Battery keeps dying..

[VertLover]

Ever since i had my Vette 10k the battery wont stay charged more than a week... They checked the alternator and its fine... What could be draining my battery? Thx for any replies...

 

[jimmers]

That happened to me when i first got my vette. Mine turned out to be the radio. I pulled the fuse for the time being and battery stayed charged. Does the battery drain alot overnight? Somthing must be causing a short.

 

[vetteboy86]

Well if you have a draw on the battery this could cause it. The best thing to do is unhook one terminal of the battery, and with the doors closed, and the hoos lights unplugged hook a meter or test light in series with the battery and cable. Put the meter on the Amps setting. With everything off, there should be very little current draw. If you have alot of current draw then you know you have a problem. This can also be achieved with a test light.

if you determine you have a draw, unplug one fuse at a time until the current draw goes away. That way you know which circuit in the car is the problem.

 

[VertLover]

Thanks for replies...Jimmers--Yea the battery is weak and it barely started today, i drove it all day last night...The battery needs to be repalced but i know there is a drain somewere..

Vetteboy86--Great reply i will have someone check it out...

 

[vetteboy86]

Thats what we are all about here. What does your alternator read?

 

[G Winter]

A battery with a bad sell will act like it has a drain on it. If you think the battery is weak and plan on a new one anyhow, replace it first.
Glenn

 

[VertLover]

When i replaced the Battery a few years ago they tested the alternator and said it was fine...Car has 34k miles now... Since when in storage ive always diconnected the battery...(not that it should need too}
New battery or not it wont stay charged more than a week....Now this battery is really bad after all the jumps.;{..

I wonder if it could be the alarm maybe, before it worked but hasent for a few years.. The doors would unlock when walking up to the car... I know the battery probably dead on the remote.. Just been lazy with the vette...

 

[Edmond]

What kind of battery are you going to get? I need a new battery, my Delco pooped after 3 years.:cry I'm thinking about going with a Die Hard.

 

[VertLover]

Die Hard Gold is whats in there now...Maybee i should get delco hehe..

 

[jsinga]

FYI, a weak battery puts a lot of stress on an alternator! You don't want to kill it and add to your problems.
A battery tender or cheap charger is a lot less than a new alternator.

JS

 

[jcs44]

I've had this problem too, but it turned out to be more related to not driving enough to keep the battery up. Now I use one of those little chargers that keep it peaked without staying on all the time like a trickle charger. These cars do keep a continuous draw on the battery though.

JCS44
Triple Black LT4 Vert

 

[JimVette]

You said in your original thread that you had this problem since purchase with 10k on it. I had the same type of problem with a power window switch, passenger side up only that drove me up a wall for a time. I only found it when I disconnected the battery and reconnected it, thats when I heard the switch power the motor for a split second.

 

[jra88]

Optima yellow top

I had to get a yellow top optima 4 my c4 because off the lack of time i get 2 drive it n this god awefull southern heat but have had no probs since

 

[road_racefan]

Definitely go with the battery first. Was having the same problem. New battery solved it.

 

[Larry's Yellow Rdstr]

Because of a short in the light for the ash tray in my old 75 my battery would go dead in about 3 days. Drove me crazy. I bought a 2 amp trickle charger and I have never bought a more useful tool. They last for years.

 

[jcs44]

Get a peak charger instead of a trickle charger though. A peak charger shuts off when the battery is fully charged and only comes on as needed. Better for the battery, but they do cost a little more.

JCS44
LT4 Vert

 

[Edmond]

Get a peak charger instead of a trickle charger though. A peak charger shuts off when the battery is fully charged and only comes on as needed. Better for the battery, but they do cost a little more.

JCS44
LT4 Vert

How much do peak chargers cost compared to trickle chargers? I should look into getting one of these chargers.

 

[jcs44]

I bought a "Battery Minder" from a place called pacificbattery.com. They're about $45 delivered. You can probably find them on ebay too. It comes with regular batterty clamps and also a cable that can be attached to the battery and just plugged in to the charger. It's great for cars or boats that sit a lot.

JCS44

 

[VertLover]

update- Finally got the vette checked out.. Turns out leaving my Key in the ignition(when parked in the garage) causes a draw... Theirs a piece of metal on the Key that causes some draw.. (i forgot already the term he gave me for it).

Battery was toast, i put in a Delco.

Thx for all the replies..

 

[Jersey-vinny]

Went crazy looking for the drain. Turned out to be the Delco battery. Have graduated to red topped Optima.
VINNY