GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

The stock battery is doesn't seem to be maintenance free one so popping the covers and topping up every now and then is a good idea.Plus on mine, that green dot is very hard to see... even with a flashlight!Two of the cells on mine were lower then the other four so they all got topped up. Top it up tho the base of the tube and your good! I guess I should've disconnected the necative cable while doing this... This is soooo much easier then battery mainenance on an electric forklift that I used to have to keep topped up where I used to work!

I can not believe they are still using that battery in the Vibe... Way too small...

Well it survived the winter we didn't have... hopefully it'll get 3 years out of it!

Just a note: who ever does this be sure to use distilled water to top off the battery.The reason for distilled water is because it's doesn't have minerals in the water like tap water does. If you use tap water, the minerals in the water will adhear to the battery plates and kill the lifespan of the battery.

Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »Just a note: who ever does this be sure to use distilled water to top off the battery.The reason for distilled water is because it's doesn't have minerals in the water like tap water does. If you use tap water, the minerals in the water will adhear to the battery plates and kill the lifespan of the battery. Costs about $1 for a 4L jug here!

...always use distilled water in AZ or anywhere HOT where the water "evaporates" away QUICKLY during hot summer (and other) months!

Quote, originally posted by ou.grizzly »I can not believe they are still using that battery in the Vibe... Way too small... The bean counters don't think so.And since they contol the purse strings.....

Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »... I guess I should've disconnected the necative cable while doing this.. This is soooo much easier then battery mainenance on an electric forklift that I used to have to keep topped up where I used to work!The only time I disconnect the batt is when it is being replaced.As to the forlklift batteries, we used to have to service the reach truck and the slip machine and the speed jack and all of the backups for those.I used a funnel and a 5-gallon pail of water and a water bottle.Some of the idiots would top off the batts and then put the chargers on them. What a mess the next day. Acid all over the floor.

Anyone ever use one of those Optima batteries for their Vibe. I've heard conflicting reports about them. Are they as good as they claim? Or are they just a high priced item that should be avoided?

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Anyone ever use one of those Optima batteries for their Vibe. I've heard conflicting reports about them. Are they as good as they claim? Or are they just a high priced item that should be avoided?A discussion of Optima batteries is almost like politics and religion. I am of the sect that believes they are a high priced item that should be avoided. [ have the same opinion in regard to routine use of premium gasoline when regular is recommended by in the manual.].

Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »Well it survived the winter we didn't have... hopefully it'll get 3 years out of it!The one I had in my 2003 Vibe went almost 5 years - I replaced it not because it failed but because I was certain "it was time".

son of a.....first they sell me a car with inexcusably horrible tires on it. now i have a "non-maintainance free" battery in my car. i thought they were gone by the '80's. i suppose i'll have to check my water levels. hell, i didn't even have to do that on my '86 suzuki samauri, which cost less than $6,000 new and was built with 1950's technology.totally disappointing.it's almost worth going to Costco and blowing the $50 for a real battery.

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Anyone ever use one of those Optima batteries for their Vibe. I've heard conflicting reports about them. Are they as good as they claim? Or are they just a high priced item that should be avoided?Optima's are nice if you need amounts of "car off" run time on electrical systems.. Having HUGE amounts off CCA (say 600+CCA), means nothing when the car turns over with a 320CCA battery.. so at that point it's storage.. If you are running a lot of electrical things, it might be a good idea, but again, it's REALLY only for "car off" electrical, because when the car is running, the systems are running from the alternator.. Also, Optima is an OLD technology.. I remember when they hit the market back in the early 90s... And YES, I hear good and bad about them, but more BAD now a days.. I personally am running an electrical system in my Subaru that is WAY WAY overkill, but it's also my show car, with system, and possibly long periods of "off" listening.. I've got a 140 amp alternator (stock is 60!!) a Sears DieHard Platinum and a BatCap 400 (another smaller audio specific battery) that I will be using.. The Sears DieHard Platinum is on the forefront of battery technology with it's AGM design (absorbed glass mat) So it mixes liquid cell with dry cell, by having the acid (liquid) suspend in a fiberglass matting.. It's about the best NON-car audio/specific type of battery on the market... It's also 200$.. more if you want the deep cycle marine version ... Is it worth it.. could be... is it necessary, not in the slightest... but I love it.. lol..

it's almost worth going to Costco and blowing the $50 for a real battery.[/QUOTE]Yep: the battery at Costco was rated very high in Consumer Reports. That's were I'll be getting my next battery for our 2003 Vibe.

last I checked, Costco's batteries were made by Johnson Controls. i had one in my '98 Sonoma and it was the only battery that lasted over 3 years in that battery eater.

