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Battery Installation Warning

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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 02:01 PM
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Default Battery Installation Warning

I recently bought a 2019 GS (production date 6/18). I suspect that I may have to replace the battery in the near future due to the battery's age.
I've read several battery brand recommendations from Forum members, and thought I might buy a Die Hard brand battery, but when shopping around, I encountered a surprise.
For an EXACT FIT for 2019 Corvette, Advance Auto Parts webpage says "Professional Installation Required. Do Not Attempt to install this battery. Must be vented outside the vehicle."
I called my local Advance Auto Parts store and they confirmed that their staff would not install the battery themselves. The battery "warning" is listed for all 4 Die Hard models and the single Optima model they list as EXACT FIT batteries.

(1) I'm confused. Yes, I know the battery is stored inside the car but has something changed with car batteries?
I'm the original owner of a 1978 Silver Anniversary C3, too, and that battery, like all C3's, is located inside, right behind the driver and passenger.

(2) So, what's special about installing a new battery in a 2019 Corvette?
Is this not a simple "remove and replace" or are there special actions that must be taken?

(3) Does a battery change cause all DIC settings to revert to original factory settings?

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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 02:11 PM
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on new batteries, there are vents on both sides, you plug one and connect the elbow to the other

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tery-vent.html
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 02:16 PM
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It's easy to replace but you have to be careful with the brittle regulator cable, it can break easy.
The vent tube is nothing special. All inside batteries have those. just swap it to the new battery.
I really do not know of any places other than repair shops that will replace a battery that is inside the car.
If it's not under the hood, they don't mess with it and even then, there are some cars they just do not do.


Always leave one door open while you swap batteries, just in case you close the hatch before you're finished.
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 02:59 PM
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There really is no difference. All C3 batteries had to be vented as well, however, most batteries at the time didn't have any way to vent hook up the vents (if I remember correctly only AC Delco batteries provided for the vent hookup) so people installed the battery they wanted and didn't worry about the vents, over time most of the vent hookups disappeared from the cars.

The issue with the C7 is you have to be careful to avoid tearing the carpet when replacing the battery plus the battery is heavy and requires lifting over the rear fascia. It doesn't help a bad back to do that. To avoid tearing the carpet I pull it up at the right rear just enough to grab hold of it and then slide the rear edge forward to remove it from under the rear trim panel, then I move it sideways so it pulls out from under the inside quarter panel. Once it is clear of the panel you can then bend it back to access the battery. If you just bend it back with the carpet still under the quarter panel it will rip right at the corner of the quarter panel. Once you have access to the battery you need to be careful when handling the battery cables as the ground cable has a small gauge battery harness ground cable that is easily broken. If you break it use some similar gauge wire and splice in a couple extra inches to provide some slack.



The official GM way to handle the carpet:









The above diagram shows the easily broken small gauge wire that is attached to the battery ground wire (Item 4).


Hope this provides some help, One of the issues is getting hold of the battery to pull it out and then installing a new one. Some of the replacement batteries come with a strap so you can carry them, drop in and remove them when necessary later. What I found was the GM dealer sold me the AC Delco Gold 42-month battery installed for about $60 more than I could purchase it from O'Reilly's. O'Reilly's refused to install the battery. Since my physical therapy copays are $30 per visit I figured $60 was far cheaper than spending $600 for 10 PT sessions (or having the back surgery I have been putting off for 4 years) after I screwed up my back again while lifting the battery out and into the back of the car.

Bill


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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 03:11 PM
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In short, the battery is a pain in the axx to change. The parts store does not want their clerks trying to find the battery and replace it without damaging the carpet, voltage sensing wire, or hurting their back lifting at a bad angle. It also takes longer than a battery located under the hood.

Ron
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 03:26 PM
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what i did to lift it out... 2 pair of vice grips, one on each terminal and lift up
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 03:47 PM
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Also, yes all settings will need reprogramming. If GM would have enlarged the battery "box" a couple inches, the process would have been SIGNIFICANTLY easier. 😡😭🫡
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 04:04 PM
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No settings, other than maybe the clock time and window indexing needs to be reset.
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 04:30 PM
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It really depends how long the car is unpowered. A quick interruption just loses indexing A long (several hours) interruption can lose time and seat memory settings. Just need to check after the new battery is in.

