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I followed some threads on this subject matter. Here is my experience:
So after owning the C7 for 2.5 years and it was about 3 yrs old when I bought it. I had always wondered how old the battery was. Saturday morning the battery died. In the garage thankfully. At this point nothing opens, but after research I found out how to get inside the car.
Battery under the right rear of the rear compartment platform, near the tail light. So I remove the battery and after more research and check on availability, I buy one at AutoZone. Duralast Platinum H6 EFB. Bring it home, hook everything up. Nothing. Do more Google research, find I'm not the only one with this problem. Car won't start or even honk the horn. I discovered that I'm not making full 'good' contact to the plates on the fuse block that attaches to the top of the battery. See attached.
Then I discover the nut that attaches the power cable that goes to the starter, with the red looking handle, wasn't making good contact with the fused plate below it. And now it won't tighten down any more. And when you back it off, it only comes so far and then the post just turns. I am now of the opinion someone had been in here before as I doubt the original battery had lasted for 6 years. (The OEM charger that came with the car looked like if had never been used.)
So it's now Monday, and my pilot friend, who probably can fix most anything. comes over with his handy Ricipro saw, we remove the fuse block from the battery and he saws the post below the nut. There is no access to the post on the back side of the block. Now we go to the local Chevy dealer, I place an order for a new fuse block...be here on Tuesday morning. $137 + tax. I'm used to imported motorcycle parts, I thought this was cheap.
And it was here on Tuesday morning, early!
I install it, after getting all 13 mm nuts good and tight, all metal strips squared up and making good contact...finally but not without some more tightening, and even more. Pay close attention to the 8mm nuts to the left of the photo. I now have power, car starts. But...the CE light is now on. DANG!! So I take it to the dealer, and they scan for codes. Well, the print out was a page and a third long. I had read the car would go nuts during this process as everything is electronic. And it did, but finally started and ran fine.
So the service writer asks when do I want to make an appointment to check this out. "We don't know what's wrong with it from this". So after some discussion, where I explained to her this was expected, about now she gave me this deer in the headlight look. So I asked her to just reset the CE light and if it comes back on, I'll bring it back. They did.
Meanwhile, I've gotten emails from OnStar telling me I need to change my oil, I'm low on fuel, that I have engine and transmission problems, etc, etc...
So far so good, no CE light...but what an ordeal just to replace a battery. Remember...negative cable last on, first off... Carry on.........
I've seen plenty of threads where things were not properly seated on re-assembly and similar results. Can't wait to do mine when it needs it.
Just remember if you take it to the wrong dealer they will encounter the same thing. Choose your dealer wisely. Hopefully one where they do them often.
See attached. Remember...negative cable last on, first off... Carry on.........
This is very helpful.
I really couldn't follow your instructions on this but got the story of what to look out for.
I loosened some bolt or nut and then it would not tighten without incredible ft lbs of muscle 💪. Don't know if this was/is the same nut you'all have the issue with, but I'll bet it was.
That bolt or nut, I don't think that I needed to loosen in the first place ???
Did my 2017's 66 mo. old OEM battery a month ago. My car died in a grocery store parking lot on a Sunday night. Called roadside service for a jump. To be fair to my car, it DID/HAD been giving me fair warning for weeks by a "drag" in turning over the engine @ startup. I just didn't heed the little drag at startup. Lesson learned!
I've seen plenty of threads where things were not properly seated on re-assembly and similar results. Can't wait to do mine when it needs it.
Just remember if you take it to the wrong dealer they will encounter the same thing. Choose your dealer wisely. Hopefully one where they do them often.
Remember to........"heed the brief drag @ startups." Those are your fair warnings of impending death 💀 of battery.
I've seen plenty of threads where things were not properly seated on re-assembly and similar results. Can't wait to do mine when it needs it.
Just remember if you take it to the wrong dealer they will encounter the same thing. Choose your dealer wisely. Hopefully one where they do them often.
That was my experience. But I had read about it on the forum before I installed it. I tightened the hell out of every connector before I tried starting it and all was good.
That was my experience. But I had read about it on the forum before I installed it. I tightened the hell out of every connector before I tried starting it and all was good.
Those words should be on a plaque that you sit on the carpet next to the new battery that you just inserted!
Poor or faulty/corroded contacts are a common issue with any "older" vehicle. I cannot recall the instances I've "fixed" such for others over many decades.
Battery replacement
