Battery draining problem!!
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo Grove IL
Battery Drain Problem
All cars drain some power from the battery, its just a matter of how much for how long. The ohm meter that has been described must be connected as an amp meter set to measure milliamps. A bridge circuit made from 10 or 12 guage wire with a toggle switch in parrallel with the amp meter will make it easier to do the test so that you can take the meter in and out of the circuit at will.
While pulling fuses is a good idea, start with the simple stuff like a defective seat switch, rear view mirror reading light, glove box light, interior dome light and so on. While there is a circuit override for all current consumption, its operation is based on no new current being drawn during its initialization period.
Conventional batteries once drained severely never come back to their original potentional no matter how much they are charged. On the other hand Optima batteries, which have spiral constructed plates will regain their original charge potential once re-charged.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I've been fighting the same problem with my 02 coupe. I see a .184-.186 mA current drain and I have pulled every fuse and circuit breaker in turn with no change in the readings. My first thought was the power seat switches and I pulled those fuses and circuit breakers first with no change in the readings.
I also made sure that the lights in the sunvisors and dash glovebox were out and I've disconnected the underhood light (although the timers for all of the interior and hood lights work properly and the lights will shut off as they should).
I can go about a week before I have to put my new AC Delco battery on the charger to start the car. Last month, I checked the battery voltage every day at the same time for a full week and got an ever-decreasing reading from 12.54v to as low as 11.9v
I hade seen some low voltage error codes pop up awhile back but at least with my trusty $7 Harbor Freight battery maintainer on the car, the battery is staying at 12.4 to 12.3v
I also made sure that the lights in the sunvisors and dash glovebox were out and I've disconnected the underhood light (although the timers for all of the interior and hood lights work properly and the lights will shut off as they should).
I can go about a week before I have to put my new AC Delco battery on the charger to start the car. Last month, I checked the battery voltage every day at the same time for a full week and got an ever-decreasing reading from 12.54v to as low as 11.9v
I hade seen some low voltage error codes pop up awhile back but at least with my trusty $7 Harbor Freight battery maintainer on the car, the battery is staying at 12.4 to 12.3v
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 210
Likes: 2
From: Elkins Park PA
Any battery tender should do just fine.
I got the "Battery Tender Junior" or some such from Ecklers, CorvetteAmerica, CorvetteCentral, one of them. Lots of folks here have picked them up at WalMart. They're not much more than a wall-wart transformer with alligator clips.
Yes, I leave mine hooked up all the time. They're made for that.
Not only will it solve your draining battery problem, but it will likely extend the life of your battery by a couple years or more. Letting a battery discharged and/or sit discharge will quickly kill it due to sulfination. Keeping the charge topped up will prevent that from happening.
FYI -- I originally got a big bad charger that included float charge and used that. It's a great charger, and presumably does a great job floating. I stopped using it to float charge only because the minimum charge rate was about 1 amp, and it would constantly cycle on and off (about 2-5 minute on/off cycles), with a BEEP and a fan start every time it cycled. The beeping drove me crazy. In contrast, the battery tenders don't beep (thank God), and they float at a slightly lower charge rate.
I got the "Battery Tender Junior" or some such from Ecklers, CorvetteAmerica, CorvetteCentral, one of them. Lots of folks here have picked them up at WalMart. They're not much more than a wall-wart transformer with alligator clips.
Yes, I leave mine hooked up all the time. They're made for that.
Not only will it solve your draining battery problem, but it will likely extend the life of your battery by a couple years or more. Letting a battery discharged and/or sit discharge will quickly kill it due to sulfination. Keeping the charge topped up will prevent that from happening.
FYI -- I originally got a big bad charger that included float charge and used that. It's a great charger, and presumably does a great job floating. I stopped using it to float charge only because the minimum charge rate was about 1 amp, and it would constantly cycle on and off (about 2-5 minute on/off cycles), with a BEEP and a fan start every time it cycled. The beeping drove me crazy. In contrast, the battery tenders don't beep (thank God), and they float at a slightly lower charge rate.
Last edited by peebee_c5; Aug 22, 2007 at 01:59 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 210
Likes: 2
From: Elkins Park PA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
All Optimas use the same spiral technology. I prefer the Exide Orbital which I now use since my Optima died within two years. My Exide has 1000 cranking amps and is slightly larger than my Optima was but it fit the Vette perfectly with no alterations to anything. It is also guaranteed for 9 years with 2/3? year free replacement. I got it at Sam's for $99.00 last year.
