Battery current draw question

[magoo]

After recently checking and charging the batteries in my vettes, I found that 3 of them had maintained a charge pretty well. The battery in my 86 was totally dead. After recharging and testing it seems to be ok. I've read on several threads about newer vettes having some draw on the battery while sitting. My cars sat for 3 - 4 months. My question is: Is it normal for my 86 to have a draw while sitting? Is it normal for the battery to be dead after 3 months? What is a reasonable time this battery should stay charged while sitting? I know thats 3 questions. Thanks for the help.

Mike

 

[ecss]

The battery on my 89 needs recharging after sitting around 6 weeks. The drain is from the radio memory, ECM memory and the HVAC Programmer memory if you have the C68 Auto Climate control.
I also I have an after market alarm with keyless entry.

If you use a amp meter and measure the current draw from the battery, it should be around 35 millamps for your 86. Note: When the courtesy lights are on, the current draw will be around 5 amps. so you need to wait for them to time out then the current draw should go down to 35 millamps.

 

[jsinga]

My 87 sat for at least 6 months while I was in Korea and it fired right up when I took the cover off. Lately, it's gone through 2 or 3 batteries. If you are short tripping the car when it's out and the battery gets down it act like yours. Get a good battey and keep it hot and it will last. Get a Battery Tender if you short trip the car and run the radio with the engine off.

JS

 

[WhalePirot]

Is it normal for my 86 to have a draw while sitting?

Ensure that your battery connections are clean, w/o corrosion and snug. All the new cars do, some more than others, depending on how many electronic boxes need to be 'tickled'. My battery tender does not seem to keep up, for some reason. Then, maybe it was those two crappy Red Top Optimas.