Battery question
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 84
Likes: 18
From: Itasca, Illinois
Battery question
I just bought a 2014 C7 and not sure if it has the original battery. The manual has next to no info on the battery. Does anyone know what the original equipment battery is? Any other way to tell if it is the factory original? A new battery installation is not shown on the GM service history report.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,041
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
The OEM battery is a AC Delco, 36 month battery. It should have a date code somewhere, but you might have to remove it to find the date code. It's not unheard of for a 2014 to still have the original battery. I replaced mine after 4 1/2 years and it was still working fine. But I didn't want to come out after driving somewhere and find a car that wouldn't start.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,340
Likes: 2,084
From: Lehigh Valley PA
When in doubt...swap it out... The C7 is so dependant on its battery - for the $150 / $180 someone will charge you for one to install - its cheap insurance / peace of mind for your 2014. It gives you 3+ years of not having to even think about it. Just keep it on a battery tender when not in use - especially if you store it away over the winter months.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,756
Likes: 24,681
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
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 414
From: Germantown Maryland
Thinking about proactively replacing mine sometime this year, too. I am liking the aftermarket AGM types that are widely available from the usual retailers. AC/Delcos seem to be pretty good but they don't have handles which makes replacement tougher than it needs to be... unless you have a battery grabber. Most of the aftermarket ones I have looked at do have handles.
Last edited by raylo; Jun 3, 2019 at 07:12 AM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 84
Likes: 18
From: Itasca, Illinois
When in doubt...swap it out... The C7 is so dependant on its battery - for the $150 / $180 someone will charge you for one to install - its cheap insurance / peace of mind for your 2014. It gives you 3+ years of not having to even think about it. Just keep it on a battery tender when not in use - especially if you store it away over the winter months.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,599
Likes: 12,857
From: Virginia
Thinking about proactively replacing mine sometime this year, too. I am liking the aftermarket AGM types that are widely available from the usual retailers. AC/Delcos seem to be pretty good but they don't have handles which makes replacement tougher than it needs to be... unless you have a battery grabber. Most of the aftermarket ones I have looked at do have handles.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 414
From: Germantown Maryland
Yes I have a lift strap. But there are plenty of good batteries that have handles so all things being equal go with the handles. No telling where you might be next time you need to swap the battery.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,908
Likes: 2,700
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
Sure you can use the strap that connects to the battery terminals to get the battery out. BUT the battery terminals are not centered on the battery, they are set to one side of the battery so using that "strap" tilts the battery when you try to lift it out and the battery compartment and that compartment is very, very tight. A battery with "handles" is much easier to install and/or replace. All things being equal get a battery with handles.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,865
Likes: 12,297
From: NE South Carolina
I just bought a 2014 C7 and not sure if it has the original battery. The manual has next to no info on the battery. Does anyone know what the original equipment battery is? Any other way to tell if it is the factory original? A new battery installation is not shown on the GM service history report.
I replace my 2014 with a AGM with 760 CCA (cold cracking amps) versus OEM with only 565 CCA. Paid less than $150. Autozone, Advanced Auto sell they now. I bought a Diehard.
Below is some composite info I made from the 4 volume Service Manual.
Last edited by JerryU; Jun 3, 2019 at 09:24 AM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 592
Likes: 314
From: Chesterfield Twp., Michigan
I replaced the original battery in my 2014 at 4-3/4 years old a few months ago even though it was still good with this:
http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us...6.2L&find=find
It has significantly more lead than other batteries, even other quality AGM batteries. I am no battery expert, but based upon my experience with Trojan batteries in my boat that are also similarly high in lead content and well built, I will not be surprised to get 10 years out of the Optima battery. Of course, using a battery tender any time the car sits for more than a few days is important. Trojan does not make a battery for the Corvette or I would have bought one as they are about $100 cheaper. The Optima is near impossible to find at a retailer but it can be ordered directly from Optima with free shipping, no tax charged (you take care of that with your state tax return), and no core charge.
A bonus is the yellow top matches my car.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us...6.2L&find=find
It has significantly more lead than other batteries, even other quality AGM batteries. I am no battery expert, but based upon my experience with Trojan batteries in my boat that are also similarly high in lead content and well built, I will not be surprised to get 10 years out of the Optima battery. Of course, using a battery tender any time the car sits for more than a few days is important. Trojan does not make a battery for the Corvette or I would have bought one as they are about $100 cheaper. The Optima is near impossible to find at a retailer but it can be ordered directly from Optima with free shipping, no tax charged (you take care of that with your state tax return), and no core charge.
A bonus is the yellow top matches my car.
Last edited by 19672014; Jun 3, 2019 at 09:36 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
When in doubt...swap it out... The C7 is so dependant on its battery - for the $150 / $180 someone will charge you for one to install - its cheap insurance / peace of mind for your 2014. It gives you 3+ years of not having to even think about it. Just keep it on a battery tender when not in use - especially if you store it away over the winter months.
However, I do live in AZ and was concerned about heat. But was informed since the battery is inside the cabin rather than in the engine compartment, heat is really not an issue as much. Especially if one keeps it garaged.
Last edited by joemessman; Jun 3, 2019 at 06:00 PM.