Stereo ran the battery dead... is this normal?

[Skant]

I waited in my car for somewhere around 2 hours (I think) for my friend to get back. I was listening to the stereo with the engine off the whole time (a bose gold system) until it lost the bass. And then within a minute lost the rest of the speakers.

I then noticed that the voltage was reading low. I tried starting the car, and it would just clickclickclick. Low battery.

AAA took care of it. Just needed a jump.

But my question is... should the stereo have killed the battery in that time? Is my battery getting weak? Or is that normal?

Granted, I had it turned up fairly loud. But I don't think that would have run my K- 5 Blazer out of power... but then that also had a very big battery in it... Maybe I'm just not used to the smaller electrical systems in cars yet...

- Skant

 

[twiget]

Listening to the radio for 2 hours is a fairly long time. Heck, if I have to sit and listen to the radio for more than 20 minutes, I'll usually start the car up every 10 minutes or so, just to keep the battery juiced.

I dont know about your K5, but the sound system in my K5 is about as bare bones as it gets. It'll suck a lot less juice from the battery than the Bose Gold system does.

All in all, I think your battery is/was fine. You just killed it.

Jason

 

[vigman]

I agree

But the Vette doesn't have an ACC position..so not only are you juicin the radio but Ignition,Dash,fans( if A/C vent or heat is being called for ..not to mention the head unit for A/C) ECM and other misc stuff.

2 hrs...yeah you drained the battery!



Vig!

 

[c4cruiser]

Re: I agree

But the Vette doesn't have an ACC position..so not only are you juicin the radio but Ignition,Dash,fans( if A/C vent or heat is being called for ..not to mention the head unit for A/C) ECM and other misc stuff.

2 hrs...yeah you drained the battery!



Vig!

?? My 92 has an Accessory position, just push the key in and turn in the opposite direction from Start! The accessories will work when turned on but the other ignition-side components aren't powered up.

 

[secondchance]

Yeah, it has a accessory position, like the c4cruiser says.

 

[Skant]

Thanks for the responses. Yeah, the stock K-5 has nothin for a stereo (three speakers... two tiny ones in the corners of the dash... one small one in the center of the dash... that's it). But my K-5 had a big aftermarket system with a large subwoofer.

Still... coming from a vehicle with an electrical system designed to handle accessories like snow plows and electric winches... my sense of scale is a bit distorted, I think...

Okay... now I have a much better idea of how much electrical juice a Corvette has...

- Skant

 

[vigman]

Hmmmm

88 dosen't sorry!


Vig!

 

[secondchance]

Are you sure??? I remember 84 had it too. Unless, I'm going senile...:confused

Did you try pushing the key and the cylinder towards the column and turning the wholething towards to you? (opposite of run position)

 

[vigman]

My 84 didnt

My 88 doesn't..but the switch DOES show an ACC position in the schematic..Hmmmmmm but no matter WHAT I do I cannot rotate the switch backwards.



Vig!

 

[Ken]

Vig, if you can't get to the ACC position, you most likely have a problem with your ignition tumbler. In my case the problem was something called an ignition "rack."

_ken

 

[Eagle85C4]

My 85 has an ACC position on the key...

Houston, Vig has a problem....

 

[c4ever]

Though not marked on the column, there is an ACC position on my 85 also.

Carlo

 

[tyrel]

Geez, I'm not sure what you guys are talking about, but my previous 1986 and 1990, and my current 1989 coupe all have an accessory position, just turn the key backwards.

 

[vigman]

Ah roger Houston

we have checked again.. the Bronco does it but the Vette is a no go.. I repeat Houston the 88 will not engage into ACC position.


( Oh God... that what I get for trying to help.. a weekend with a steering column in my lap)


DOH!


Vig!

 

[secondchance]

Sorry Vigman. I know you are probably like me. Even if I never use it, if I know its not right, can't relax untill I fix it.
Sorry!:Silly

 

[secondchance]

Skant,
You ran subwoofer on accessory position for 2 hours???
Is you crazy?!!!
I don't know the wattage amp you are running for the sub but those amps eats up a lotta juice.

 

[WhalePirot]

'84 has it

as others have (in moments of non-senility) said.

Push in and rotate opposite to start.

You didn't thnk all that bass was FREE, did you?

 

[BigRed]

Without my capacitor hooked up Im good for around 5 minutes time...

If my car runs at idle the alternator actually can't keep up and I'll lose my battery with the car actually running. With my Cap hooked Im ok but I think I still have to address some other power robbing problems as well.

Guess thats what happens when you got motion sensors and an amp half the size of the entire rear cargo area LOL.