Tanks for all the input on my battery question. It's nice to know that there is a good source of help out there. Thanks to all.
Battery Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth NH
Battery Question
I have a 1994 Lt1 that I bought three years ago. I have no idea how old the battery is. If the car sits for a couple of weeks when I first start it up the voltmeter reads 14.7 to 14.8. As I drive it comes down to 14.1 to 14.3. I store the car in the winter where I have no access to electricity so I routinely start the car up once a month during the winter. I haven't had a problem with it starting yet but because I don't know the age of the battery I am thinking that I should replace it. I had it checked last fall at a chevy garage and they told me that it was ok now but in the future I would need to replace it. No **** I told the guy. My question is based on the readings I've provided and the fact that I don't know how old it is and should I just bite the bullet and replace it now and not have any worries that it will die on me next winter? Thanks for the help.
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
Batterys lose some charge when sitting, these numbers look fine to me. Just that it starts the car after sitting for 2 weeks tells me the battery can't be to bad. I don't always replace a battery because of its age, I replace when it starts to malfuntion...WW
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: powhatan va.
batteries only last 4-6 years anyway depending on the battery. if there is no electricty were the car sits and if you dont want to jump it when it goes bad then you might want to go ahead and spend the $60 for piece of mind.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Go by a AutoZone and have them test your battery for free. Their machine puts a load on the battery and tests it's capabilities. If it says battery checks good, you are fine. Although 92-96 vettes have better alternators, it is still not a good idea to recharge your battery with running your engine. Why? It causes your alt to produce heat while charging until your battery is up to speed. This is a problem for earlier C4s as the alts would heat up and start to fail. I agree that while storing, remove the battery and bring it to your home and put it on a "tender"
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Toronto(Don Mills) Ontario
Go by a AutoZone and have them test your battery for free. Their machine puts a load on the battery and tests it's capabilities. If it says battery checks good, you are fine. Although 92-96 vettes have better alternators, it is still not a good idea to recharge your battery with running your engine. Why? It causes your alt to produce heat while charging until your battery is up to speed. This is a problem for earlier C4s as the alts would heat up and start to fail. I agree that while storing, remove the battery and bring it to your home and put it on a "tender"
Yes, esp.true w/early C4's and their 'iffy' alternators! Poor battery can kill or damage the alt, and vice versa! Also, all Vettes, esp. early Z51's, are tough on battery/alt., due to heat and vibration thru the suspension. IMO!
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