Battery in the trunk - Page 4 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

CWI · 03-30-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

^ And easy access for car audio nuts

Saves a few dollars in power cable to the amps

*CamaroSpike23* · 03-30-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shockandawe

The benefits you mention are secondary,the primary reason is to distribute the weight evenly.

weight distro.... even tho it adds additional weight due to the length of cables required to run from the trunk to the front of the car...

Camaro509 · 03-30-2009, 11:17 AM

Is the battery in a separate compartment in the trunk, or exposed?
Also, has anyone seen any pictures of the trunk?

Baughman · 03-30-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro509

Is the battery in a separate compartment in the trunk, or exposed?
Also, has anyone seen any pictures of the trunk?

Not sure about your 1st question but the 2nd answer is yes I've seen pictures and videos of the trunk. You cant see the battery. I know it is below the carpeted floor board.

Kooter81 · 03-30-2009, 12:10 PM

To answer some of the questions raised on this thread and add some comments.... most of what's been posted is correct. The reasons GM has moved a lot of the battery's into the trunk is weight distribution, getting the battery out of the engine compartment to get it away from the NVH, and becuase of the room issue.

The weight distribution idea has more to do with ride quality than performance. That's why you'll see it in the trunk on a Cobalt SS and an LS. What you are doing is moving weight away from the heaviest part of the vehicle to make the front suspension more responsive and ride better. I would guess that this was the "primary" reason for doing this, but you'd really need a GM Engineer to answer that question. In some models there is the added benefit of performance handling, but it's really redundant to the ride quality.

Moving the battery out of the engine compartment also gets it away from the noise vibration and harshness(NVH) in the engine compartment, not to mention the heat. These things all diminish the batterys overall life span. There are connections in the engine compartment to use for jump starting the vehicle. It is best to connect directly to the battery in the trunk if you are going to put it on a charger though. On some GM vehicles there is the added benefit of a sensor on the battery to alternator leads that sense the battery charge. This system mostly seen on the 900 series trucks and SUV's stops the alternator from charging the battery when it's at full charge thus saving charging cycles and extending the life of the battery.

With government regualtions on crash ratings and saftey it has been necessary to use more high strength steel and reinforcements in the front of vehicels to meet the higher standards. With this it becomes tighter for room in the engine compartment. Moving the battery out is one thing that actually can be done to save room. It also adds the benefit, as someone mentioned, that in the event of a front end crash, the battery is less likely to be damaged and disable the OnStar.

The answer to if the battery's are sealed, they are wet cell batteries that have a vent tube that runs out of the trunk so there aren't fumes released into the driver compartment. They are not the type of battery that you have to check the fluid level on though.

*CamaroSpike23* · 03-30-2009, 12:10 PM

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...hlight=battery

some pics.

and the batteries are sealed

Number 3 · 03-30-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zebra

that ain't the only reason. it may have been one of the bigger factors, but when asking about this months ago, they also mentioned OnStar being one of the reasons. think about it... if you smash the front end and disconnect the battery (or puncture/rupture it), what's gonna supply power to alert the EMTs? rear-end collisions are typically less traumatic to passengers than front-end, so statistically, there's a better chance of someone being coherent enough to make a call if a rear crash kills the battery.

also, the reduced heat and elemental exposure help prolong the life of the battery.
it's also much easier to access in the trunk.

OnStar has it's own back up battery, if I am not mistaken.

Also key example is the Z06, battery is in the back. Base Corvette and XLR battery is up front. Moved only for weight distribution.

Other side benefits are the battery is out of the hot underhood envirionment so it can help battery life. But requires super long battery cable to the starter.

So Zebra is correct there are other reasons, but the main one that makes the decision is generally relocation of the mass.

fierodeletre · 03-30-2009, 12:59 PM

I don't buy it, man. The car weighs 3800 lbs plus or minus. The battery probably weighs what, 35 lbs? move it 3-4 feet from the center of mass in either direction and you're still only looking at 120 foot/lbs of moment. It's like putting a cooler in your trunk. Okay, I do agree with Number 3, on a car like the Z06, where the OTHER models in the lineup (ie, LT corvettes) have it up front, perhaps this was done primarily for weight distribution as it has a beefier engine, and, quite frankly, the ZO6 crowd are probably going to be the only ones nitpicky enough to demand 50/50 distribution. But the ride quality argument is ridiculous. We're not talking about a lot of weight here.

