C7 Battery Replacement
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 4,811
From: Camden SC
C7 Battery Replacement
I am getting ready to replace the battery in my C7 convertible. I have located the battery in the trunk and see that the positive side has a plastic cover that when I remove, has a bottom plate with several (4) smaller wires attached. If I remove the positive battery clamp, will this whole plate lift up and off? It sure is a whole lot more complex then on my other cars. Also, the vent hose looks like it is tucked in there pretty tight. Is it a bear to remove and plug back in? I am feeling a little intimidated here. I have replaced my own car batteries for over forty years, but have not run into a set-up quite like this...
Last edited by LIE2ME; Oct 4, 2018 at 06:20 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,352
Likes: 715
From: Terrell North Carolina
Here is a link with info for battery change out. It is a tough job in the Vert, as I have done it on my 2016 Z. In GM's bid to save money on the car, they installed the battery with no handle, so it is a bear to get out of a Vert. Follow the information in the attached link, take a deep breath & go slow, it will be frustrating, Doing a Vert is much harder that a coupe due to the space in the Vert. If the battery just had a handle, it would have been much easier.
See Link: http://netwelding.com/Battery_Issues.pdf
See Link: http://netwelding.com/Battery_Issues.pdf
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 857
Likes: 223
From: San Diego
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,045
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
I am getting ready to replace the battery in my C7 convertible. I have located the battery in the trunk and see that the positive side has a plastic cover that when I remove, has a bottom plate with several (4) smaller wires attached. If I remove the positive battery clamp, will this whole plate lift up and off? It sure is a whole lot more complex then on my other cars. Also, the vent hose looks like it is tucked in there pretty tight. Is it a bear to remove and plug back in? I am feeling a little intimidated here. I have replaced my own car batteries for over forty years, but have not run into a set-up quite like this...
I did our 2009 Lexus this year and had to reprogram the windows, the power roof and the radio. No big deal but the newer the car, the more computers are involved. That's why it's more important to change the battery correctly and before it fails than in the past.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,036
Likes: 17,917
From: DFW Area TX
I changed my C7 battery myself. It was disconnected for an hour, no power source to "keep the computers powered up".. All personalizations were maintained. Even the windows did not need to be re-indexed. The only hard part is pulling the battery out of the cubby hole as there is no room to get your hands in there to grab it. BTW, I paid $145 for the AC Delco Gold 42 month at my local dealer.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 857
Likes: 223
From: San Diego
I changed my C7 battery myself. It was disconnected for an hour, no power source to "keep the computers powered up".. All personalizations were maintained. Even the windows did not need to be re-indexed. The only hard part is pulling the battery out of the cubby hole as there is no room to get your hands in there to grab it. BTW, I paid $145 for the AC Delco Gold 42 month at my local dealer.
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,951
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Same here. I've replaced my own batteries for many years. But the newer cars are different. To begin with, even if you do the job, did you plug in a power source to keep the computers powered up? Most dealers do that. Then there's the block on top of the battery. I decided for the few extra dollars I'd like the peace of mind that the computers were maintained with power and someone who knows how to do it mad the change. My 2014 Lexus battery is on borrowed time. I'll probably have a garage change that one as well.
I did our 2009 Lexus this year and had to reprogram the windows, the power roof and the radio. No big deal but the newer the car, the more computers are involved. That's why it's more important to change the battery correctly and before it fails than in the past.
I did our 2009 Lexus this year and had to reprogram the windows, the power roof and the radio. No big deal but the newer the car, the more computers are involved. That's why it's more important to change the battery correctly and before it fails than in the past.
Elmer
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,914
Likes: 12,328
From: NE South Carolina
Here is a link with info for battery change out. It is a tough job in the Vert, as I have done it on my 2016 Z. In GM's bid to save money on the car, they installed the battery with no handle, so it is a bear to get out of a Vert. Follow the information in the attached link, take a deep breath & go slow, it will be frustrating, Doing a Vert is much harder that a coupe due to the space in the Vert. If the battery just had a handle, it would have been much easier.
See Link: http://netwelding.com/Battery_Issues.pdf
See Link: http://netwelding.com/Battery_Issues.pdf
I bought a higher capacity AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery that fit for ~$150. Still see them at that price at Autozone and Advanced Auto. 20% more cold cracking capacity than standard battery and they last longer.
There is a trick to getting the power board off the positive terminal and my PDF shows a pic. Love the 4 volume service manual that simply says, “remove power board” with no indication of how. Not hard but not obvious! After that it is straight forward but you’ll need a tool to lift it out of the hole. I bought a $5 strap that connects to the battery posts. One poster used two large vice grips on the posts! In either case only lift it out of the hole and place on the floor then use two hands to lift it out of the car just in case whatever tool being used slips. The AGM replacements I have seen come with handles. Agree the OEM should have! But they put in the least expensive and IMO an AGM is worth the extra cost. Note an Optima, which is a AGM battery, won’t fit as it must have the correct top shap to hold the power board. Just be sure whatever you buy says it fits a C7.
Note, lost no memory with the battery out of the car over 30 minutes. All radio presets etc worked. I did have to index the passenger window but that proceedure is simple and in the Owner’s Manual. Funny driver’s door was fine.
Last edited by JerryU; Oct 5, 2018 at 02:14 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 847
Likes: 359
From: Philo IL
I'm curious if one of those 9V devises you could pug into a cigarette lighter socket to maintain computer memories with the battery disconnected would work on our Corvettes? Would plugging it into the 12V power port on the console work to prevent any computer memory loss? They worked great on all my older cars.
Thomas
Thomas
Last edited by BB767; Oct 5, 2018 at 12:52 AM.
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,951
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
I'm curious if one of those 9V devises you could pug into a cigarette lighter socket to maintain computer memories with the battery disconnected would work on our Corvettes? Would plugging it into the 12V power port on the console work to prevent any computer memory loss? They worked great on all my older cars.
https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-300.../dp/B000GKD5Q0
Thomas
https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-300.../dp/B000GKD5Q0
Thomas
Save your money. Change the battery and re-index your windows. Re-indexing is easy, quick, and simple. You WILL NOT LOSE ANY SETTINGS.
Elmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
My dealer quoted me $142 for the ACDelco Professional 42 month battery. They want $77 labor to install. I'll do it myself in the parking lot using the netwelding instructions as posted on this forum.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,798
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)