FAQ: Good Battery Replacement?

albertj wrote:

Eldo wrote:

Check this out, about a quarter the way down...

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/care-maintenance-f8/good-battery-replacement-t321-60.htm?highlight=battery

nice writeup on modifying the vent gizmo

Albertj

As Elvis would say, "Thank you very much"...

Well this keeps getting better and better. The AC Delco retailer said that the appropriate venting system for my battery would be in today. I gave 'em a call and they said that their warehouse in Montreal was out of stock, so it has to come from the states which could take 3-5 days. I called GM to see if perhaps they could get it quicker but they also said that it would have to come from the states so it would take about the same amount of time. Right now, I have a regular (non-vented) battery in there without the rear seat in. However, if its gonna take till next week to get the new venting tube system, I was thinking of putting the seat in to get the family around on the weekend. Is there any potential problem to covering up this non-vented battery temporarily?

I think you'll be okay. I drove around for a few months with a cracked vent tube. As a precaution, don't let anyone smoke in the back seat.

Well, got the new venting tube system P/N 25720111 for group 79 840 CCA batteries from AC Delco. Here it is...

It is much different from the original on the right...


Heres a pic of the hole in the floor without the grommet...

and here is the grommet itself...

The bend in the tubing is to allow for the connections at the negative and positive terminals...

The fit is very snug, and tight. Anyway, battery is in and vented and the car is back to normal. Thanks everyone for your help!

Thanks for the pics, BMD!

I find the pictures super helpful for future reference. Glad you were able to get everything taken care of.

Good job

I just can't believe that with all the money they've blown on inefficient, unnecessary crap (like EIGHT different cornering light lenses when 2 would have done fine,) they've actually created a new part that they did indeed make necessary by changing their battery spec...

I wonder if any other dealer in the country knows about it?

Eldo wrote:

Check this out, about a quarter the way down...

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/care-maintenance-f8/good-battery-replacement-t321-60.htm?highlight=battery

Mark,
I went to the Rayovac chart and noticed that the battery listed for the:
95-97 = 970 cca and the one for the
98-99 = 840 cca.
Very interesting. Why that is I have no clue. But when I'm due a Battery I'll have to look at both and see if either will fit. If so, then the one for a 95-97 is going in my 98.

Rickw wrote:

I went to the Rayovac chart and noticed that the battery listed for the:
95-97 = 970 cca and the one for the
98-99 = 840 cca.

Rick, do you have a link to that chart by any chance?

So far I've been unable to copy and paste it.
It's buried in Eldo's thread mentioned above.

Correction it's in this thread Page 5, 8 th post down there is the word LINK and it brings you to a battery store's site that sells Batteries for the Riv with different output ratings.

Rickw wrote:

Eldo wrote:

Check this out, about a quarter the way down...

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/care-maintenance-f8/good-battery-replacement-t321-60.htm?highlight=battery

Mark,
I went to the Rayovac chart and noticed that the battery listed for the:
95-97 = 970 cca and the one for the
98-99 = 840 cca.
Very interesting. Why that is I have no clue. But when I'm due a Battery I'll have to look at both and see if either will fit. If so, then the one for a 95-97 is going in my 98.

Last time i went to the dealer they only were able to get a 840CCA battery for my 96. my guess is the 970's were discontinued in 97/98 thus leading to a change.
the 840 works flawlessly in my 96, and it always shows good voltage when i have the scanner hooked up. (key "on" and sitting for some time)

Rickw wrote:

So far I've been unable to copy and paste it.
It's buried in Eldo's thread mentioned above.

Correction it's in this thread Page 5, 8 th post down there is the word LINK and it brings you to a battery store's site that sells Batteries for the Riv with different output ratings.

Ah, yes found it, thanks Rick. Its interesting that if you look at the description it says the battery is 970 CCA, but further down in the specs, it says that the CCA are 840?

SLI79 Battery
1995 to 1997 V6 3.8L 970CCA Riviera Buick Car and Truck Group 79 Rayovac 12V Battery. This group 79 battery has side terminals and ports for vent tubes to accommodate hidden install applications. Testing and installation services are available at most locations. Don't forget we recycle old batteries too! *Information on this product is for reference only. Please contact a Store near you for specific availability and pricing details.