Also, the number one thing that kills batteries sooner than later it high temperatures. A battery sitting on a shelf next to the engine couldn't care less about how harsh, noisy, or vibratory the engine is. It's not like it's bolted to it. It's the underhood temperatures that make its life nasty, brutish, and short. As a Fiero owner, I can attest to this. Putting the battery into the trunk (which is directly behind the engine and is subject to nearly all the NVH that that engine can produce (a lot) and the same battery goes for over twice as long before it won't hold a charge.

Camaro509 · 03-30-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...hlight=battery

some pics.

and the batteries are sealed

Thanks for the pictures link, that answered both of my questions.

Wicho · 03-30-2009, 03:20 PM

Thanks for the answer Camarospike and Kooter.

I'm definitely putting in a dry-core battery. Yellow top Optima.

MontyCarlo · 03-30-2009, 03:53 PM

One final reason for the battery in the trunk - the longer electrical lines make the car more susceptible to electromagnetic pulses from the government's secret orbital weapons platforms. GM was forced to do this so that in the event of tougher environmental laws, the gov't will be able to shut down your vehicle remotely and make it look like an electrical problem.

Fortunately, your Camaro can be protected from EMP weapons by using a jumbo-sized tin foil hat, which I happen to be selling for $2,000 apiece. Place your orders now!

Wicho · 03-30-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MontyCarlo

One final reason for the battery in the trunk - the longer electrical lines make the car more susceptible to electromagnetic pulses from the government's secret orbital weapons platforms. GM was forced to do this so that in the event of tougher environmental laws, the gov't will be able to shut down your vehicle remotely and make it look like an electrical problem.

Fortunately, your Camaro can be protected from EMP weapons by using a jumbo-sized tin foil hat, which I happen to be selling for $2,000 apiece. Place your orders now!

I'll take two!

*CamaroSpike23* · 03-30-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro509

Thanks for the pictures link, that answered both of my questions.

np.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicho

Thanks for the answer Camarospike and Kooter.

I'm definitely putting in a dry-core battery. Yellow top Optima.

ill stick with stock for a while, then move to an Odessy

Quote:

Originally Posted by MontyCarlo

One final reason for the battery in the trunk - the longer electrical lines make the car more susceptible to electromagnetic pulses from the government's secret orbital weapons platforms. GM was forced to do this so that in the event of tougher environmental laws, the gov't will be able to shut down your vehicle remotely and make it look like an electrical problem.

Fortunately, your Camaro can be protected from EMP weapons by using a jumbo-sized tin foil hat, which I happen to be selling for $2,000 apiece. Place your orders now!

I can get them to you for $1995.00 shipped!!

Kooter81 · 03-30-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MontyCarlo

One final reason for the battery in the trunk - the longer electrical lines make the car more susceptible to electromagnetic pulses from the government's secret orbital weapons platforms. GM was forced to do this so that in the event of tougher environmental laws, the gov't will be able to shut down your vehicle remotely and make it look like an electrical problem.

Fortunately, your Camaro can be protected from EMP weapons by using a jumbo-sized tin foil hat, which I happen to be selling for $2,000 apiece. Place your orders now!

I thought that the government was aborting the EMP program because it now can just shut the car down with OnStar?? OOPS!!! didn't mean to screw up your marketing plan on the tinfoil hats Monty!!!

03-30-2009, 11:17 AM	#45
Camaro509 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Black Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,085	Is the battery in a separate compartment in the trunk, or exposed? Also, has anyone seen any pictures of the trunk? __________________ Understeer, Oversteer, Wheel Alignment (Camber etc), Torque, Horsepower, Camaro Fold for team 11108 to help find a cure! Folding@home Stanford's Research DC Program.

