C5 Battery

[skyman]

I posted on the Forum and I am hopeing to get some additional opinions here. I understand that many C5's have the battery go dead if the car is not driven regularly, and some have reported strange electronic noises and flashing lights when hooking up a battery charger. One post said get rid of the Delco battery before any problem and replace it with an Optima Red. I am not familiar with that. Any first hand information would be greatly appreciated.

[Glennm27]

Your Delco battery should be fine. BUT as you may have heard they do need to be maintained when the car is not being used for extended periods of time.
I use a Battery Tender to regulate my battery.
http://www.batterytender.com/

As for the Battery itself. You should have an AGM battery in your car, no IF's, AND's or BUT's. My 2002 Corvette came new with a Delco AGM. I have heard that the 04's do NOT have AGM batteries in them from the plant. I'd have to question why but nothing surprises me anymore with major Automobile Manufacturers.
An AGM battery is an Absorbed Glass Mat type battery and will NOT leak. The best you can buy (in my opinion) are Optima brand. I have an Optima Redtop 75/35 in mine.

If you use a NON AGM type battery, you can bet the house it will leak. And when it leaks, there are lots it can leak onto and destroy. Much of your cars' electronics are under the battery.

My OEM battery died after 25 months. I never used a battery tender then and left it sit many times for extended periods and low and behold, the OEM kicked the bucket after 25 months.

You can learn more about Optima's here:
http://www.optimabatteries.com/

Good Luck.

[Bill Burkholder]

As Glenn has already stated the Optima IS a good choice. When the first problems surfaced a few of us replaced the stock with an Optima. Bob Rosenberg will post his story about how close he came to disaster with the stock battery. Check around for prices, I got mine from Shawn at LAPD as have many others. I feel better knowing that I won't have a leakage problem, it's worth the $$$$'s.

[skyman]

Glenn, Thanks for the insight. I have always used Battery Tenders on my C1 and C2. They are great. If I use it on the Delco in the C5 should the battery be disconnected? On my other cars I have a cutoff switch that prevents a drain on the battery as well as allowing the trickle charge to go ONLY to the battery. I am trying to get a feel for these reports of the Delco not being reliable. I want to know if I let the car sit for a week that when I go to start it the battery won't be dead! Did your Delco ever leave you stranded? Apparently the Optima is the way to go.

[Bill Burkholder]

Do not disconect the battery. You will loose all your computer info. Air / fuel , RADIO LOCK ...you will have to do a relearn. Do you know your radio lock code??? Very inportant.

[Glennm27]

Originally posted by skyman
Glenn, Thanks for the insight. I have always used Battery Tenders on my C1 and C2. They are great. If I use it on the Delco in the C5 should the battery be disconnected? On my other cars I have a cutoff switch that prevents a drain on the battery as well as allowing the trickle charge to go ONLY to the battery. I am trying to get a feel for these reports of the Delco not being reliable. I want to know if I let the car sit for a week that when I go to start it the battery won't be dead! Did your Delco ever leave you stranded? Apparently the Optima is the way to go.

You are welcome. You do not need to disconnect the battery with the Battery Tender, as a matter of fact, you should NOT disconnect otherwise you'll lose all the memory settings in the car.
Now on the same note, if I were going to store my car in a garage for 3 months or more without any thoughts of using it whatsoever, I'd disconnect the battery in that case and probably even remove it from the car.

Your last question up there "Did your Delco ever leave you stranded?" YES it DID. At the funniest place too. I went to a car show in Reigilsville PA back in November just as a spectator and was parked at friends house that was right there at the show. They live so close that I had to get in line with the cars entering the show to get to their house. The show was for 1970 and older cars. My Delco died in line and I ended up holding the line up. The other guys were all over me (all in fun) about my 2002 Corvette that was dead as a doornail and these cars all around me from 1930 to 1970 all running like tops. :rolleyes:

[Glennm27]

BY THE WAY

I bought my Optima RedTop at Auto-Zone on Street Rd Warminster for $99

[skyman]

Thanks to everyone for the in depth information. I think the way to go is the Optima Red Top,and I understand the Battery Tender is alright with the battery connected. My only other question is where is all the info to reprogram or relearn the brain box if the battery has been disconnected. I am familiar with radio codes,but what else are you referring to? Do I understand that this item from Radio Shack, acts as a battery to maintain all the information while you remove or replace the car battery?

[Bill Burkholder]

Originally posted by skyman
My only other question is where is all the info to reprogram or relearn the brain box if the battery has been disconnected. I am familiar with radio codes,but what else are you referring to? Do I understand that this item from Radio Shack, acts as a battery to maintain all the information while you remove or replace the car battery?

Yes the Radio Shack item will have enough power to hold the computer's memory.

Perform the following procedure to return the learned idle to the correct position:


Automatic Transmission:


1 Turn off the ignition

2 Restore the PCM battery feed

3 Turn Off the AC controls

4 Set the parking brake and block the drive wheels

5 Start the engine

6 Allow the engine coolant temperature to reach 176 degrees F

7 Shift the transmission selector into the drive range

8 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes

9 Turn on the AC controls (Omit for 2000-02 model)

10 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes (Omit for 2000-02 model)

11 Shift the transmission selector into Park

12 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes (Omit for 2000-02 model)

13 Turn off the AC controls (Omit for 2000-02 model)

14 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes

15 Turn off the engine for 15 seconds


Manual Transmission:


1 Turn Off the ignition

2 Restore the PCM battery feed

3 Turn Off the AC controls

4 Set the parking brake and block the drive wheels

5 Transmission in neutral

6 Start the engine

7 Allow the engine coolant temperature to reach 176 degrees F

8 Turn on the AC controls (Omit for 2000-02 model)

9 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes (Omit for 2000-02 model)

10 Turn off the AC controls (Omit for 2000-02 model)

11 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes

12 Turn off the engine for 15 seconds

Drive it hard for about 30 miles now!!! I just did this this past week after replacing my MAF.