battery
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,894
Likes: 696
From: grand rapids, lowell mi. area
well if you do have something draining the battery ,put a battery disconnect on the battery ,I had a 79 and couldnt find what was causing the drain ,so that was the easiest thing to do ,alot of the C3s had that problem ,by the way it could be the burglar alarm!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
I had the same problem, replaced the battery did not help, it only meant that it took 4 days instead of 2 to kill the battery.
I looked for battery drain with an amp meter at the battery. I disconnected the alternator, that was ok, then the interior lights, they were ok, then the alarm system relay, bingo. Now after 4 years and 20k miles it starts after 10 days, but not 4 months. Forgot to disconnect the battery last winter.
I looked for battery drain with an amp meter at the battery. I disconnected the alternator, that was ok, then the interior lights, they were ok, then the alarm system relay, bingo. Now after 4 years and 20k miles it starts after 10 days, but not 4 months. Forgot to disconnect the battery last winter.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Just install one of the terminal quick disconnects and the issue is on hold for a while.
Forgot to mention my 69 did this when I got it, and fast like overnight, it was a short in the windshield wiper motor and or the squirter so it's off waiting for me to tear into it.
Last edited by The13Bats; Oct 29, 2015 at 04:39 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 378
Likes: 19
I had the same problem, replaced the battery did not help, it only meant that it took 4 days instead of 2 to kill the battery.
I looked for battery drain with an amp meter at the battery. I disconnected the alternator, that was ok, then the interior lights, they were ok, then the alarm system relay, bingo. Now after 4 years and 20k miles it starts after 10 days, but not 4 months. Forgot to disconnect the battery last winter.
I looked for battery drain with an amp meter at the battery. I disconnected the alternator, that was ok, then the interior lights, they were ok, then the alarm system relay, bingo. Now after 4 years and 20k miles it starts after 10 days, but not 4 months. Forgot to disconnect the battery last winter.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
If you need I could copy it Friday morning and post it.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 587
Likes: 80
From: Colonial Beach Virginia
Mine turned out to be horn related. As soon as the battery was connected, I could hear the horn relay closing. This would drain my already-bad battery over a week or so down to 6v or so. (another indication of a bad battery). I have a pinched or bared wire somewhere in my horn circuit that was keeping that one relay closed and thus draining the battery. Fun stuff.
With the new battery and horn contact connection to the relay removed, it is still a nice healthy 12.6v after 10 days. Problem solved. (but still no horn until I tear into it)
With the new battery and horn contact connection to the relay removed, it is still a nice healthy 12.6v after 10 days. Problem solved. (but still no horn until I tear into it)
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
From: California
I have been having the similar problem with a 01 c5 I just got a few days ago it looks like the old owner installed a custom sound system.New alternator and the battery is only 3 years old and has been charged a day ago and i turned on the car for a couple minutes and it dies.when I use my keys to unlock it the dash starts flashing and their is a buzzing sound coming from the passenger side. What can this be?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 652
From: Thunder Bay
I keep a Battery Tender on every vehicle I have that doesn't get driven on a daily basis. Even when everything is working properly the battery will run down over time. Just make sure you have a 'smart' battery maintainer and not a 'trickle charger'. A Battery Tender measures battery voltage and shuts off when its fully charged. A trickle charger will eventually cook your battery.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 44
From: flemington n.j.
I have been using "Battery Minder" #12248 for the past two years on my 72 LT1 without incident. Well, last week I decided to go for a ride and found the battery boiling and so hot that I was unable to touch it. I was very lucky to have discovered the issue when I did.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 652
From: Thunder Bay
FWIW I have been using the Battery Tender Jr model #10516 for at least 15 years on pretty much everything I own. I must have ten of them. Only complaint is they fail from time to time. I have replaced two or three of them over the years. Fortunately when they failed they simply stopped working and didn't damage the batteries they were attached to.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,104
Likes: 1,222
From: Madeira Beach, FL
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+1 to what drwet said. I have gotten 8 years out of a classic motorcycle battery using the jr tender. I have one on my 9 year old interstate battery and it starts up every time.
Check you water levels in the cells after a long hiatus and drive away. Never a problem with the units cooking a battery. I did have one quit but it served me well and at $39 bucks at Pep Boys its a non issue compared to what we spend on these cars on other things.
Marshal
Check you water levels in the cells after a long hiatus and drive away. Never a problem with the units cooking a battery. I did have one quit but it served me well and at $39 bucks at Pep Boys its a non issue compared to what we spend on these cars on other things.
Marshal
Navigator
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
From: Neustadt-Weinstraße (Germany)
In my 79 it was the courtesy light in the glove box; it's the cheapo switch failing to turn it off when the glove box door was not closed accurately.
I only noticed it in the unlit and garage at night...
I only noticed it in the unlit and garage at night...
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I have been having the similar problem with a 01 c5 I just got a few days ago it looks like the old owner installed a custom sound system.New alternator and the battery is only 3 years old and has been charged a day ago and i turned on the car for a couple minutes and it dies.when I use my keys to unlock it the dash starts flashing and their is a buzzing sound coming from the passenger side. What can this be?
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,972
Likes: 6,197
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I have been having the similar problem with a 01 c5 I just got a few days ago it looks like the old owner installed a custom sound system.New alternator and the battery is only 3 years old and has been charged a day ago and i turned on the car for a couple minutes and it dies.when I use my keys to unlock it the dash starts flashing and their is a buzzing sound coming from the passenger side. What can this be?