03-30-2009, 12:10 PM	#47
Kooter81 Rhinelander Autocenter Drives: 4X4 Tahoe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wisconsin Northwoods Posts: 90	To answer some of the questions raised on this thread and add some comments.... most of what's been posted is correct. The reasons GM has moved a lot of the battery's into the trunk is weight distribution, getting the battery out of the engine compartment to get it away from the NVH, and becuase of the room issue. The weight distribution idea has more to do with ride quality than performance. That's why you'll see it in the trunk on a Cobalt SS and an LS. What you are doing is moving weight away from the heaviest part of the vehicle to make the front suspension more responsive and ride better. I would guess that this was the "primary" reason for doing this, but you'd really need a GM Engineer to answer that question. In some models there is the added benefit of performance handling, but it's really redundant to the ride quality. Moving the battery out of the engine compartment also gets it away from the noise vibration and harshness(NVH) in the engine compartment, not to mention the heat. These things all diminish the batterys overall life span. There are connections in the engine compartment to use for jump starting the vehicle. It is best to connect directly to the battery in the trunk if you are going to put it on a charger though. On some GM vehicles there is the added benefit of a sensor on the battery to alternator leads that sense the battery charge. This system mostly seen on the 900 series trucks and SUV's stops the alternator from charging the battery when it's at full charge thus saving charging cycles and extending the life of the battery. With government regualtions on crash ratings and saftey it has been necessary to use more high strength steel and reinforcements in the front of vehicels to meet the higher standards. With this it becomes tighter for room in the engine compartment. Moving the battery out is one thing that actually can be done to save room. It also adds the benefit, as someone mentioned, that in the event of a front end crash, the battery is less likely to be damaged and disable the OnStar. The answer to if the battery's are sealed, they are wet cell batteries that have a vent tube that runs out of the trunk so there aren't fumes released into the driver compartment. They are not the type of battery that you have to check the fluid level on though. __________________ Dave Dart Certified Internet Manager GM Truck Specialist Rhinelander GM Autocenter Rhinelander WI 54501 daved@rhinelandergm.com www.rhinelandergm.com

03-30-2009, 03:20 PM	#52
Wicho Resident Detailer Drives: 1998 Camaro Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Valencia, Ca Posts: 22	Thanks for the answer Camarospike and Kooter. I'm definitely putting in a dry-core battery. Yellow top Optima. __________________ "Faith is nothing more than the license people give themselves to keep believing when reason fails."

03-30-2009, 03:53 PM	#53
MontyCarlo Drives: 2010 2LT/RS auto IBM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,259	One final reason for the battery in the trunk - the longer electrical lines make the car more susceptible to electromagnetic pulses from the government's secret orbital weapons platforms. GM was forced to do this so that in the event of tougher environmental laws, the gov't will be able to shut down your vehicle remotely and make it look like an electrical problem. Fortunately, your Camaro can be protected from EMP weapons by using a jumbo-sized tin foil hat, which I happen to be selling for $2,000 apiece. Place your orders now! __________________ FAQs: 1. No, I do not have any strong opinions about the Monte Carlo. 2. Yes, I know what my name looks like. 3. Yes, but the medication helps immensely. 2LT/RS IBM/gray #21,895 ordered April 21st, delivered July 3rd

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03-30-2009, 12:59 PM	#50
fierodeletre Drives: 02 WS6 TA, 88 Fiero Formula Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Utard Posts: 296	I don't buy it, man. The car weighs 3800 lbs plus or minus. The battery probably weighs what, 35 lbs? move it 3-4 feet from the center of mass in either direction and you're still only looking at 120 foot/lbs of moment. It's like putting a cooler in your trunk. Okay, I do agree with Number 3, on a car like the Z06, where the OTHER models in the lineup (ie, LT corvettes) have it up front, perhaps this was done primarily for weight distribution as it has a beefier engine, and, quite frankly, the ZO6 crowd are probably going to be the only ones nitpicky enough to demand 50/50 distribution. But the ride quality argument is ridiculous. We're not talking about a lot of weight here. Also, the number one thing that kills batteries sooner than later it high temperatures. A battery sitting on a shelf next to the engine couldn't care less about how harsh, noisy, or vibratory the engine is. It's not like it's bolted to it. It's the underhood temperatures that make its life nasty, brutish, and short. As a Fiero owner, I can attest to this. Putting the battery into the trunk (which is directly behind the engine and is subject to nearly all the NVH that that engine can produce (a lot) and the same battery goes for over twice as long before it won't hold a charge.