Battery (which) Replacement C5
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
While I run the AC Delco Professional 7YR battery (among the best), I agree that both the Walmart MAXX and Costco Kirkland ($60) are excellent alternatives. Among those two, I kinda prefer the Costco, as it is black in color, whereas the Walmart is bright yellow.
If you do have heavy current drains due to a high-amp audio system, then a deep-cycle battery is preferable. However, expect a shorter life span from any battery that is repeatedly drained almost completely.
If you do have heavy current drains due to a high-amp audio system, then a deep-cycle battery is preferable. However, expect a shorter life span from any battery that is repeatedly drained almost completely.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,197
Likes: 2
From: Niagara Falls NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Optima batteries suck.Go to Costco and get a Kirkland.Cheap,high rating on most consumer reports and their warranty is excellent.Take it back before the end of the warranty and you get a new battery or your money back.On top of that they don't test the battery when you bring it back.Walmart would be my second choice.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Willie Nelson Country TX
Thanks for all the responses - I bought one - since the opinions vary quite a bit I won't say what I bought - don't want to offend but Y'alls advice was appreciated and heeded. Now to install and check for any current drain and run that down if any.
Thanks again,
bojangles5169
Thanks again,
bojangles5169
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Willie Nelson Country TX
OK - You asked for it
Ok, I bought a deep cycle yellow top since I do have quite a bit of audio and guess what the lawyers wrote in to the red top guarantee "void if audio eq, amps, inverters, etc are added" or something like that. It's in the fine print of course!
Thanks again to all - - -
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa Alabama
St. Jude Donor '10
Cool. I don't have a clue as to how old the battery is in my car. I don't have any extra audio so maybe the lawyers would let me go with the red one. It would match my car.
L
L
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Willie Nelson Country TX
Gel Cells won't leak???
Last edited by bojangles5169; Jul 31, 2010 at 10:51 PM. Reason: Sp correction
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
It looks like you need a bit of battery history.......
97-00 batteries tended to develope leaks at the positive terminal. Rumor has it that this was due to overtightening at the factory.
01-03 C5s came from the factory with AC Delco AGM batteries (similar in design to the red top and Sears Platinum). They were considered to be leak and vibrationproof but were susceptable to early deaths if not kept charged via a maintainer or frequent, long-distance (7+ miles) driving. Some owners (like myself) were able to extract 7 years or more out of them.
In 2004, AC Delco switched manufacturers (now Johnson Controls, I believe) and in the process, received non-AGM batteries that featured much more robust cases. To this day it extremely rare to hear of ANY 2004 and newer batteries that leak. In other words, the sky isn't falling and you can buy almost ANY battery and NOT worry about it leaking acid. Instead of feeling that you have to spend $140, you can spend less than $100 and have a battery that'll last 5-8 years.
97-00 batteries tended to develope leaks at the positive terminal. Rumor has it that this was due to overtightening at the factory.
01-03 C5s came from the factory with AC Delco AGM batteries (similar in design to the red top and Sears Platinum). They were considered to be leak and vibrationproof but were susceptable to early deaths if not kept charged via a maintainer or frequent, long-distance (7+ miles) driving. Some owners (like myself) were able to extract 7 years or more out of them.
In 2004, AC Delco switched manufacturers (now Johnson Controls, I believe) and in the process, received non-AGM batteries that featured much more robust cases. To this day it extremely rare to hear of ANY 2004 and newer batteries that leak. In other words, the sky isn't falling and you can buy almost ANY battery and NOT worry about it leaking acid. Instead of feeling that you have to spend $140, you can spend less than $100 and have a battery that'll last 5-8 years.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa Alabama
St. Jude Donor '10
It looks like you need a bit of battery history.......
97-00 batteries tended to develope leaks at the positive terminal. Rumor has it that this was due to overtightening at the factory.
01-03 C5s came from the factory with AC Delco AGM batteries (similar in design to the red top and Sears Platinum). They were considered to be leak and vibrationproof but were susceptable to early deaths if not kept charged via a maintainer or frequent, long-distance (7+ miles) driving. Some owners (like myself) were able to extract 7 years or more out of them.
In 2004, AC Delco switched manufacturers (now Johnson Controls, I believe) and in the process, received non-AGM batteries that featured much more robust cases. To this day it extremely rare to hear of ANY 2004 and newer batteries that leak. In other words, the sky isn't falling and you can buy almost ANY battery and NOT worry about it leaking acid. Instead of feeling that you have to spend $140, you can spend less than $100 and have a battery that'll last 5-8 years.
97-00 batteries tended to develope leaks at the positive terminal. Rumor has it that this was due to overtightening at the factory.
01-03 C5s came from the factory with AC Delco AGM batteries (similar in design to the red top and Sears Platinum). They were considered to be leak and vibrationproof but were susceptable to early deaths if not kept charged via a maintainer or frequent, long-distance (7+ miles) driving. Some owners (like myself) were able to extract 7 years or more out of them.
In 2004, AC Delco switched manufacturers (now Johnson Controls, I believe) and in the process, received non-AGM batteries that featured much more robust cases. To this day it extremely rare to hear of ANY 2004 and newer batteries that leak. In other words, the sky isn't falling and you can buy almost ANY battery and NOT worry about it leaking acid. Instead of feeling that you have to spend $140, you can spend less than $100 and have a battery that'll last 5-8 years.
L
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
From: N.J.
It looks like you need a bit of battery history.......
97-00 batteries tended to develope leaks at the positive terminal. Rumor has it that this was due to overtightening at the factory.
