Has anyone replaced their battery with something other than the OEM ? My STS-V apparently has a battery GM placed in several other of their vehicles, the AC Delco Pro 101-6YR. It's rated at 650 CCA and seems to run anywhere from 130+ each. That's too damned much for such a "small" battery and I'm looking for other options.
Anyone, Anyone - Bueller, Bueller ?
Oh and which ever GM engineer designed the battery cover and it's little tabs should be kicked in the knee. :yup:
Model - 101-6YR
RC - 110
CCA - 650
CA - 860
L - 10.2
W - 7
H - 6.6
Lbs - 36.7
Price - $127.95
The one in the STS-V I work on went bad also. Was locked out of the car for a few hours, since I think the door latches work with electric solonoids and theres no key lock for the doors.
We put in the biggest battery that would fit from NAPA. I measured the tray and went to NAPA with a tape measure and found the biggest one they have that fit. its the same depth, but wider and taller and has a lot more CCA capacity, etc... and I think was less than $100.
It looks like the type 78 is a pretty close fit. Sam's has the Interstate at 800 CCA for 79.00 and Autozone has the Duralast for 89.00, also 800 CCA. The main difference seems to be the Interstate has an 18 month full replacement (rest prorated) and the Duralast is 36 months full replacement (rest prorated). Probably worth the extra 10.00 for the 36 months coverage.
Yeah that's something else I'm keeping in mind. Although Wal-Mart and Sam's are also all over the place. I'm probably going to go ahead and try the Duralast from Autozone, make sure it fits. Preferably one that I can put the stock battery cover back on with, but if not oh well.
Had better luck than I expected. Turns out Optima has a new Type 78 Red Top that has no top posts and dimensions very close to the stock battery.
I was able to fit it in the bracket with clearance at the top.
The original Puck still fits the front lip to hold the battery from sliding around.
and the original OEM battery cover fits right back in place to make it all look stock.
Couldn't have worked out better. It all required no extra modification to fit. :thumbsup:
I had wanted to use an Optima by first choice, but the previous models had issues with the vertical posts sticking up too far and causing mounting problems. I guess Optima has added this particular model to address those concerns for various owners.
Another thing that sucks is no one lists a replacement suitable for our vehicle in their product guides. Various battery companies and/or parts stores all draw a blank. I'm thinking about sending an e-mail to Optima with the pics to show this newest model fits our cars just fine including still using the stock battery cover.
The local Autozone, they had just gotten them a few weeks back, according to the manager there. There was no return core charged associated with that one for some reason, so I didn't have to take the other one back.
RE: 2004 CTS 3.6L: 01/23/09 Just now went to Walmart in
Smithfield, NC. I asked Hellen in Automotive to put in a N78 EverStart Battery into my CTS. She had the battery on the shelf, but refused to let Walmart install it. Her reasoning was that my 2004 CTS 3.6L didn't have any battery listed on her computer. She said that I could buy the battery and install it myself.
Well, I wrote down Walmart's price for the N78 Battery, and went directly to the Advance Auto Store just down the street. They had the N78 Battery with 3 years Free Replacement, and 84 months prorate., 770 CCA, 900 CA.
Advance Auto's price was $88.99, but they did a price match with the Walmart price of $72.94, plus Advance Auto installed the batterry for me.
Wakmart should update their computer. If not, go to Walmart to get their price, then go to Advance Auto to get your battery, for Walmart's price, plus they will install it in front of you, if you are particular about your car, as I am.
Oh, the orginal battery case fits perfectly around the Advance Auto battery.
RE: 2004 CTS 3.6L: 01/23/09 Just now went to Walmart in
Smithfield, NC. I asked Hellen in Automotive to put in a N78 EverStart Battery into my CTS. She had the battery on the shelf, but refused to let Walmart install it. Her reasoning was that my 2004 CTS 3.6L didn't have any battery listed on her computer. She said that I could buy the battery and install it myself..
