't find a Kirkland with the positive on the engine side.Probably a Canadian thing.LOL.

 

Thanks for the help guys.Nothing special about the Kirkland.Just a good solid battery with a good warrenty.Lots of good batterys out there.I will never buy an Optima again!
Take care.

 

Couldn't agree more Bill.........besides as mentioned above Johnson Controls makes the majority of batteries anyhow!

 

I've had 2 on my 2000 Corvette. They carry a very good return pro-rate policy. My second one only cost $40 with the credit on the first one, which was over 5 years old.

Excellent performers.

 

Replaced the leaky Delco with a Sams group 78. If you can only use a group 75 go for it. Think the 78 is heftier. No problems except for Delco leaking acid all over the vacuum lines and computer. In any event while you are changing it give it a good bakiing soda bath with water at least a gallon or so. Removed battery tray first and then poured baking soda solution on everything under the tray and also soaked the tray and hold down and bolt before washing with clean water with a garden hose. Let it dry and repaint any metal where the acid corroded the paint.BIGHANK

 

HANK! I think you wanted to recommend BAKING SODA. Baking soda reacts /nuteralizes battery acid. The new over the counter batteries dont leak and the new delcos dont leak

 

Always use sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, to neutralize battery acid.

 

 

Hey Hank.You're not a doctor or Pharmasist are you?

 

Ahh what a great time for this thread, my 6 year old Exide Orbital just crapped out. I'm thinking about the Die Hard 50090 as ranked #1 in Consumer Reports in the 34/78 size. Yes it's a $190 battery but I also have a high powered stereo system and an air compressor to power my air horns

 

The battery has nothing to do with powering accessories once the engine is started.

 

Sure it does. If the current demand of whatever you're powering exceeds the capacity of the alternator, where do you think the extra current comes from.. thin air? The battery of course.

 

Re-read post #5 and buy a Walmart special. Good product, very good guarantee and a great price. Used them in my Vette for the last seven years.

 

You would probably need to be running an arc welder, in order to exceed the power output of a C5 alternator.