Hi all,
I have searched for a while here, but cannot find the write-up(pics of grinded frame/repainting/all that) I've just read last night of how to deal with the leaky batt acid and how to clean it up. Can somebody please point me to the link I need so I can take care of my issue? I'd appreciate it. Thanks


Steve

 

Scroll through, the battery leak and clean up is in there.


http://rides.webshots.com/album/563571081ZKJegK?start=0

 

Check this out.









Ended up cleaning up real well. While you are in there, you might want to check out your vacuum lines for the AC controls, they might be toast.

Baking soda, good black paint and some patience and it will all be over soon. I ended up taking of the fender to make it easier.

Marc

 

Here is the link I think you are looking for

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-pictures.html

And another

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ng-on-pcm.html

Hope this helps!!!

 

I'd love to smack the geniuses at GM who located the PCM and engine harness under the battery. Real estate isn't that tight.

 

after you do the thorough baking soda thing... crc makes an acid cleaner that has a dye indicator in it to be sure you have all the acid neutralized. sand any rest you can off and then use por15 chassis paint for a really durable finish. then paint to color over that... just my (somewhat recent) experience. I also removed the pcm and wiring harness, carefully cleaned all the connectors, coated approrpiately with dielectric grease and put it back together. I went ahead and changed the vac lines while it was all apart too...

ps. Thanks huge amounts to those who posted the earlier step by steps I couldn't have done it right without you!

 

Yeah, I thought so too until I saw what you have to do to get a C4 battery out. Yeah, the computer is not below the battery, but don't you have to take off the lower right fender to get to the battery?
The C3 was no better with having the battery in the back storage compartment. That always drove me crazy with my 79.

As much as I disconnect the battery in my c5, I am sure glad I don't have to fight either one of those designs. Under the hood is where it belongs and the C5 is pretty simple to change batteries.

Personally, I think any blame goes to the cable end/battery design that wasn't right and eventually forced the post to be pulled out of the battery. So was it a supplier issue or a design issue? Either way, lots of hassle for C5 owners who are unfortunate enough to have encountered this issue.

Another big big big thanks to the info from this board to give me the confidence to fix the mess myself.

Just my $.02.

Marc

 

I like the battery location on the C5 too. That's not my nit. It's the module and harness location.

I agree the C5 battery location is more convenient than my C3 - no argument there. The designers at least had an excuse behind that C3 location - rearward shift in weight bias. That's a good thing, so instead of grumbling at the time I considered it paying my dues for a "high-performance sportscar" ha ha. Incidently, I like the C5 transmission location for the same reason. Though if I had any input at the time I would have encouraged them to make the clutch/driveshaft connection similar to the Porsche 928. Despite the transaxle design, I can replace 928 clutch in less than an hour vs. about 20 hours on a C5.

But the C5 engine electronics location is different. The expensive module and harness could have easily been located on the firewall or fender well rather than right underneath a boiling box of sulfuric acid. There's no justification I can see. It's conceivable that a battery leak could total a neglected C5 because of the cost to repair it.

Most things are done extremely well on the C5. It's why I've had one for 12 years now. The PCM and harness location is not one of 'em in my opinion.

 

[QUOTE=Cratecruncher;1576892843
But the C5 engine electronics location is different. The expensive module and harness could have easily been located on the firewall or fender well rather than right underneath a boiling box of sulfuric acid. There's no justification I can see. It's conceivable that a battery leak could total a neglected C5 because of the cost to repair it.[/QUOTE]

Great point....great point.

 

....and how many vehicles have you owned, where the positive battery post cracked and leaked? Out of all my vehicles over the last 25 years.....my C5 is the first. Just a perfect storm of issues. They had a bad run of batteries, and the PCM being located under the battery tray. Had there never been any defective batteries, no one would give a hoot ....where the PCM is located.

 

Lead-acid batteries fail all the time Lucky. The original AC-Delco in mine failed at the post without a leak. It was on battery #2 that I ran into trouble. I thought the battery was just sluggish from sitting so I disconnected it and put my trickle charger on it overnight. The next morning I discovered the battery had boiled over pushing acid out everywhere. (That battery was seriously messed up!) I neutralized it before it could do much damage but I decided to NEVER charge a battery in a C5 again! I take the extra 3 minutes to unclamp it and set it on a pice of plywood while topping up a charge. Incidently, the first battery I bought to replace it leaked all over the floor of my O'Reilly Auto store before I could get out the door with it! The store manager came running after me to warn me. The seams of battery cases can fail from shock and vibration too. Many C5's are weekend toys now with battery tenders that can fail and overcharge. An owner may not notice for several weeks if the car is stored for the winter. I've already decided my next C5 battery is going to be a gel type just for peace of mind.

EDIT: Since I'm feeling chatty today I'll also add that my DeTomaso Pantera has a similar vulnerability. The right front brake line rests on the battery shelf just behind the battery. I've heard of three separate instances of owners suddenly losing their front brakes due to a burst at that location caused by years of silent battery corrosion. Fortunately no accidents but .....