Well, since star_deceiver was so kind as to give me approval to add this battery maintenance thread over the IM here's some maintenance I did of a different sort and took some pics. I cleaned my battery terminals and applied some protector. My positive battery terminal had all this bluish powdery stuff on there. I used gloves and safety goggles when cleaning that because its toxic. That's nearly two years worth of stuff on my terminal. Please use gloves and safety goggle when working around your battery. Safety first! I went to an auto parts store and picked up a spray can of battery terminal protector and a battery terminal cleaning brush. I also had an old can of battery terminal cleaner laying around. the cleaner I had changes from yellow to pink when it touches the bluish powdery stuff. oohhhh!! wow!!I was glad to have safety googles at this point because the brush was flinging stuff around.I finished it up by coating the terminals and connectors with the battery protector (the red stuff) and putting on the felt washers that came with my fancy brush. You can also use a toothbrush, baking soda w/ water to clean, and petroleum jelly in place of the battery protector to do this instead.This battery protector stuff works really well. I've never used these felt washers like this before but these are pretreated with corrosion inhibitors to protect the terminals. Some felt washers are untreated so they need to be saturated with either a battery protector spray or petroleum jelly before use. heres some nice info from battery tutorial. It turns out its also a good idea to place a bead of silicone sealer around the base of the terminal post to prevent the acid from leaking out. I've done this with mine.http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

The older Vibes came with a 320 CCA battery; this one is a lot bigger, 356 CCA. Well, it ain't broke so I'm not gonna fix it. I'll wait until it dies or the 5th winter whichever comes first and get a decent one. I think the replacement I got for my 2003 at Costco for about $60 was 600+ CCA. I think they have gone up though.

All this is great stuff to know!!

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Anyone ever use one of those Optima batteries for their Vibe. I've heard conflicting reports about them. Are they as good as they claim? Or are they just a high priced item that should be avoided?They have their uses and are great for certain cars. For instance, any car that has the battery inside the passenger box such as old VW's, Mazda Miata, several Mercedes Models. There isn't any outgassing UNLESS there is a major overcharge. No gas, no chance of explosion, no change of corrosion of wires or the metal mounting area.Quote, originally posted by Zimm »son of a..... now i have a "non-maintainance free" battery in my car. i thought they were gone by the '80's. i suppose i'll have to check my water levels...... totally disappointing.There isn't such thing as a maintenance free battery for autos. The closest thing yet would be the Optima. The industry promoted low maintenance batteries as Maintenance free for years. They covered the cell caps or minimized them somehow to make them disappear. All lead acid flooded cells need to vent and when they do, liquid is lost, it's a simple fact, no way around it. So what happened is many died an early death for they vented and no replenishment water was ever introduced.Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »Optima's are nice if you need amounts of "car off" run time on electrical systems.. ..................Also, Optima is an OLD technology.. I remember when they hit the market back in the early 90s... And YES, I hear good and bad about them, but more BAD now a days.. ....................... It's old technology only in that it is still a lead acid battery. For a lead acid battery it is cutting edge technology utilizing AGM and a spiral cell design. They also recycle any outgassing returning it to the charging medium. Even if you crack the case it will not leak acid.It will only vent in an abuse situation of defective charging.Are they worth the price? Maybe. I've got one for my old VW Karmaan Ghia. The battery area rusts so bad that this is a way to head it off.For a conventional car? No, I don't think they are needed but if you're the type that must have "the best" or most "expensive" by all means go ahead.Dave

Quote, originally posted by vibedrivermatt » I was looking at my positive terminal it had this bluish powdery stuff on there. I used gloves and safety goggles when cleaning that its toxic. That's nearly two years worth of stuff on my terminal. I've been running the original battery on my 2000 Honda Civic and it was absolutely caked in this blue residue. My old man told me to mix some baking soda and water and use it to scrub up the battery... and I'll be damned, he was right. I just brushed on the soda/water solution, let it sit for a couple minutes, and then everything just wiped right off. The battery looks brand new now, and miraculously, it's been cranking that little Honda for a decade.BTW, thanks to Star_Deceiver for pointing out the maintenance needs for this battery. I was oblivious to it.

Quote, originally posted by goochsmooch »I've been running the original battery on my 2000 Honda Civic and it was absolutely caked in this blue residue. My old man told me to mix some baking soda and water and use it to scrub up the battery... and I'll be damned, he was right. I just brushed on the soda/water solution, let it sit for a couple minutes, and then everything just wiped right off. The battery looks brand new now, and miraculously, it's been cranking that little Honda for a decade.BTW, thanks to Star_Deceiver for pointing out the maintenance needs for this battery. I was oblivious to it. You are absolutely correct. But keep in mind, that same solution if it gets into the battery cell openings will neutralize the acid in there and kill the battery. Be really careful where it runs off to!Dave

My vibe was turning over a little harder the past week, I finally checked the water levels in the battery and they were very low. Hopefully this battery gets me through the winter.

Silly question....if you dont have distilled water will bottled spring water do?

Quote, originally posted by cptnsolo77 »Silly question....if you dont have distilled water will bottled spring water do?I'd say no, all bottled water that I've ever seen has minerals added.

Read the side of the bottle. There are some that are completly distilled! (Others are just glorified tap water...)