Oops, my battery died
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
Oops, my battery died
The Vette has been sitting in my garage since Novemeber. The garage is semi-heated and does not get below 55 degrees. I had a 'float' battery charger on the car since the time I parked it but it was completely dead when I tried to start it a few days ago. I'm guessing my float charger is junk or had a bad connection - I'm leaning towards junk.
So, I've orderd a Deltran battery tender plus charger since I've heard so many good things about it. Will it do the job to revive my battery? I didn't measure the voltage yet but given that the doors wouldnt unlock and the dome lights didn't come on at all I'm willing to bet it is very low.
I bought the car in 2009 and this is the same battery as when purchased so I can't say how old it is, this is the first time the battery has died in my ownership. It is a standard lead acid battery. The top not sealed, it has caps to add water if necessary. Do I need bother check water level? Is it prudent/beneficial to drain all water and replace with fresh distilled?
So, I've orderd a Deltran battery tender plus charger since I've heard so many good things about it. Will it do the job to revive my battery? I didn't measure the voltage yet but given that the doors wouldnt unlock and the dome lights didn't come on at all I'm willing to bet it is very low.
I bought the car in 2009 and this is the same battery as when purchased so I can't say how old it is, this is the first time the battery has died in my ownership. It is a standard lead acid battery. The top not sealed, it has caps to add water if necessary. Do I need bother check water level? Is it prudent/beneficial to drain all water and replace with fresh distilled?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
I'd make sure your charger had power, otherwise the
new charger won't do any good.
That's not water in there, it's acid. You top up with
distilled water because the charge/discharge cycle vents
hydrogen and oxygen. I'd top up with distilled water
and put it on the charger, but the odds are that if it's
that dead, it's DEAD. Starting batteries really don't like
getting run dead flat.
Check the connections at the battery when you check
the voltage.
new charger won't do any good.
That's not water in there, it's acid. You top up with
distilled water because the charge/discharge cycle vents
hydrogen and oxygen. I'd top up with distilled water
and put it on the charger, but the odds are that if it's
that dead, it's DEAD. Starting batteries really don't like
getting run dead flat.
Check the connections at the battery when you check
the voltage.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
It probably is a goner but I have nothing to lose in trying to bring it back to life. I'm wiling to bet it will take a charge and start the car. But if it sits during the week and I try to fire it up on the weekend I may find that it has lost its charge over the weeks inactivity. Tehn again I might get lucky.
I'll check the voltage, connections and 'acid' level and top off with distilled if necessary.
I'll check the voltage, connections and 'acid' level and top off with distilled if necessary.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 53
From: Philadelphia Pa
I don't believe battery tenders are built to revive dead batteries. You'll probably need a decent battery charger for that, then put the tender on. As the name says tenders are designed to maintain a battery not to recharge it.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Buy a new battery. If you store your vette, buy a battery tender to keep the battery charged up when it sits. Batteries self discharge when they sit, even disconnected and lead sulfate collects on the plates. If you leave batteries sit, the lead sulfate becomes hard and it will not convert back to lead and sulfuric acid when you charge the battery and the plate area is severly reduced to that of a motorcycle battery or a door stop. A sulfated battery cannot be brought back to life by charging and they will not draw current when you connect a charger. Batteries kept charged have a normal life, batteries allowed to deep discharge have a short life. Don't be a battery abuser!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
I put my battery on a charger (not a battery tender) and on the 6 amp setting I let it charge for hours, removed the charger and didnt even have enough voltage to illuminate the dome lights. As expected, this battery is done.
I have a Group75 Optima RedTop on the shelf. It was a bit low at 11.9v. I let it charge on the 12v/6amp setting for 4 hours and then it measured 12.9v. I let it charge overnight on the 2amp setting and by this morning the charger was not indicating that the battery was drawing anything and the meter read 'charged.' I'm going to give it a try and hope for the best before spending $ on a new battery.
I've heard that the posts on top of an Optima might not clear in the Corvette. Is this true? I could saw off the posts or swap this battery for the Group75 in my Pontiac.
