Battery Problems?

[BlueZ]

My wife has an 03 ZO6 with 18k miles on it. I am not real familiar with the car and haven't worked on it since I am not usually driving it. It didn't start yesterday, after sitting for about a month. I jumped it, and ran it down the highway for about 50 miles round trip. Voltage when on - 11.3, idling - 13.9, on the highway, 14.1-14.3, city driving - 14.1. Then I just shut it off and turned the ign back on, 11.8. I pulled the codes, all historical (B2282+2284 battery 1 and 2 faults, B2285 batt 2 fail, and B0851 batt out of range) BEFORE I ran it, then cleared them. After running it there are no codes and the check engine light is OFF. Are these about normal voltage reads while running? By the way, I forgot how fun that sucker is to drive. I need to get it out more. Thanks for any help

 

[LittleRedFlatBack]

Hello BlueZ. Welcome to CAC. I did a search in the C5 Technical section using keyword "alternator" and found numerous threads. Sorry, but I don't know how to attach them to this thread. You might look for the thread titled "Need new battery" in that section. Hope this helps.

Dennis

 

[gmjunkie]

I'd say you need a new Battery,After running 50 miles it should have at least a Strong 12.5 volts!!

 

[BlueZ]

gmjunkie,
Can you recommend a good battery for a car that is driven once a week at most? Sometimes it sets for a month or more. I see you have a '78. My wife also has a 25th anniv. Not the pace care, just the straight silver with red interior. Thanks for the help guys. Usually I am on the harley forums, so when it went bad with the car I knew I could get help here.

 

[gmjunkie]

gmjunkie,
Can you recommend a good battery for a car that is driven once a week at most? Sometimes it sets for a month or more. I see you have a '78. My wife also has a 25th anniv. Not the pace care, just the straight silver with red interior. Thanks for the help guys. Usually I am on the harley forums, so when it went bad with the car I knew I could get help here.

I'll get into a Controversy here,But Here Go's!!!Go to Wal-Mart and buy a Cheap 36 month Battery for $39.95!! I have 3 batterys and several Old Cars,so I swap them around!!(I can't drive them all at once!) I get 3-4 years out of a cheap battery!! Why pay $100 or more for a So Called Super Duper Battery that will go bad in about the same amount of time not being used much,and you get Screwed on the Pro-Rating!!

 

[LLC5]

I'll get into a Controversy here,But Here Go's!!!Go to Wal-Mart and buy a Cheap 36 month Battery for $39.95!! I have 3 batterys and several Old Cars,so I swap them around!!(I can't drive them all at once!) I get 3-4 years out of a cheap battery!! Why pay $100 or more for a So Called Super Duper Battery that will go bad in about the same amount of time not being used much,and you get Screwed on the Pro-Rating!!

Agreed, pro-rating will always be a losing deal, it is there as a marketing tool and to protect the manufacturer. Base your purchase on CCA needed for your vehicle, and the "free replacement warranty", not the total "pro-rated" time warranty. Pro-rating warranty's will charge you for the amount of time you used the product based on list price of the product, not what it actually sells for, so you usually pay more for it under "warranty" than out right purchase.

 

[BlueZ]

Thanks to everyone for the info and help. I drove the car today after letting it set for about a day and a half. It is holding at 14 volts driving around town, and started really strong. I am probably due for a battery in the near future, but the car is definitely up and running now. I also checked codes again today and found none. Thanks again, and have a good week.

 

[Lambolover]

Thanks to everyone for the info and help. I drove the car today after letting it set for about a day and a half. It is holding at 14 volts driving around town, and started really strong. I am probably due for a battery in the near future, but the car is definitely up and running now. I also checked codes again today and found none. Thanks again, and have a good week.

You do know the battery is gonna drop dead at the worst possible time, don't you? Why delay? BTW, I just put in a new 72 month battery in the '02 for about $75 bucks(can't remember the brand off hand). I'd be grateful it's not the alternator and just put a good battery in it.....especially if your wife's the only one who really drives it.

 

[MsSchroder]

I'll get into a Controversy here,But Here Go's!!!Go to Wal-Mart and buy a Cheap 36 month Battery for $39.95!!

I'll second that. My original battery on my 02 Z went bad before the car was 18 months old. Due to the circumstances (reference lambolover's "worse possible time" remark), I replaced it with a $39 no-name from the local parts store in east bum-****, where it decided to go out. The no-name brand was still going strong when I sold it years later.

Tammy

 

[Lambolover]

I'll second that. My original battery on my 02 Z went bad before the car was 18 months old. Due to the circumstances (reference lambolover's "worse possible time" remark), I replaced it with a $39 no-name from the local parts store in east bum-****, where it decided to go out. The no-name brand was still going strong when I sold it years later.

Tammy

I noticed your avitar says you're from Lilburn. We moved to Peachtree City from New York 2 years ago and love it! Go Bulldogs!!!

 

[BlueZ]

You do know the battery is gonna drop dead at the worst possible time, don't you? Why delay? BTW, I just put in a new 72 month battery in the '02 for about $75 bucks(can't remember the brand off hand). I'd be grateful it's not the alternator and just put a good battery in it.....especially if your wife's the only one who really drives it.

Absolutely, don't get me wrong. The problem is no-one drives this car. My wife drives the family truckster and I ride my harley to work. I am taking the car up to Reno in a few days, but just don't have the time to get a battery in it right now. Later this summer I will do a time-based service on it, and will be asking lots of questions here. The car is 5 years old, but the low mileage makes you forget the stuff like the battery, radiator, AC, that wears as much based on time as mileage.

 

[BLUBYU]

Optima Red Top ...

or invest in a Battery Tender .... my Z06 sits quite a bit ... it's an '03 with 9K miles and I still have the original battery.