How to Replace a Battery in a C4 Corvette: Steps and Tips You Must Know
Even without technical knowledge and expertise, there are many car fixes that you can do on your own. This means that you no longer need to run a mechanic in the neighborhood and pay for a professional service. Among others, one of the best examples of this task is the replacement of a car’s battery.
The rest of this post will tackle how to replace a battery in a C4 Corvette. You might initially think that the task is intimidating. As you will learn in the rest of this post, however, it is actually easy and pretty much requires minimal time. Keep on reading and learn from the steps and tips that I will be sharing.
Things You Will Need to Follow this Tutorial
First, you have to get ready with some of the materials that will be needed, which include the following:
- Socket
- Ratchet
- Allen wrench
- New battery
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Replace a Battery in a C4 Corvette
After gathering the tools that will be needed, below are the specific steps that you will have to follow. To help you understand easily what should be done, watch the short video below. The demonstration is for a 96 model, but the steps will be pretty much the same across all models.
1.Check the Battery
One of the first things that you have to do is to check the battery to be sure that this is the problem. After all, you will not want to change the battery, and at the end of the day, realize that it is not the problem. This will be a waste of money, time and effort.
An easy way to check the battery is to run the engine and check the voltmeter from your dash. In the video that has been shown above, the voltage is 11.8. This is an obvious indication of a problem since a well-functioning car battery needs to have a voltage of at least 13. The battery is probably old, which is why your car no longer starts.
2. Remove the Body Panel
Once you are sure that you have a problem with the battery, the next thing that you have to do is to remove it. Open the hood and look for the battery. Once you see its position, look for the bolts and have them removed. The positioning of the battery in a C4 Corvette makes it quite challenging to have it removed since you have to deal with the body panel first.
There are two bolts and three screws that are holding the panel in its position. Use the appropriate tools to have them removed. Remember to keep them in a safe place, as they will be needed later on when it is time to bring the panel back to its original position.
3. Remove the Battery
At this point, the panel must already be removed and you can already see the battery. Take off the positive and negative terminals using your ratchet. Put the terminals in a safe place where it won’t end up grounding themselves. Remove the bolt that holds the battery in place using a ratchet with an extension so that it will be easier for you to have it accessed. Slide the battery up and have it removed.
4. Put the New Battery
First, you have to check the old and the new batteries. See to it that the replacement is compatible with the requirements of your C4 Corvette. Place the battery in an insulator and slide it in. Attach the bolts that secure the battery. See to it that it is tight in its position so that it will not move when you are speeding.
Put back the terminals and make sure that they are not too tight.
5. Return the Body Panel
Once the battery is already in its position, the next thing that you have to put is the body panel. Slide the front part first. Tighten down all the bolts and screws that you have earlier removed. You have to make sure that they are secured. They can loosen easily when you are cruising at high speed or when you are on rough surfaces. However, avoid overtightening since the body panel is made of fiberglass.
6. Check the Status of the New Battery
By now, your work is almost done. All that you need to do is to confirm if the new battery is already working. To do this, you have to run the engine and check for the voltage of the battery.
Pro Tips
Via: http://kipipo.com/c4-corvette-battery-location.html
Here are some tips that you have to keep in mind about your car’s battery and having it removed successfully in a C4 Corvette:
- Because of the difficulty in accessing the battery, it will be good if you can turn the wheel all the way to the left before you get started. This will provide you with a bigger space for the hand to move, making it easier to access the body panel and remove the battery.
- If you do not use your car for a long time, do not forget to disconnect the battery before leaving it in the garage. This will prevent the possibility of discharge. Meanwhile, you also have the option to charge it once or twice a month to keep it in its optimal condition even if you are not using the car.
- Choose a battery wisely. You need to make sure that it is suited for your car and a suitable replacement for the one that you have removed. From its size to its cranking power, take time to shop for a battery with top-notch quality.
- Proper battery maintenance is also a must so that you do not have to replace it often. Regular inspection is necessary to make sure that there is no corrosion or visible damage. If there is water, check it frequently and see to it that it is at the right level.
Conclusion
Now that you have finished reading this post, I hope that you are now aware of how to replace a battery in a C4 Corvette. As it is shown in this guide, the tricky part is the removal of the body panel, especially because it is made from a delicate material. But all in all, the work is pretty much straightforward and nothing that you won’t be able to handle.
Have you tried replacing your car’s battery before? Are there questions that you would like to ask or things that you would like to add? Let us know in the comment section.
