Battery runs down in a few weeks

[Cessna 182]

I may drive my 99 every month or so. If I let it set over two weeks the battery runs down. Is this normal? I have a red top Optima in it that is about 3 years old.

thanks

 

[Roadster Guy]

Could be battery drain if battery and system charging are good.

Not normal for a two week sit if battery fully charged when sitting commenced. Maybe a month or more may run a C5 battery down. C5 owners may want to verify this.

Check for battery drain from aftermarket alarms or accessories, underhood or courtesey lights that stay or other. Read this old but extremely helpful thread on checking for battery drain...His instructions are very clear.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16110&highlight=dead+battery

If battery drain is not the problem and the battery and charging system are good, then perhaps a battery tender may be the answer with your long periods of sitting.

Driving your Vetter once a month may not be enough to recharge the battery and it may be very hard on your alternator, which is not designed to constantly bring an almost dead battery back to full charge.
RG

 

[brunox 1]

Been having the same problem since I put in the Optima red top.At first I thought it was because I left the doors and hatch open while cleaning- ect too long. The 2nd and 3rd times the vehicle just sat. Last time the car sat for 16 days after a 180 mile drive. With the previous original battery it would sit all winter and crank over in the spring. I purchased the battery in Mar 2005 and have until March 2007 to return it for full replacement. I had to put the battery on a 15 to 30 min charge to turn the motor over.

 

[MsSchroder]

Not normal for a two week sit if battery fully charged when sitting commenced. Maybe a month or more may run a C5 battery down. C5 owners may want to verify this.

I agree. I had a cheap Napa battery, which would go for weeks and weeks between cranks with no problem at all.

Has it had these symptoms for all the time you've had it?

Tammy

 

[brunox 1]

No the only problem Ive had with the car since I bought it has been the battery. Mabey I just got a defective one.The majority of reviews Ive read on that battery were good.

 

[Fungooli]

I agree. I had a cheap Napa battery, which would go for weeks and weeks between cranks with no problem at all.

Has it had these symptoms for all the time you've had it?

Tammy

Have had the same problem with my 99 since I bought it used a few years ago and probably drive it about the same amount as you and even got it a new battery. Brought it to the dealer a few months back for some other work and told him about it. He said it was normal as they were always going dead on the lot and not to worry about it. Still find it pretty hard to believe but haven't had the time to seriously look for a short. Once I boosted it up, I was always good till the next time it sat 2-3 weeks. When I had it in, they did that column lock recall. Soon after, the service column lock light kept coming on, along with tire pressure monitors not working. I took it to a 2 hr Van Morrison concert and when I came out it was a good thing I was parked on a hill. Had it in my garage ever since, maybe 2 months and today I gave it a decent charge. Started it up, drove around all day, no problems, no column lock message, monitors fine, charging great, and so far holding a good charge, almost like it fixed itself, well for 2-3 weeks anyway.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
What really must be looked at is the DRAW of electricity from your system.
29 milliamps is the normal maximum allowed electrical use when keys are out of the ignition and the doors closed.
So, with that in mind if you are over that your battery, no matter what make, will go dead.
Check your draw and then let us know.
21 days is the maximum storage time without the battery going dead.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[6 Shooter]

I may drive my 99 every month or so.

Ya know I'm pretty sure someone down there in Kentucky will drive it for ya a bit more often if ya run an add in the local paper.

Seriously, have ya ever thought of buying a trickle charger for your Vette?

Later - D

 

[motorman]

with all my C-5s and my C-6 with the orignal GM battery i can leave the car set for 4 weeks when i go to fla. for a month of feb. for the NASCAR races and when i get back the corvettes would start. since i am not driving the corvette i always full charge the battery before i leave. i charge the battery once a month while the corvette sets durring the winter. i have found doing this with all batteries i have had the original GM batteries last as long as 10 years in some of my new cars. i found the same thing with the batteries in my motorcycles and quads,charging them once a month and never letting then go dead makes them last for years. JMHO

 

[brunox 1]

Trickle Charger has been ordered.