Item number: SLI79
Weight: 43.0000 lbs
Voltage: 12V
CCA: 840
Primary Applications: GM Vehicles
Replaces: 79-60, MTP79, SLI79-LI

LINK

Exactly what I was going to say, BMD... The reference is to the '97 battery with 970 CCA, but when you follow the links, the actual replacement part is a group 79, 840 CCA.

Matthew is probably right when he surmises that they changed the OEM spec all the way back in '98. What's really weird is that all the 1990's Caddies have battery specs much lower than ours...

(It's funny that this should come up today - In the last 6 days I've not driven the car at all to charge, only starting it a few times and running the interior lights for a few BRP cycles, and with that new 840 of mine, it cranked a little slow today. Perhaps the MP3 transmitter in my power-port uses more juice than I thought...)

Hmmmm, now you got me worried Mark . You don't leave the transmitter in at all times though do you? I use an MP3 transmitter aswell, but its only in while the motor is running. This battery better be able to handle the Riv's needs.

BMD wrote:

Hmmmm, now you got me worried Mark . You don't leave the transmitter in at all times though do you? I use an MP3 transmitter aswell, but its only in while the motor is running. This battery better be able to handle the Riv's needs.

Yes, my power port is on all the time, so either the MP3 transmitter or cell-phone charger LED are on, too.

I got the Duralast Gold with 840 CCA and it seems ok. Although I have nothing to base it on because I had to replace the battery the day I bought the car. What I do know is that the battery I took out of the car must have weight a good fifty plus pounds! It was insane trying to get the damn thing out of the rear seat.

The car does glitch once in awhile and the light seems dim but not sure if its just the car or what. Haven't had a problem cranking it or anything and it has sat for a few days. Still no problems. Eh who knows.

VJD2 wrote:

I got the Duralast Gold with 840 CCA and it seems ok. Although I have nothing to base it on because I had to replace the battery the day I bought the car. What I do know is that the battery I took out of the car must have weight a good fifty plus pounds! It was insane trying to get the damn thing out of the rear seat.

The car does glitch once in awhile and the light seems dim but not sure if its just the car or what. Haven't had a problem cranking it or anything and it has sat for a few days. Still no problems. Eh who knows.

If you can, check the ignition switch. "Glitch once in a while" sounds like worn contacts in the switch.

Albertj

The one I got for my girlfriend's POS Saab9-3 does not fit in the OEM tray. I mean... it fits in that area but it's resting on the tray lips that should be around the battery. Is this par for the course for replacements or should I just take the battery back? Granted this isn't a genuine Saab battery, it's from Advance. I'm thinking about just using the ziptie method to keep that sucker in there. On the bright side, the car starts like a champ now.

Sorry Rick but it sounds like they sold you the wrong battery. It should fit snugly within the tray, or if anything be a little smaller than the original due to upgrades in battery technology. I'm sure the car starts great cause if its a larger battery it probably has more cranking amps than the original, which shouldn't harm anything. You should return the battery and let them give you the proper size one. If you're dead set on keeping it you can bolt in a bigger replacement battery tray, if there's room of course, and use j bolts and a top clamp to keep that sucker in place. That's how I made an optima fit my in Camaro. Good luck.

Good call Derek. Thanks for the info. Goin back to Advance shortly.

DEMonte1997 wrote:

The one I got for my girlfriend's POS Saab9-3 does not fit in the OEM tray. I mean... it fits in that area but it's resting on the tray lips that should be around the battery. Is this par for the course for replacements or should I just take the battery back? Granted this isn't a genuine Saab battery, it's from Advance. I'm thinking about just using the ziptie method to keep that sucker in there. On the bright side, the car starts like a champ now.

If it was on the charts as the right battery, check and see if the Saab folks changed trays. The Riv's tray bolts onto the lfoor. If Saab is similar, maybe there is a different tray for the later ones?!?!

in any event fix it right, maybe zip ties for now until you can get it right (like, ASAP this coming week...



Albertj

1996 Riv installed an Interstate MTP 79 with vents. No issues so far. $120 out the door.

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_eStore/Products/RT/PID-MTP-79%28Automotive+Truck%29.aspx?dsNavigation=Ntk~SearchGroup|MTP+79|3|%2cNy~True%2cNtpc~Disabled%2cNs~product+Type|101|1|&Title=Mega-Tron+Plus+79+Automotive+Battery+++85+months+++840+CCA

Just installed the 79-6YR with new vent kit for $128.

