Battery expert needed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 11
From: las vegas nv.
Battery expert needed
Anew battery--after sitting and car not started for 1 week--what should the volts read at the battery? Anything above 12.50 volts considered normal in the C5 vette?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,788
Likes: 139
From: center of Kalifornia
Not sure on volts but when I get a new battery I put a charge on it right away or put it in and drive the car to bring it up to snuff. Acid in a new battery does not mean a full charge is there.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Regardless of what car the battery is installed into all 12V automotive batteries are in the following "state of charge" range. The science is factual therefore not arguable.
Using a DVOM to perform the test;
12.6V = 100% state of charge
12.5V = 75% state of charge
12.2V = 50% stae of charge
12.0V = 25% state of charge
Using a DVOM to perform the test;
12.6V = 100% state of charge
12.5V = 75% state of charge
12.2V = 50% stae of charge
12.0V = 25% state of charge
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 11
From: las vegas nv.
Regardless of what car the battery is installed into all 12V automotive batteries are in the following "state of charge" range. The science is factual therefore not arguable.
Using a DVOM to perform the test;
12.6V = 100% state of charge
12.5V = 75% state of charge
12.2V = 50% stae of charge
12.0V = 25% state of charge
Using a DVOM to perform the test;
12.6V = 100% state of charge
12.5V = 75% state of charge
12.2V = 50% stae of charge
12.0V = 25% state of charge
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
I definitely agree with all of the above very good info.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
If my car sits un-used for a week or more the car just won't start. A full charge is around 13v. When I know I won't be using it for longer than a few days I plug it in to my battery tender.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Copperas Cove Texas
I have been having some issues with my 04. The AC Delco went out, I got a Red Top Optima, hooked it up, thought all was good, left the car in the garage for 4 days, came home.....nothing, it jumped off ok, then tested fine at the local auto parts store, hooked up a battery tender, no problems for a week, left it for a couple of days w/o tender, DEAD again, I replaced the Optima, this time it tested bad.... I hope I'm done with the battery issues.... this happened out of the blue... car sat for longer times in the past... anyone have any ideas????
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'd say many of the criticisms of batteries on the Forum are the car not the battery
There are a number of common problems which may cause a drain. Sometimes the lights stay on. They are supposed to go dormant after a few minutes but I've heard guys say they don't. It can be a car issue but its also possible to leave the "parade lights" selected which leaves a slight drain as the interior lights stay on. Check the small rotary switch on th left dash panel by the trunk release and make sure its off.
The seat switches often get damaged or fail and it can leave the motors running.
To check the battery voltage you need to put a multi meter across the terminals. The DIC will not give an accurate figure when the cars off. A fully charged battery measures about 12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures about 11.86 V.
If all else fails do a drain check. If you check out this thread Bill Curlee posted it shows you how to set up a test with a multi meter. Set this up and pull fuses until the drain disappears. Thats your culprit.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...rent+draw+test
There are a number of common problems which may cause a drain. Sometimes the lights stay on. They are supposed to go dormant after a few minutes but I've heard guys say they don't. It can be a car issue but its also possible to leave the "parade lights" selected which leaves a slight drain as the interior lights stay on. Check the small rotary switch on th left dash panel by the trunk release and make sure its off.
The seat switches often get damaged or fail and it can leave the motors running.
To check the battery voltage you need to put a multi meter across the terminals. The DIC will not give an accurate figure when the cars off. A fully charged battery measures about 12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures about 11.86 V.
If all else fails do a drain check. If you check out this thread Bill Curlee posted it shows you how to set up a test with a multi meter. Set this up and pull fuses until the drain disappears. Thats your culprit.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...rent+draw+test
Last edited by DeeGee; Sep 13, 2008 at 01:58 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
I have been having some issues with my 04. The AC Delco went out, I got a Red Top Optima, hooked it up, thought all was good, left the car in the garage for 4 days, came home.....nothing, it jumped off ok, then tested fine at the local auto parts store, hooked up a battery tender, no problems for a week, left it for a couple of days w/o tender, DEAD again, I replaced the Optima, this time it tested bad.... I hope I'm done with the battery issues.... this happened out of the blue... car sat for longer times in the past... anyone have any ideas????
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 2
From: Cambridge Illinois
I have eight vehicles that can set for up to 6 months between uses. I put a $20 Schumaker 1.5 amp maintainer on them. They stay plugged in until pulled out of the garage. They are plugged back in when they return to the garage. That's how to use a battery tender.
The 02 vette has the original battery and the 02 Honda VTX1800 has the original battery. You can get two to four times the typical battery life with this method.
Never had a flat battery. The others are 04,05, 07,07,07&08. All have the original batteries.
Wal-Mart has them for just under $20.
The 02 vette has the original battery and the 02 Honda VTX1800 has the original battery. You can get two to four times the typical battery life with this method.
Never had a flat battery. The others are 04,05, 07,07,07&08. All have the original batteries.
Wal-Mart has them for just under $20.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
I have eight vehicles that can set for up to 6 months between uses. I put a $20 Schumaker 1.5 amp maintainer on them. They stay plugged in until pulled out of the garage. They are plugged back in when they return to the garage. That's how to use a battery tender.
The 02 vette has the original battery and the 02 Honda VTX1800 has the original battery. You can get two to four times the typical battery life with this method.
Never had a flat battery. The others are 04,05, 07,07,07&08. All have the original batteries.
Wal-Mart has them for just under $20.
The 02 vette has the original battery and the 02 Honda VTX1800 has the original battery. You can get two to four times the typical battery life with this method.
Never had a flat battery. The others are 04,05, 07,07,07&08. All have the original batteries.
Wal-Mart has them for just under $20.
Good tip on that battery maintainer. Guess it works like the Battery Tender but at the 1/4 if the price. I looked at this link to read up on it http://www.epinions.com/review/Schum...t_433682747012
