Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

[Joe M.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

I do not keep the Battery Minder on my repro battery at all times because I drive the car a lot and simply forget to attach it to the battery on occasion. I drive the car enough that the battery stays charged. I have now determined that the battery ran down because the under dash light was on during daylight hours and I did not notice it when I parked the car and I did not go out to the garage that night or I would have noticed it burning. The battery is still good, just requires another back breaking task to re-install it in the car! I have learned the trick on placing the battery back in the car with plastic sacks, but have not found a good way to remove it without putting my back in jeopardy.

[Michael J.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

One of the worst design issue with Corvettes, C1, C2, or C3, is that they are in awkward, tight, and almost inaccessible places where a heavy lift is required. I wish I could talk to whatever stupid engineer designed them and punch them in the nose to get their attention. What the heck were they thinking????

[Jim D.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

The engineers brother was a chiropractor.

[Bob M.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

I use a web strap around the battery going in and coming out, I have total control both ways. No problems yet to speak of.

[Michael J.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

I'm also curious what they now recommend. Please let us know what you find out. Thanks, Michael.

James, I have finally received the battery from Restoration Battery. It states these new ones are AGM, and they can only be maintained by a 12 volt battery maintainer that has an output of at least 13.4 volts and 8 amps, but no more than 12 amps. No jump starting by anything except another car. They recommend the Battery MINDer model 128CEC1, but I notice my Odyssey Ultimizers also have the requisite voltage and amp outputs.

[James W.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

I bought a repro tar top battery from Restoration Battery for flight judging in June of 2014, installed it and even bought the high dollar battery charger that they recommended to maintain it. The car was put away for storage in December of 2014 using the recommended battery charger. Started fine coming out of storage in the spring of 2015 but a week later went to start the car and it would not start with out the battery charger on the car. Yes I have a battery cut off switch which was disconnected the entire week. I'll never buy another one of those POS repro batteries ever again. Restoration Battery wasn't a lot of help either when I called them about the problem, said I must not have had something not connected right. I'd need to send them the battery to diagnose it and then pay a replacement pro-rate fee for a new one plus shipping based on how long I had it. I installed a new "Delco" group 24 battery. At least I know I will get more than 10 months out of it.

Sorry to rant but you'd think that paying that kind of money for a battery you would get more life out of it than that. Maybe mine is the exception.

James

[Michael J.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

I hear you, and your story is not unusual either. I have had 7 of the Antique Auto Batteries over the last 8 years, in various cars, and I have not had a failure with any, but that does not mean it won't or can't happen, mine may be the exceptions.

[Jim D.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

I installed a new "Delco" group 24 battery. At least I know I will get more than 10 months out of it.

James

Maybe, maybe not. My Delco Pro Gold was replaced 4 times during the 3 yr. new car warranty. When it died again out of warranty, I replaced it with an Interstate brand battery. Since then, it's been 4 trouble free years. Delco batteries are made in China with an alloy lead, not pure lead. That's what the Delco rep. told me.

[James B.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

James, I have finally received the battery from Restoration Battery. It states these new ones are AGM, and they can only be maintained by a 12 volt battery maintainer that has an output of at least 13.4 volts and 8 amps, but no more than 12 amps. No jump starting by anything except another car. They recommend the Battery MINDer model 128CEC1, but I notice my Odyssey Ultimizers also have the requisite voltage and amp outputs.

Thanks for the update, Michael. It would be interesting to know how long these new AGM restoration batteries generally last.

[Jim D.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

Thanks for the update, Michael. It would be interesting to know how long these new AGM restoration batteries generally last.

They aren't "new", they've been available for years. They are made by Antique Battery and Restoration Battery is a reseller. . I have 2 that are over 5 years old and they are fine. If you want to learn more about the AGM that's inside the case, go to the Odyssey Battery web site.

[James B.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

They aren't "new", they've been available for years. They are made by Antique Battery and Restoration Battery is a reseller. . I have 2 that are over 5 years old and they are fine. If you want to learn more about the AGM that's inside the case, go to the Odyssey Battery web site.

Jim,

So I take it then that these "restoration" AGM batteries have not changed/been improved (from a technical perspective) for several years, correct?

James

[Michael J.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

The last Antique Auto Battery I bought was 2 years ago, and it did not come with the same package of materials about being an AGM and had totally different instructions on battery maintainers. I am thinking the AGM is relatively new.

[Jim D.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

Jim,

So I take it then that these "restoration" AGM batteries have not changed/been improved (from a technical perspective) for several years, correct?

James

The technology of AGM batteries hasn't changed as far as I know. Antique Battery has been using them in their batteries for several years. Mine are over 5 years old and still going strong. That's 5 times longer than the POS Delco batteries lasted in my daily driver.

[Jim D.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

The last Antique Auto Battery I bought was 2 years ago, and it did not come with the same package of materials about being an AGM and had totally different instructions on battery maintainers. I am thinking the AGM is relatively new.

Are you saying they aren't using AGM batteries any longer? I haven't bought one from them in about 3 years but that one and the previous ones were all AGM.

[Michael J.]

Re: Repro Tar Top Battery "Repair"

No, no, the one I got this week clearly says AGM, but 2 years ago, it was all different.