 

[Dave]

I bought a Battery Sentinal. It won't overcharge and cook your battery. Also, a friend bought a Battery Tender (a different brand) with the same good result.
Dave

 

[Fungooli]

I knew I spoke too soon, Next morning, overnight, dead again. Heard a noise and found out something was buzzing in my drivers lumbar switch. Not sure if it's the switch, or motor. I'll pull the fuse till I get it figured out.

 

[BobbyG]

Sorry folks, I've got to disagree with those who think it's normal for a battery to just go dead from sitting for a few weeks under normal conditions.

A Corvette's electrical design is no different that any other car out there and the batteries aren't either. My Z06 hasn't been started in at least 4 weeks and just to prove a point, after reading this thread, I went out to the garage and it started right up, no issues or codes at all.

I think the batteries go south in some Corvettes sooner than others due to their lack of use. A Battery Tender may help from the standpoint of internal activity or keeping the battery "active". Most of the electrical anomalies associated with a Corvette are due to bad batteries than anything else.

 

[Patrick]

...What really must be looked at is the DRAW of electricity from your system.

29 milliamps is the normal maximum allowed electrical use when keys are out of the ignition and the doors closed.

So, with that in mind if you are over that your battery, no matter what make, will go dead.

Check your draw and then let us know.

Sorry folks, I've got to disagree with those who think it's normal for a battery to just go dead from sitting for a few weeks under normal conditions.

A Corvette's electrical design is no different that any other car out there and the batteries aren't either. My Z06 hasn't been started in at least 4 weeks and just to prove a point, after reading this thread, I went out to the garage and it started right up, no issues or codes at all.

I think the batteries go south in some Corvettes sooner than others due to their lack of use. A Battery Tender may help from the standpoint of internal activity or keeping the battery "active". Most of the electrical anomalies associated with a Corvette are due to bad batteries than anything else.

Bobby,
I think Paul (C4C5Specialist) is correct. Even with the keys out/ignition off and doors closed, a C5 will continue to draw some current. The key is how much current is Cessna's '99 drawing? If it's more than the 29 milliamps Paul refers to, over even as short a time as a few days, that may be enough to drain a battery.

-Patrick

 

[BobbyG]

Bobby,
I think Paul (C4C5Specialist) is correct. Even with the keys out/ignition off and doors closed, a C5 will continue to draw some current. The key is how much current is Cessna's '99 drawing? If it's more than the 29 milliamps Paul refers to, over even as short a time as a few days, that may be enough to drain a battery.

-Patrick

Patrick,

I couldn't agree more. If there is something drawing current from the battery it will eventually drain it. I'm just not sure what would normally be on, with the key out, in a Corvette that would draw that much current under normal conditions.

A couple of weeks ago I left the interior light on in my truck for 4 1/2 days and even though it did start up it was borderline. I took it out for a spin, 30 minutes or so, and it was enough to recharge the battery.

Bob

 

[Full Bull]

Dead II

My 95's battery will drain down to a no-start condition in about 4 weeks time. I've checked my battery for draw and found it to be miniscule; but as has been stated, if there's any draw the battery will eventually go dead. I solved the issue by leaving a key with my next door neighbor (who's also a vette owner, and who I implicitly trust) and he comes over to the house when I'm gone out of town and starts up my ride about every 2 weeks or so. No problem with it any more.

 

[Patrick]

Patrick,

I couldn't agree more. If there is something drawing current from the battery it will eventually drain it. I'm just not sure what would normally be on, with the key out, in a Corvette that would draw that much current under normal conditions.

A couple of weeks ago I left the interior light on in my truck for 4 1/2 days and even though it did start up it was borderline. I took it out for a spin, 30 minutes or so, and it was enough to recharge the battery.

Bob

C4C5Specialist would be the expert here, but it's my understanding that even with the keys out/ignition off and doors closed, the Body Control Module (BCM) is still active, hence the anticipated 29 milliaps referenced as normal. I think if someone has added after-market items, like an alarm system with a remote start, or a program module that can do things like lower the windows via remote, and if those components aren't properly installed, it could result in an incremental power drain.

Like I said, as I'm not an electrical systems expert, I'm only speculating here, but I think the place for Cessna to start his investigation is to see exactly what sort of draw his electrical system is pulling with keys out and doors closed.

-Patrick