Battery Replacement Complete With Pics
 

Well, it was time for a new battery in my 2006 Z06, the OEM AC/Delco battery having held up well, but after the car had sat in my driveway for 2 days, it died.

Charged it back up with the battery tender, managed to get it back into the garage, and it died again a few days later.

I figured it was time for a new one.

One recommendation was the DL-47 Duralast Battery from Autozone. It is supposedly a close fit.

The Optimas are not a direct fit, and I don't believe have the vent hole to allow for the escape of gases.

Since the battery is inside the car, I figured this was not the way to go for me, as the OEM Delco had a vent port in it as well.

I went to Autozone to pick up the DL-47 Duralast Battery as it is Sunday and the last dealership I had checked for a Delco, told me they could have an OEM battery in a couple of days.

The DL-47 Duralast Battery has the vent, but it sits in the middle of the battery and is not a round hole but a football shaped hole. Really not a problem the shape, but the position would make it difficult to attach the hold down without possibly crimping off the vent hose.

I found out that the direct replacement for the Z06, is actually the Duralast Gold 90DLG.

This battery is the exact dimensions of the OEM Delco from what I can tell visually, and can utilize the stock hold down strap.

Removing the battery is simple if you use the Duct Tape Method described below. 10mm socket will remove the hold down bolts and loosen the cable bolts.

From there you have to stuff the cables out of the way, the negative and the
vent hose to the side, and lift up the carpet trim ring to stuff the positive cable beneath it, like what Maxx Schlick does below.

You want to save this piece when you get the Delco out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTYzN.jpg

The Duralast Gold has 600 cold cranking Amps (750 cranking Amps), weighs in at 32 lbs and goes for $99.00 with your core.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par.../N-jo7ixZacy27

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTYzN.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTYzN.jpg

The battery, like the Delco, has vent holes on either side of it. That red plate which fits over top of the positive terminal, has a round piece in it which can be removed and plugged into the positive side vent hole.

The battery is Gorilla Taped with the "handle" made by folding the tape lengthwise at that point.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTY1N.jpg

You want to plug that elbow piece back into the vent hose before you put the battery back in. That elbow piece will plug into the side of the new battery.

Make sure to move the hose and the negative cable out of the way and straighten up the posts which hold your hold down bracket to keep them out of the way too.
Hover the battery straight down and lower it into place.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTY1N.jpg

Battery in place
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTY1N.jpg

Slide the positive cable out from under the carpet trim piece and prepare to attach it.
*note: you may want to go ahead and place the hold down bracket over the top
of the battery before you attach the positive cable to make it easier to get to the nut which holds the bracket down.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTY1O.jpg

You want to cut your tape handle in the middle to make it easier to remove the tape from the sides of the battery in such a tight space.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTcwN.jpg
Stock hold down bracket fits perfect
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2MjctMTcxM.jpg

Hook up the negative cable.

Hook up the vent hose to the side of the battery.

Push down on the carpet around the trim ring to get the ring back down all the way.

That's it. Good luck. :thumbs::cheers:

Is the new battery lighter?:cheers:

Why not stick with the OEM battery? You did pretty good with the original.

Didn't want to wait.

When it first died, I went to a dealer to get another. They didn't have one and told me it would take a couple days for them to get one.

That's I when ran an extension cord and hooked up the battery tender and charged it overnight.

That gave me enough juice to start it up the next day and get it into the garage.

I thought I'd be able to get by w/o springing for a new battery. But the weekend caught me and no dealership parts depts open. Waited too late and the local NAPA had closed too so no Delco.

This alternative seems to be a good one if you can't or don't want to go with the Delco.

The Duralast has an 8yr warranty with a 3 year free replacement period.

I have also read that really there are only three battery manufacturers in this country - Johnson Controls, Delphi, and Exide.

Johnson Controls (JCI) makes Duralasts, Optimas, Diehards, Interstates, Motorcrafts, and a few others.

Delphi makes ACDelcos (obviously their biggest outlet) as well as some Walmart-brand Everstarts.

Exide makes batteries for Napa, Champion, and their own Exide brand. Johnson Controls manufactures for most retail brands by far.

No. About the same.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...m-battery.html

Great writeup, AS USUAL!!

Ron

:iagree: Very good. Thanks for the excellent pics and directions!

Thanks guys. Hope it helps.:cheers:

:iagree::thumbs::thumbs:

Saved Q...Thank you.:cheers:

Would you believe I was just checking into the exact battery a half hour before reading your post. Already knew about the duct tape handle, but good to know that that the stock tie down will work on the 90-DLG vs having to adapt for the DL-47. Since member "morris" just posted a link for an Auto Zone 20% off coupon a few line's up, guess no time better for a new battery, as mine's also an 06'. Dura Last Gold are nice batteries, as they're Johnson Control units, a carry a full 36 month free replacement.

My 07 Z06 is still on the OEM Delco (built 12/21/06) not to bad, in fact my Z just sat for 7 days and fired right up.

But your post and the 20% AutoZone discount may just force my hand to do a preemptive strike on the battery.

Great tutorial and info. We all complain about how much money we spend on our Vette's because of the CF, but for me I'm enjoying saving $$$ which allows me to own a Z in the first place.

Tom

Excellent write up :)

Thanks :thumbs:

:iagree: Well for 80 bucks, you can't beat it. No way no how. 80 bucks is dirt cheap for a battery for one of these cars.

Good luck

Nice write up and thanks for posting the pic's. I am sure this is going to come in handy in the near future.:thumbs::thumbs:

Just put the new 90-DLG on my refrigerant scale and show's 31lb, 6oz(31.375lb)against the OEM's listed 33.2lb. So yes it's lighter, by a couple bottle's of beverage.

batt replacement
 

Thanks my batt died 5 times in less than 2 months dealer says batt good needed a charge 3 weeks later dead. Charged it up went to Johnson Industry's for new delco batt on Sat. Came out put batt in back go to start Corvette no juice jump it off. Waiting on my 3rd cup of coffee to kick in and go do the change 4th of July morning.Oh no one spoke of using a 9volt battery hookup to keep everthing running while changing out batt. is this necessary.And thanks for the how to and pics.
z51vett

Thanks for my first learning of the day

The 9 volt battery is not necessary but it saves you from having to reset all of the radio presets.