I guess it\u2019s battery breakdown time for me. A few weeks ago, I discovered the new battery leaked in my mint V-Max motorcycle. Then the next day, I went to drive my \u201913 Corvette. It\u2019s stored in a heated\/cooled storage unit on the other side of town. Everything seems normal, courtesy lights on, touch the start button, get the green halo, but then a THUNK, a click, and everything goes dark. The electric door release does nothing. Relays are clicking all over the car. Thoughts of Apollo 13 came to mind, the remnants of power, the dying capsule. I remember there\u2019s a mechanical release near the door sill, but cannot find it by feel. Feel kind of trapped! I remember there\u2019s a door release in the hatch area, but not looking forward to wriggling back there. Owner\u2019s Manual is at home. Checked internet with my phone. Videos are not much use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With my phone flashlight, I find the release icon at the door sill, but still can\u2019t work the lever. It was blocked by the damn Weathertech floor liner. Guess that\u2019s my payback for telling a prospective Weathertech buyer that Weathertech\u2019s precision laser-fit claims are disappointing, phony. I bend the Weathertech \u2018bucket\u2019 out of the way, pull the latch and freedom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glad to be out, but now dreading getting the battery out of the little aperture in the back. I had it out a few years ago and it was not easy!! Relays are still clicking here and there around the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had no tools with me and my brand new jumpbox was at home too, so I went for them and on the way home, bought an expensive, new, little Delco battery at the very nice Columbus Chevy dealer. Keep your GM car all GM!! BTW they had a new black C8 on showroom floor! And at least three C8s on the lot awaiting service. Surprising as I\u2019ve seen few C8s on the road around here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I gathered up my tools and put the new battery on trickle charge to top it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I got back to the storage unit and connected the jumpbox, just to get the driver\u2019s door to shut properly. That worked, and instrument and courtesy lights all seemed to be working properly. Disconnected the jumpbox and battery cables and hold-down. Tried to get the old battery out and couldn\u2019t. The opening was too small and the positive cable could not be shifted out of the way. I removed the rearmost bulkhead trim cover from the hatch compartment. Then I could lift the carpeted floor panel up and the battery aperture up with it. That lets the positive battery cable move up and out of the way and then the battery up and out of the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A business trip kept me from trying the new battery right away, but when I did, it was harder still to slip the new battery back through that little aperture and past the thick positive cable. But got it done and all worked properly again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wondered how old that battery was, so I looked for a date code and checked online videos. The battery was a \u2018black label\u2019 which means it was a factory-installed battery. Since the car was delivered new in Sept. 2012, that battery was over 11 years old!<\/p>\n\n\n\n