Ron
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by ersatz928
No settings, other than maybe the clock time and window indexing needs to be reset.
I had to reset the steering wheel extend/retrack, seat memory position, windows and clock. Radio stations remained programed.🫡
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 05:58 PM
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Sounds like that franchise just being stupid. Lots of cars have that exact battery set up. Some for 10 years.
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Travlee
what i did to lift it out... 2 pair of vice grips, one on each terminal and lift up
Yes I have heard that and that's what I intend to do when the time arises.
Originally Posted by fuzzy03cls
Sounds like that franchise just being stupid. Lots of cars have that exact battery set up. Some for 10 years.
My 2000 Deville and my 2010 DTS both vent out the car under the back seat. The good thing is there is a lot of room under the back seat to change the battery so it's really simple.
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 07:39 PM
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The car has a vent tube in it when it came from the factory. You reuse it. Your new battery came with a plug. The new plug can be found on the red cover of the new battery. You just twist it off and plug up the new battery on the side that needs to be plugged.

Here is a picture of the red cover and the plug attached to it on the bottom left corner of the red cover.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1606519435

Elmer
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 07:40 PM
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Bill - thanks for posting up a copy of the instructions.
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Old Jan 17, 2024 | 07:18 AM
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Be careful with the little black wire. The dealer broke mine when replacing the battery and I got a warning light on the way home. Rather than return to the dealer, I fixed it myself, and they refunded the installation charge and were very aplogetic.
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Old Jan 17, 2024 | 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Travlee
what i did to lift it out... 2 pair of vice grips, one on each terminal and lift up
BTDT...fortunately most new batteries have a handle now
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Old Jan 17, 2024 | 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by pewter99
BTDT...fortunately most new batteries have a handle now
right, but if his is OEM, it wont
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Old Jan 17, 2024 | 07:47 AM
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These batteries are not that hard to remove. I used the vice grip method to remove the battery and replaced it. As others stated you have to be careful not to rip the carpet. If you have a CEL come on after you replace the battery unhook the positive cable and let it sit for a few minutes and hook it up again. It's easy and the most difficult part is lifting it out. My spare AGM battery came with a brand new vent elbow and I purchased the battery from Costco. Perfect fit and it came with the lift handles.
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Old Jan 17, 2024 | 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
There really is no difference. All C3 batteries had to be vented as well, however, most batteries at the time didn't have any way to vent hook up the vents (if I remember correctly only AC Delco batteries provided for the vent hookup) so people installed the battery they wanted and didn't worry about the vents, over time most of the vent hookups disappeared from the cars.

The issue with the C7 is you have to be careful to avoid tearing the carpet when replacing the battery plus the battery is heavy and requires lifting over the rear fascia. It doesn't help a bad back to do that. To avoid tearing the carpet I pull it up at the right rear just enough to grab hold of it and then slide the rear edge forward to remove it from under the rear trim panel, then I move it sideways so it pulls out from under the inside quarter panel. Once it is clear of the panel you can then bend it back to access the battery. If you just bend it back with the carpet still under the quarter panel it will rip right at the corner of the quarter panel. Once you have access to the battery you need to be careful when handling the battery cables as the ground cable has a small gauge battery harness ground cable that is easily broken. If you break it use some similar gauge wire and splice in a couple extra inches to provide some slack.



The official GM way to handle the carpet:









The above diagram shows the easily broken small gauge wire that is attached to the battery ground wire (Item 4).


Hope this provides some help, One of the issues is getting hold of the battery to pull it out and then installing a new one. Some of the replacement batteries come with a strap so you can carry them, drop in and remove them when necessary later. What I found was the GM dealer sold me the AC Delco Gold 42-month battery installed for about $60 more than I could purchase it from O'Reilly's. O'Reilly's refused to install the battery. Since my physical therapy copays are $30 per visit I figured $60 was far cheaper than spending $600 for 10 PT sessions (or having the back surgery I have been putting off for 4 years) after I screwed up my back again while lifting the battery out and into the back of the car.

Bill
Really good information and a good pause for thought. I never gave any thought to my C3, the battery is in a compartment behind the passenger seat and there is no vent tube to the outside. This warrants further investigation when it warms up a little and possibly a modification. Hmmm.
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Old Jan 17, 2024 | 08:54 AM
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I just changed the battery in my ZR1. I had no issues and the settings all remained as they were set.


Handles make it much easier.

As do a couple of bungee cords to hold the cables out of the way.
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