I have a battery tender plus on the way for future use. I did have a cheapo float charger on it but it didn't seem to keep the battery alive. It may have just been this batteries time. I use an identical cheapo charger on my Pontiac which also sits all winter in the same garage as the Corvette and it started right up.
I have a Group75 Optima RedTop on the shelf. It was a bit low at 11.9v. I let it charge on the 12v/6amp setting for 4 hours and then it measured 12.9v. I let it charge overnight on the 2amp setting and by this morning the charger was not indicating that the battery was drawing anything and the meter read 'charged.' I'm going to give it a try and hope for the best before spending $ on a new battery.
I've heard that the posts on top of an Optima might not clear in the Corvette. Is this true? I could saw off the posts or swap this battery for the Group75 in my Pontiac.
I have a battery tender plus on the way for future use. I did have a cheapo float charger on it but it didn't seem to keep the battery alive. It may have just been this batteries time. I use an identical cheapo charger on my Pontiac which also sits all winter in the same garage as the Corvette and it started right up.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Newburgh In
Although I've not used an Optima, others on this forum have stated two things: 1) the Optima will not fit without doing some modification, and 2) the Optima battery will be ruined if the post is cut off. You might want to search the forum first before doing anything.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
As for point #2 about removing the top posts, I have no idea if it would actually be detrimental to the battery but it would certainly void any kind of warranty.
I ended up pulling the battery out of my Pontiac, which is very easy since I have it trunk mounted, and installed it in the Vette. The Optima went into the Pontiac. It was late, the Vette was boxed in and I was tired to I didn't fire it up - hopefully today!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
I have a Vector smart charger which I normally use for routine charging, especially periodic charging of RV deep charge batteris and my motorcycle which sits idle a lot of time during the winter.
But last fall my Maxima's (7-yr-old!) battery was showing signs of failing in spite of the fact that it is a daily driver. I figured the battery was a goner, but since the Vector has a reconditioning/desulfation feature I thought I'd try it. 24 hours of reconditioning later I put the battery back in the car and it has functioned perfectly all winter even during the coldest mornings.
Now I put all my batteries through that reconditioning cycle periodically. What the hell, can't hurt.
But last fall my Maxima's (7-yr-old!) battery was showing signs of failing in spite of the fact that it is a daily driver. I figured the battery was a goner, but since the Vector has a reconditioning/desulfation feature I thought I'd try it. 24 hours of reconditioning later I put the battery back in the car and it has functioned perfectly all winter even during the coldest mornings.
Now I put all my batteries through that reconditioning cycle periodically. What the hell, can't hurt.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
I have a Battery Tender Jr. It works great. It HAS charged a dead battery for me, although, it was left on it for about 2 weeks. I have no way of measuring its Cold Cranking Amps, but it DID start my car.
HOWEVER, the declining health of that battery, or its inability to hold a charge, caused my alternator to fail. A weak battery causes the alternator to work extra hard to charge it up. The windings heat up and eventually fail, resulting in not only a dead battery, but a burnt out alternator, too. Alternators are not to be used to charge a dead battery, only to keep it "charged up". A Battery Tender keeps the battery "charged up" while my car hibernates during the winter.
The alternator was rebuilt (to keep factory look with original alt. case) after I replaced the battery. I haven't had a problem since.
Mike
'90 'vert
Soon to be cruisin' with the top down
HOWEVER, the declining health of that battery, or its inability to hold a charge, caused my alternator to fail. A weak battery causes the alternator to work extra hard to charge it up. The windings heat up and eventually fail, resulting in not only a dead battery, but a burnt out alternator, too. Alternators are not to be used to charge a dead battery, only to keep it "charged up". A Battery Tender keeps the battery "charged up" while my car hibernates during the winter.
The alternator was rebuilt (to keep factory look with original alt. case) after I replaced the battery. I haven't had a problem since.
Mike
'90 'vert
Soon to be cruisin' with the top down
Last edited by j-wireman; Mar 29, 2011 at 03:12 PM.
