New Battery Now Or Wait Till Spring
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Michigan
New Battery Now Or Wait Till Spring
Had a battery issue at the tail end of driving season. (First time ever got just the clicks, no start.) Looks like the OEM battery with a Black eye.
Car will set now until Spring. My question........
Should I replace the battery now and leave it on a tender all Winter, or, leave the old battery in with a tender and replace it in the Spring.
(Haven't had the battery tested yet.)
Car will set now until Spring. My question........
Should I replace the battery now and leave it on a tender all Winter, or, leave the old battery in with a tender and replace it in the Spring.
(Haven't had the battery tested yet.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 29
From: Chilliwack B.C.
A lot of people take the battery out for the Winter. So why buy a battery just to have it sit for 5+ months? Put it in in the Spring... maybe you'll catch a good sale before you put it back on the road.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Bad idea to leave a bad battery in a car for extended period with a battery tender. You are asking for trouble. Best thing is to pull it out and buy a new one in the spring.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Michigan
Thanks for all the replies !!
Looks like the consensus is to take the battery out and put a new one in a new one come Spring.
Other than turning off the security on the radio (Don't know what that is read it somewhere.) is there anything else to do before the battery comes out to prevent any issues when the weather breaks ?
Looks like the consensus is to take the battery out and put a new one in a new one come Spring.
Other than turning off the security on the radio (Don't know what that is read it somewhere.) is there anything else to do before the battery comes out to prevent any issues when the weather breaks ?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Have you had the battery tested? Is the alternator working OK? I would get the car to a reputable auto repair shop and have the charging system tested. The shop will charge the battery first then run a load test on the battery. They will also check the alternator to see if it's working correctly.
IF the battery fails a load test, then I would get another battery installed. You should still use a good quality battery maintainer to insure the new battery is always fully charged. i
Another test that should be performed is to see what the current draw is with the car sitting. If there is a current draw that's above normal and it's not fixed, getting a new battery will only cause it to gradually lose a charge if you don't always have it on a tender.
IF the battery fails a load test, then I would get another battery installed. You should still use a good quality battery maintainer to insure the new battery is always fully charged. i
Another test that should be performed is to see what the current draw is with the car sitting. If there is a current draw that's above normal and it's not fixed, getting a new battery will only cause it to gradually lose a charge if you don't always have it on a tender.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 746
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Have you had the battery tested? Is the alternator working OK? I would get the car to a reputable auto repair shop and have the charging system tested. The shop will charge the battery first then run a load test on the battery. They will also check the alternator to see if it's working correctly.
IF the battery fails a load test, then I would get another battery installed. You should still use a good quality battery maintainer to insure the new battery is always fully charged. i
Another test that should be performed is to see what the current draw is with the car sitting. If there is a current draw that's above normal and it's not fixed, getting a new battery will only cause it to gradually lose a charge if you don't always have it on a tender.
IF the battery fails a load test, then I would get another battery installed. You should still use a good quality battery maintainer to insure the new battery is always fully charged. i
Another test that should be performed is to see what the current draw is with the car sitting. If there is a current draw that's above normal and it's not fixed, getting a new battery will only cause it to gradually lose a charge if you don't always have it on a tender.
Yes I plan on having it tested before I replace it. It looks like the original battery and the "eye" is Black so I'm assuming................. You know what they say about assuming. LOL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Have you had the battery tested? Is the alternator working OK? I would get the car to a reputable auto repair shop and have the charging system tested. The shop will charge the battery first then run a load test on the battery. They will also check the alternator to see if it's working correctly.
IF the battery fails a load test, then I would get another battery installed. You should still use a good quality battery maintainer to insure the new battery is always fully charged. i
Another test that should be performed is to see what the current draw is with the car sitting. If there is a current draw that's above normal and it's not fixed, getting a new battery will only cause it to gradually lose a charge if you don't always have it on a tender.
IF the battery fails a load test, then I would get another battery installed. You should still use a good quality battery maintainer to insure the new battery is always fully charged. i
Another test that should be performed is to see what the current draw is with the car sitting. If there is a current draw that's above normal and it's not fixed, getting a new battery will only cause it to gradually lose a charge if you don't always have it on a tender.
Last edited by JR-01; Nov 23, 2013 at 06:09 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
Either way you really should have a battery in the car. In case of a house fire (God forbid!) you might have enough time to rescue your vette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,602
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From: Westchester County, NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
...and if the dead battery freezes and the case cracks sending acid down into the cars electronics? Does insurance cover the thousands of dollars to fix that? Leaving a bad battery in the car for months at a time is bad advice.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
A fully charged battery should not freeze even with temps below zero. A maintainer will insure a full charge and help keep the electrolyte from freezing.
And if the car is stored inside, the comment about being able to start the car in an emergency such as a fire pretty much says keep the battery hooked up.
I usually don't use my C5 in the winter and the car will sit for a good 4 months. I have a Deltran Battery Tender hooked up all the time and the 4 year old Interstate battery is in excellent shape.
And if the car is stored inside, the comment about being able to start the car in an emergency such as a fire pretty much says keep the battery hooked up.
I usually don't use my C5 in the winter and the car will sit for a good 4 months. I have a Deltran Battery Tender hooked up all the time and the 4 year old Interstate battery is in excellent shape.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
A fully charged battery should not freeze even with temps below zero. A maintainer will insure a full charge and help keep the electrolyte from freezing.
And if the car is stored inside, the comment about being able to start the car in an emergency such as a fire pretty much says keep the battery hooked up.
I usually don't use my C5 in the winter and the car will sit for a good 4 months. I have a Deltran Battery Tender hooked up all the time and the 4 year old Interstate battery is in excellent shape.
And if the car is stored inside, the comment about being able to start the car in an emergency such as a fire pretty much says keep the battery hooked up.
I usually don't use my C5 in the winter and the car will sit for a good 4 months. I have a Deltran Battery Tender hooked up all the time and the 4 year old Interstate battery is in excellent shape.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,197
Likes: 4,182
From: Kannapolis NC
No way I'd leave a car sitting in my garage all winter with no battery. I'd put a new battery in and connect a float charger. You never know when you might want or need to move the car quickly. If it's stored somewhere I can't get to it anyway, that's different.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
You have a problem with fires at your house? When you put a car away for long term storage the battery should be removed. It is the recommended procedure. If you plan on starting it or driving it once in a while then by all means leave a battery in it. Of course that does make it easier to steal.
