I posted earlier about my car having gone thru one old type battery went dead while I was deployed, and my friend who was taking care of the car for me put in a red top (DEC 09 ), well I just replaced the red top with a simlar technology battery, but it was the deep cycle type yellow top version of optima (May 10), long story short went for a drive saturday everything was fine, just started the car( Monday morning ), and had the charging system fault come on again with a brand new battery. It did not come on during saturdays drive.

Where can i start looking for a parasistic draw at, this coming weekend I plan to look at the grounds?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Its an 04 coupe M6, has an aftermarket stereo in it, and radar detector in it as well everything seems to be working fine. other then the charging system fault

Jim

 

Hi Jim,

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you've been having and I'd like to help. Checking your grounds is an excellent idea and often the source of parasitic draws. This video explains some basic battery diagnostics, including checking for a parasitic draw- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yPlx4MBNRU

The bottom line is, if you can keep your battery voltage at or above 12.4 volts, you will see longer battery life. When a battery is allowed to sit in a partially-discharged state, sulfation will occur, which will decrease battery performance and lifespan. I know your vehicle sits for long periods of time while you are deployed, but if it's primarily a weekend driver, you should consider using a battery tender or maintainer, if you do not already. Please keep me posted on your findings and don't hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

 

You'll always have to keep the car on a trickle charger unless you drive it frequently. 2-3 weeks of sitting will drain most any battery in a C5 with all the stuff in standby just sitting there. The only thing the deep cycle will buy you is the ability to recharge it if it's completely dead (but you can't do this forever).

Bottom line, get the car on a trickle/smart charger NOW.

 

Looks like maybe the trickle charger I had laying around for one of my old motorcycles will be able to solve the electrical jury is still out, I only say that as today after being on the 1 AMP trickle charger for a complete day the charging system fault did not flash after starting it up, I was moving it out of the garage to get industrious, so maybe that will solve the problem. it starts just fine, it just concerns me when I get a fualt message like, so I decided after doing some research to go ahead and check some of the common probolems listed in teh forum not sure if they are model specific but they made sense. First thing after jacking up the car I checked the alternator connections its tight, then when I went under the car to check the start solienoid I notice a new problem both front tires are extrememly worn on the inside, one to the point the nylon thread is showing something I did not notice, it does not pull left or right. So I just finished looking at teh bolts I was sure one of the previous owners had done a lower on stock bolts mod, but will have to verify that, as from looking theres plenty of thread on teh back bolts, and the front ones seem to be little or no threads so it appears to be stock height. But after I take it off of the jack stands I will take some pictures to show why I think what I think.

I appreciate the info, and replies. Like I said previously absolutely love driving the care right now its just being difficult or making me pay for leaving her behind for awhile> ever notice how a car can make you feel shes a woman and is pissed off at you/ So back to looking at the bolts, for the lowering issue. I am going to take a photo of both tires, looks like something is wrong with teh suspension, toe in I think. Not sure what they do to correct that.

Will let you know since its up definitely going to get it back to stock ride height if it has been modified.

take some pics of the tires very unpleasant surprise,

recommendation for new tires would be appreciated looking at MICHELAN PS AS radials, next Q is since only the front show abnormal wear can I wait to replace the back tires for a later date, as dollars are running low right now, front end will need something if the tires are wearing like they are right now.

Thanks
Jim

 

So that members understand the situation and previous suggestions...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...tery-post.html

 

The electical for now is solved with a battery tender,

I got the car back to stock height or maybe a tad bit higher, rear fender measurement is at 29 Inches, front is at 28 inches, each side is within and 1/8 of an inch I will tweak it this weekend.

On to the new problem, normally I liked to replace all 4 tires, however the back one are not that worn, car had 23.5 k on it when I bought with the tires on it, it now has 40.Xk miles on it, the rear ones are okay for now, but due to the really bad uneven wear on the front, am going to have a 4 wheel alignment done after I get the ride height right, and then replace the front tires. I will do the back ones later, I am certain the tire wear problem probably is a result of a lowering job, and no adjustment.

I will let you know what I find out when i take it into the shop for the alignment I replaced the bolts that were in it, with 5 inch grade 8 bolts 1/2 inch diameter. The ones in it were 6 inch7/8 long, with alot of thread showing I did not crank down the 5 inch bolts, and am happy with the ride height higher as I hate going so low to get in it, after taking it off of the jack stand to move it and drive it around, there was a noticable difference in how low I had been going to get in and how low I have to now. much happier.

If the electrical is truely fixed and I can tweak the ride height I will be a happy camper, even happier once I get my double din bezel from dennis and install my in dash GPS, then along with my sirus it will truely be a road trip car.

Thanks will keep you posted and I will post some pics I took of the front tires.

The back ones are worn slightly right one more then left, but plenty of tread back there.

Jim

 

alternator is putting out as low as 13.3 flickering to 13.6 but looks like 13.5 at iodel stop light with foot on brake light. volts on the dic, wondering if this is contributing to but not causing the problem, of my battery possibly discharging sooner then what is considered nomal??

do I possibly need to change out my alternator.

??

Jim

 

Sounds OK to me. If it had problems you would be getting Charge System Faults.