Instant Battery Drain

[Ludigdrums]

Hello all...well, it's been cold here in NY and I've been waiting out a brake problem, which has left me not driving the Vette much at all :-(

Anyhow, for a while now I've had another problem. I hadn't started it in a couple of weeks and the battery was dead. So, I jumped it, and she started right up, no problem. I let it run for a while, and even took it for a spin, and the following happend, and keeps happening:

When I shut the car off, if I try to restart it, there's not enough juice. It's like the battery is instantly drained. I know my altenator is workin fine cause while on, the volt guage is reading in the upper range.

What could cause this? I've read some other posts, but I don't think I have any drain or problems electrically. Could this just be a dead battery? Again, each time I jump it, it's starts no problem, and everything electrical works great...once I shut down though, I get practially nothing. Oh yeah, it's an 81 by the way.

Thank You!

- Jeremy

 

[vette-dude]

Sounds like a dead or shorted cell in the Battery. Pull it out and take it to an Auto Zone, Napa, or Advance Auto and have them check it.


Randy

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Sounds like a dead or shorted cell in the Battery. Pull it out and take it to an Auto Zone, Napa, or Advance Auto and have them check it.


Randy

;stupid
If there is a bad cell I think the car can still run off the laternator but wont take a charge so it is dead as soon as you shut her down. Most autoparts places will check it for free hoping you will buy a new one while you are there.

 

[Ludigdrums]

Thanks guys....DEAD BATTERY! I was pretty sure that's what it was, but was a little paranoid that it could be something else...you never know with these cars. Got a new battery, and all is well again.

Now, if it just stays warm enough so I can really fix up those brakes!

Thaks again!

- Jeremy

 

[vette-dude]

Your Welcome and by the way--Brakes are kinda important too!!

Randy

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Your Welcome and by the way--Brakes are kinda important too!!

Randy

True !
See'in how you got it to go, might as well be able to stop

 

[celeryman22]

With the batteries in the rear compartment, is there gases that are released by the battery? Do you guys use a different type of battery, maybe a sealed unit?

cel

 

[vette-dude]

With the batteries in the rear compartment, is there gases that are released by the battery? Do you guys use a different type of battery, maybe a sealed unit?

cel

Yes a battery does generate an explosive gas and yes it should be vented if mounted in a rear compartment. There are baterries that use a gel technology and I think these do not have to be vented. Optima is one, can't think of the others right now. (Sealed for life or no maintenence type batteries still have to be vented.)

Randy

 

[Ludigdrums]

Yes, brakes are very important, and it's first on my list once this snow gets off the ground!

As far as the battery regarding gases, my compartment has a hole in the bottom...I'm guess this is a vent hole, right?

Also, My negative battery cable has a foot of extra (looks like 12 ga) cable attached to it with a square ring at the end of it. It was never attached to anything, and was just wondering if it's supposed to be. Thanks!

-Jeremy

 

[celeryman22]

Yes a battery does generate an explosive gas and yes it should be vented if mounted in a rear compartment. There are baterries that use a gel technology and I think these do not have to be vented. Optima is one, can't think of the others right now. (Sealed for life or no maintenence type batteries still have to be vented.)

Randy

What is the best way to vent a rear mounted battery?

 

[billyvette]

celeryman22,

The bottom of the corvette body where the battery is should have a vent hole (inside the battery compartment) that serves as a vent- i believe.

 

[cruz cerda]

I have a 1978 corvette and have the same problem with my battery. I have checked out the battery and have also bought new ones and the battery still goes dead. After three days with a brand new battery it goes dead. This has happened for years on end. I took it to a electrical shop and they said things are fine. I am wondering if it is a alternator problem. Anyone have any suggestions. Thanks

 

[JohnZ]

It's not fine - you have a dead short somewhere. Pull the negative cable off the battery and connect a test light between the battery terminal and the cable end (you're in the car, doors closed, ignition off), and start pulling the fuses one at a time. When the light goes out, you've found the circuit with the short. Look at the wiring diagram to see what's fed from that fuse, and check out each item one at a time to see which one's drawing current - that's the one with the short. If you pull all the fuses and the light is still on, it's probably a shorted diode in the alternator. Any halfway-competent auto electric shop would know this - they do it every day.

 

[cruz cerda]

battery drain

Batter

It's not fine - you have a dead short somewhere. Pull the negative cable off the battery and connect a test light between the battery terminal and the cable end (you're in the car, doors closed, ignition off), and start pulling the fuses one at a time. When the light goes out, you've found the circuit with the short. Look at the wiring diagram to see what's fed from that fuse, and check out each item one at a time to see which one's drawing current - that's the one with the short. If you pull all the fuses and the light is still on, it's probably a shorted diode in the alternator. Any halfway-competent auto electric shop would know this - they do it every day.

thank you so much for your help i will try these things out and if all fails i will install a new alternator.. this is the most info i've gotten from anyone thank you for your time cruz cerda