This is probably because most of the models that used the 101 (OEM AC Delco) don't list a replacement, because they don't exactly know how to cross it. Every place I went in to or looked online, even with the various battery companies didn't list one. So I simply made sure what would fit by taking measurements of the existing one and most type 78 would seem to fit. The type 101 is a sealed battery, and most of your standard type 78s are not sealed and could leak. The Optima Red Top 78 is sealed.
Truthfully, I'd rather push my car than buy a battery from Wal-Mart! Glad to hear you got your new battery in eventually.
You know what I did? I was taking my battery out and ended up dropping the wrench. It fell into the belly of the beast through the gap under the battery. Any idea where I could find it now? Any help would be appreciated.
You know what I did? I was taking my battery out and ended up dropping the wrench. It fell into the belly of the beast through the gap under the battery. Any idea where I could find it now? Any help would be appreciated.
I ended up inadvertently dropping a socket while doing mine, but it was up front and fell in the well below the fuse box, which I recovered along with some scrapes on my arm.
Hopefully the wrench is in a secure place or has fallen completely out by now.
CIWS: Thanks bro. I did *exactly* what you said in this thread and could not be happier. I even got the parts store to price match the Optima and saved an extra $40.
My battery was dead again today and even though it may have been covered under warranty I was sick and tired of my car not starting after not being driven.
I researched the whole Group 101 vs Group 78 sizing and you were right it is a direct fit, could not have fit better actually.
So for anyone still wondering, this is a direct replacement with zero modding required.
CIWS: Thanks bro. I did *exactly* what you said in this thread and could not be happier. I even got the parts store to price match the Optima and saved an extra $40.
My battery was dead again today and even though it may have been covered under warranty I was sick and tired of my car not starting after not being driven.
I replaced my grp101 with a group 78 that I bought from Sam's Club. I had to cut off the plastic carrying strap and couldn't reuse the plastic cover that fits over the battery, however, the engine cover fit on fine. (Ok, maybe it's 1/16th too tall)
Hope this helps!
Has anyone had any luck with GM reimbursing you the cost of a replacement battery that you bought somewhere else?
I talked to the GM Warranty lady last week and she said to take the paperwork into the local dealer and they will review with a chance of reimbursement. Anyone else had any luck with this?
I think that is a long shot, but go for it. I am actually surprised they cover a wearing part like a battery to begin with, it is sort of like covering a tire.
Battery is covered, tires are not. At least here in America, you've linked to a Canadian site and the coverage(s) may or may not be the same as here in the U.S.
Ya GM Canada websites says its covered. I'm unsure of my coverage since it is a US vehicle now in Canada, found a dealer who likes to warranty things for me but they seem to be getting grumpier as they find more and more to replace.
I just did the group 78 swap and had no problems. I cut off the carrying strap, put the battery cozy on the new one and wiggled it in. Tied it down with the stock hold down, connected the leads and drove off. Stock battery was 3.5 years old and would hold enough charge to start the car but it stopped and watched a movie or something for 10 mins or somehting and tried to start it would leave you stranded. Annoyingly I brought it to GM and they claimed it was fine. My GM dealer could not diagnose a vehicle problem if the car was on fire.
I replaced the OEM battery twice in 3 years ( one lasted only 6 months and the other only 1.5 years) so now I have the Interstate HTP-101 and can't be more satified.:thumbsup:
Thanks, I just had my second battery go out. Same as before where it is fine one minute and completely dead the next. The dealer told me it is caused by vibration knocking a cell loose in the battery... a side effect of having it mounted near the tire. Since they claim vibration, I went ahead and purchased the Optima 78.
Amazing...I just read this thread day before yesterday and I get in My 2006 STS V with all of 18,600 Miles and the GM battery was doa after 4 years ...So after a jump I was off to Advance Auto Parts and $202.00 later I have the Optima 78 Seried Installed! A perfect fit as discussed!
They are great batteries...I have one in My whole house standby generator(Miami Beach) and one in My 1980 TR8 Convertible!
Thanks Guys for the dicusssion of this battery!!:thumbsup:
08 and 09's have a key in remote fob, which unlocks the driver's door, I assume earlier ones are similiar.
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