01-03 C5s came from the factory with AC Delco AGM batteries (similar in design to the red top and Sears Platinum). They were considered to be leak and vibrationproof but were susceptable to early deaths if not kept charged via a maintainer or frequent, long-distance (7+ miles) driving. Some owners (like myself) were able to extract 7 years or more out of them.
In 2004, AC Delco switched manufacturers (now Johnson Controls, I believe) and in the process, received non-AGM batteries that featured much more robust cases. To this day it extremely rare to hear of ANY 2004 and newer batteries that leak. In other words, the sky isn't falling and you can buy almost ANY battery and NOT worry about it leaking acid. Instead of feeling that you have to spend $140, you can spend less than $100 and have a battery that'll last 5-8 years.
97-00 batteries tended to develope leaks at the positive terminal. Rumor has it that this was due to overtightening at the factory.
01-03 C5s came from the factory with AC Delco AGM batteries (similar in design to the red top and Sears Platinum). They were considered to be leak and vibrationproof but were susceptable to early deaths if not kept charged via a maintainer or frequent, long-distance (7+ miles) driving. Some owners (like myself) were able to extract 7 years or more out of them.
In 2004, AC Delco switched manufacturers (now Johnson Controls, I believe) and in the process, received non-AGM batteries that featured much more robust cases. To this day it extremely rare to hear of ANY 2004 and newer batteries that leak. In other words, the sky isn't falling and you can buy almost ANY battery and NOT worry about it leaking acid. Instead of feeling that you have to spend $140, you can spend less than $100 and have a battery that'll last 5-8 years.
this is a great post very informative thanks to the OP for asking my upcoming question
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,319
Likes: 24,777
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I've had very good luck with the Optima Red Top battery - had one in my '00 for over 6.5 years and now have one in my '03 (been there for 3 years) - no problems. I do not drive my car as a DD, so I do keep it hooked to a battery tender when in the garage.
If you use yours as a DD, the Red Top should work just fine.
If you use yours as a DD, the Red Top should work just fine.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
I'm on my 3rd battery in my 98. The OEM one was not dead but I promptly replaced because of the acid leaking issues. I used an Exide Orbital AGM model that lasted for just over 6 years of daily driven MD summer heat, winter cold and over 100k miles. I replaced it just last week with a Sears Platinum DieHard. At $180 some will say it was a waste but I justified it as:
1) It got really good marks in Cons Reports for both CCA and reserve capacity. Tested much higher than all the others.
2) Great warranty, 4 year free replacement warranty (not prorated). I intend to keep the car for at least that much longer.
3) I have extra power needs (air compressor for air horns/tire inflation) and high powered stereo.
4) Sears are everywhere in case something does go wrong.
5) Broken down by year, even if this battery lasts only 4 years the extra cost of this more expensive battery breaks down to what, $25 more per year?
1) It got really good marks in Cons Reports for both CCA and reserve capacity. Tested much higher than all the others.
2) Great warranty, 4 year free replacement warranty (not prorated). I intend to keep the car for at least that much longer.
3) I have extra power needs (air compressor for air horns/tire inflation) and high powered stereo.
4) Sears are everywhere in case something does go wrong.
5) Broken down by year, even if this battery lasts only 4 years the extra cost of this more expensive battery breaks down to what, $25 more per year?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 675
Likes: 3
From: Riverside, California
what code is the yellow top
I'm coming home for some R&R in a few weeks and want to replace my battery. Car's been sitting for the better part of 2 years now and has another (at least) to go. I've got the heavy stereo stuff too although I'm stone deaf from too many helo hours. I dread an acid leak over the brain box while it's on the trickle charger. So, which model/code of yellow top did you put in?
Padrino
Padrino
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
I'm on my 3rd battery in my 98. The OEM one was not dead but I promptly replaced because of the acid leaking issues. I used an Exide Orbital AGM model that lasted for just over 6 years of daily driven MD summer heat, winter cold and over 100k miles. I replaced it just last week with a Sears Platinum DieHard. At $180 some will say it was a waste but I justified it as:
1) It got really good marks in Cons Reports for both CCA and reserve capacity. Tested much higher than all the others.
1) It got really good marks in Cons Reports for both CCA and reserve capacity. Tested much higher than all the others.
2) Great warranty, 4 year free replacement warranty (not prorated). I intend to keep the car for at least that much longer.
3) I have extra power needs (air compressor for air horns/tire inflation) and high powered stereo.
4) Sears are everywhere in case something does go wrong.
5) Broken down by year, even if this battery lasts only 4 years the extra cost of this more expensive battery breaks down to what, $25 more per year?
There's no doubt, though that the Sears Platinum is a good battery.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 722
Likes: 8
From: N.Canton Ohio
"Keep the great GM feeling with genuine GM parts"
I replaced with AC DELCO Professional 78V6YR for $78.95.
The V Vintage series does not have the handle molded into the side case and has a nicer OE appearance.
I replaced with AC DELCO Professional 78V6YR for $78.95.
The V Vintage series does not have the handle molded into the side case and has a nicer OE appearance.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
My Experience
I had a red top Optima in my car after the first year I bought it. that was 10 years ago. after five years and no problems, I bought a second one . Its in the car now.. it sits through the winter and Ive never used a trickle charger over the winter. I still have the first Optima sitting in my garage. It never once failed me. My five year old Optima battery starts my car every time without the worry of being stuck. After having two without a problem , I would buy another one with out any concern.
This is just my experience. I may just put my 30 year old charger on my first Optima red top and just go and have it load tested , for the Halibut
This is just my experience. I may just put my 30 year old charger on my first Optima red top and just go and have it load tested , for the Halibut