Recently my battery died. It was weird because one day it was find and the next it would not even turn the engine over. I checked Consumers Reports and I have had luck w/ Costco & Wal-Mart’s batteries. Costco does not have one for 95-99 Rivs. Wal-Mart had a 78N (for northern climates) for under $80 and they install it free.

I had them set one aside for me and noted their closing time. I left work early to get there almost an hour before they closed. However, they said because they had more than an hour of work lined up, they could not install the battery. . Costco’s policy is if you get there before closing, you will get serviced even if it occurred after the closing time. I was desperate, so I bought the battery and installed it myself.

The battery was about 2 inches shorter than the original. So, some bending of the positive cable was required but no big deal. It is a sealed battery. So no venting required. Car started fine.

When I took back the old battery for core charge, I had them test the battery, charging system & starter. Both the starter & charging system came back fine. However, the battery test said “Good – Recharge, Voltage: 12.39v, CCA measured 768, CCA Rated: 800. Battery is good but low on charge”. I figured it was sitting around a little and my charging system would get it back within specs.

About a month went by with no problems starting. I had them test the battery again with the same tester. Same results with CCA measured at 762. They said it was because something was drawing power when the car was off. I think this explanation is BS but do I return the battery because of these specs?

Rogerh11 wrote:

Recently my battery died. It was weird because one day it was find and the next it would not even turn the engine over. I checked Consumers Reports and I have had luck w/ Costco & Wal-Mart’s batteries. Costco does not have one for 95-99 Rivs. Wal-Mart had a 78N (for northern climates) for under $80 and they install it free.

I had them set one aside for me and noted their closing time. I left work early to get there almost an hour before they closed. However, they said because they had more than an hour of work lined up, they could not install the battery. . Costco’s policy is if you get there before closing, you will get serviced even if it occurred after the closing time. I was desperate, so I bought the battery and installed it myself.

The battery was about 2 inches shorter than the original. So, some bending of the positive cable was required but no big deal. It is a sealed battery. So no venting required. Car started fine.

When I took back the old battery for core charge, I had them test the battery, charging system & starter. Both the starter & charging system came back fine. However, the battery test said “Good – Recharge, Voltage: 12.39v, CCA measured 768, CCA Rated: 800. Battery is good but low on charge”. I figured it was sitting around a little and my charging system would get it back within specs.

About a month went by with no problems starting. I had them test the battery again with the same tester. Same results with CCA measured at 762. They said it was because something was drawing power when the car was off. I think this explanation is BS but do I return the battery because of these specs?

You should return the battery because they sold you the wrong one. Riv's battery is a group 79. The 78N look sealed but it still vents and in a year or so the acid fumes will eat a hole in the floor of your car. You think you're unhappy now? Just wait until the floor rots out then you'll have it for sure.

http://www.batteriesplus.com/product/39768-SLI79-Battery/560-SLI/3991-Car-and-Truck-Batteries/127479-Buick/Riviera/1998-to-1999-V6-3-dot8L-840CCA.aspx has a pic of the battery you need.

To save some $$ go to an Interstate battery dealer near you, see the phone book, it ALSO is the case that the GM dealers are usually **very** competitive on the pricing for the Delco batteries, so you should ask at the parts counter of a dealer near you. If you threw away the vent you will need a new vent assy - the dealer *may* give you one along with the battery, or you can get one from an Aurora or Eldo or another Riv in a junkyard.

Bottom line is you're having problems because you have the wrong battery. Conversely, the 79 is designed to take the long slow drain. If you really have to cheap out call a few junkyards and have them sell you a used battery that tests good. The Delco 79's are known to last a very long time, I had one for 9 years no kidding and only replaced it because I have the battery tested each year at annual inspection and it fell below the CCA service spec (450 min).

Albertj


As for the car drawing power while off, the Riv's "parasitic load" is really pretty high. There is a "retained power" system that draws; if you have delayed exit lighting (headlight delay off) that sucks power; the receiver for the remote key fob is **always** on, and there is more.

96riv wrote:

Just installed the 79-6YR with new vent kit for $128.

Where did you get the vent kit?