Battery Keeps Dying
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 501
Likes: 64
From: Columbia MD
Battery Keeps Dying
The battery in my 1994 Corvette keeps dying for some reason. Just today I went to start it and it didn't. The car hasn't been started in four weeks but that shouldn't have killed the battery, should it?
The battery was just replaced in August of last year.
Any clues if something else could be wrong? The car runs fine.
The battery was just replaced in August of last year.
Any clues if something else could be wrong? The car runs fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
The battery in my 1994 Corvette keeps dying for some reason. Just today I went to start it and it didn't. The car hasn't been started in four weeks but that shouldn't have killed the battery, should it?
The battery was just replaced in August of last year.
Any clues if something else could be wrong? The car runs fine.
The battery was just replaced in August of last year.
Any clues if something else could be wrong? The car runs fine.
- Current drain at rest: Should be 35ma OR LESS (when battery fully charged)
- Charged battery at rest: VOM = 12.5 volts ± .2
- Alternator working: Battery voltage with engine running: 13.5 to 14.6 ± .2
- Battery terminals clean?
- Have battery tested & replace if needed
- Best damn thing invented for a occasional use vehicle is a Battery Tender.
P.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
If you let your car sit for 4 weeks even a fully charged battery in brand new shape may not last. If you are going to let the car sit that long and not run a battery tender or disconnecting it is a must. Modern cars always draw some juice all the time and as long as it is not above 50 milli-amps it is fine. Do a parasitic draw test to verify this. FYI, that battery maybe toast. A quick drain is less harmful to a batteries life than a slow one. You have shortened the life of that battery for sure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Both of my vettes will go dead if I leave them sit for weeks. I installed battery disconnects on them. Best $20 I`ve spent so far.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Lion Country Pennsylvania
Just a quick note on this. I had the same problem and stuggled with it for a while. I looked into a battery disconnect as I have done this for other cars. From talking with folks in the RV / auto business they thought a battery disconnect would solve the problem, but would wipe out any recent memmory on engine run conditions, etc. I did not want to take any risk with the technical / computer parts of my C4. Thus I purchased a Battery Tender Plus and it works great and is easy to hook up and disconnect. Also, it seemed once the battery tender brought the battery up to charge it now holds a charge well and does not need to be hooked up all the time. Good Luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 2
From: Yes it's hot! Arizona
Just a quick note on this. I had the same problem and stuggled with it for a while. I looked into a battery disconnect as I have done this for other cars. From talking with folks in the RV / auto business they thought a battery disconnect would solve the problem, but would wipe out any recent memmory on engine run conditions, etc. I did not want to take any risk with the technical / computer parts of my C4. Thus I purchased a Battery Tender Plus and it works great and is easy to hook up and disconnect. Also, it seemed once the battery tender brought the battery up to charge it now holds a charge well and does not need to be hooked up all the time. Good Luck
Battery Tender Plus
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
These cars draw power all the time: alarm, radio presets, computers, etc. Any addional draw will only make it worse. A glove compartment or center consol lid open for a night can kill a battery.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
, & yes a battery tender is a great idea. ( I have them on both cars also). As to problems with having the battery disconnected, If I am going for a long ride, & will be at my destination a long time, I use the disconnect. I was once at a relative`s house & we were both cleaning/polishing our rides. I was providing the entertainment with my cd player. After around 35-40 minutes the Vettes battery went dead & we had to get out the jump box. Now if I go there, I just flip the disconnect. I have one of those 9v connectors you stick in the cigarette lighter socket that keeps the radio memory. I have had no problems with anything else on the car (ECM) etc. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,061
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
35mA draw is not going to make a good battery go dead in a month or even two months! If your battery is dead after a month, then it's either a battery giving up the ghost or you have an unexpected power draw. Test for a power draw, get a multimeter that reads amps, disconnect the negative battery lead, connect one mutimeter lead to the negative battery cable and the other multimeter lead to the negative battery post...what is the draw?
But I agree that if you're going to sit the car for awhile, at a minimum disconnect the negative cable or get a battery tender.
But I agree that if you're going to sit the car for awhile, at a minimum disconnect the negative cable or get a battery tender.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis, IN
St. Jude Donor '12
After owning a C4 that died more times than the number of years I've owned it, I learned that a Battery Tender will be your best friend for the life of the 'vette.
Buy one, it will save you $$ and headaches.
Buy one, it will save you $$ and headaches.
