Cool, yeah now that you mention it, I do remember reading about the battery saver thing.

Anyway. Load tested the battery this afternoon. Voltage was in the good section. Starting voltage dipped down to 10 volts. Load tested on the edge of weak, but still in the 600CCA region of the tester. It was bleeding down however, but after a minute of dead short (basically what the load tester does), it was still showing on the hairy edge of good (between good and weak). Definitely weird.

I will be replacing the battery come Monday. Still don't know whether I'm going with Napa (Exide IIRC), Sears (Diehard International), or Advanced (AutoCraft Titanium).

As an aside, I tested my year old AutoCraft Titanium battery in my Bravada and it tested at 600CCA (700CCA rated). It was rock solid though through the load test. Didn't do the starting voltage test.

When mine shows signs of weakness, I think I'll just go down to the local GM dealer for a direct replacement.

All of the ones that I have been considering (up until measuring the battery) have been direct replacements, just not the problematic AC Delco'*. Don't think anyone here would want battery acid leaking all over under your rear seat.

As I understand it, the group 100 battery (for 00+) is exclusive to AC/Delco because of the vent. It'* true that the #78 is the same size, so I'd like to see some pictures of the rerouting of the vent. Sounds like a good way to stick it to Delco!

Well, it'* not a Group 100. It'* Group 79. The Group 78 batteries have the vents (some of them), but they are not the same length. Most Group 78 batteries are 10-3/4" long while the Group 79 batteries are 12-1/16" long.

I will be replacing my Group 79 battery with another Group 79. Basically because the CCA requirements of the SSEi are higher than most Group 78 batteries (unless you spend the same money as the Group 79). I'm going with the AutoCraft Titanium from Advanced because they have it in stock.

Sojnds like you have taken the vent into account, please make sure you don't hurt yourself or the car by using a battery that isn't correct for the application.

I stand corrected I'd been told by several sources that it was a group 100. Is there such a thing? I asked the guys at Batteries Plus about the 100, and they seemed to know what I meant, but said it wasn't available to them. Sounds like another mystery!

Well, I feel somewhat vindicated. The Group 100 is for n/a cars, the 79 is for */c cars, and the difference is the cca. You all probably all knew that, but now I do.

Yes, you are correct. Sorry for the doubt.

Never heard of a Group 100, but hell, never heard of a Group 79 either until now

I am using the Group 79 DIRECT replacement battery from Advanced.

For all of your information, the Group 79 Battery is ~12" Long, ~6-3/4" Wide, and ~7-3/8" tall.

Using a different battery will not put you in higher risk of anything provided that it is of equal or higher CCA, fits in the space required (width and height are our only restrictions), and has provisions for the vents (again for our application).

Kyle, Idon't think that you would notice any difference if your replacement battery had a lesser CCA rating, but staying with the spec battery for the SSEi is a good idea.
Thanks for the info on dimensions & other specs also.