Battery question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,756
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From: Bedford Mass
Battery question
Just took delivery of a 2000 C5 vert with 13k miles on it. It has a brand new battery the dealer installed, but after 3 days it needed to be jumped. I took it in to my guy and he said there was no draw on the system and it was charging fine. I have it off the battery tender because the weather here sucks right now, so how long "should" it last before I might have problems again ?
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks,
Mark
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Mark
Your battery should be able to let your car sit idle for a GOOD MONTH!
What battery do you have? Batteries have a CCA rating and a RESERVE CAPACITY Rating
The Reserve Capacity should be 120. What is your reserve capacity rating??
What is reserve capacity of a battery?
Reserve Capacity (RC) is a very important rating. This is the number of minutes a fully charged battery at 80 ° F will discharge 25 amps until the battery drops below 10.5 volts. An amp hour (AH) is a rating usually found on deep cycle batteries.
When you shut your C5 down and walk away, after a few minutes it goes into SLEEP /SECURITY Mode.
In that mode, it sheds all non necessary electrical loads (that the BCM has control over) and the maximum battery CURRENT draw in milliamps should be 25-30 milliamps.
To measure this value, you have to disconnect the battery NEGATIVE TERMINAL and set up a Multimeter to read 10 DC AMPS. Insert the ammeter in SERIES with the NEG battery terminal and NEG battery cable.
After approx 12 Min, you should be at the lowest SLEEP current reading. If it is HIGH, you need to look for what ever is drawing excessive current or not turning off.
EXAMPLE, Interior lights set to remain on all the time by accident.
BC
Your battery should be able to let your car sit idle for a GOOD MONTH!
What battery do you have? Batteries have a CCA rating and a RESERVE CAPACITY Rating
The Reserve Capacity should be 120. What is your reserve capacity rating??
What is reserve capacity of a battery?
Reserve Capacity (RC) is a very important rating. This is the number of minutes a fully charged battery at 80 ° F will discharge 25 amps until the battery drops below 10.5 volts. An amp hour (AH) is a rating usually found on deep cycle batteries.
When you shut your C5 down and walk away, after a few minutes it goes into SLEEP /SECURITY Mode.
In that mode, it sheds all non necessary electrical loads (that the BCM has control over) and the maximum battery CURRENT draw in milliamps should be 25-30 milliamps.
To measure this value, you have to disconnect the battery NEGATIVE TERMINAL and set up a Multimeter to read 10 DC AMPS. Insert the ammeter in SERIES with the NEG battery terminal and NEG battery cable.
After approx 12 Min, you should be at the lowest SLEEP current reading. If it is HIGH, you need to look for what ever is drawing excessive current or not turning off.
EXAMPLE, Interior lights set to remain on all the time by accident.
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Apr 1, 2016 at 11:16 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
Did you drive it to get battery fully charged after the battery was installed? Brand new batteries are not always 100% charged.
If I am not going to drive mine for a week or so I put it on the tender. I have found my car is happier with a fully charged battery.
If I am not going to drive mine for a week or so I put it on the tender. I have found my car is happier with a fully charged battery.
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With a fully charged, good battery, it should definitely last more than 3 days before needing a charge. Have the battery tested to see if it has a defect.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,756
Likes: 35
From: Bedford Mass
Mark
Your battery should be able to let your car sit idle for a GOOD MONTH!
What battery do you have? Batteries have a CCA rating and a RESERVE CAPACITY Rating
The Reserve Capacity should be 120. What is your reserve capacity rating??
What is reserve capacity of a battery?
Reserve Capacity (RC) is a very important rating. This is the number of minutes a fully charged battery at 80 ° F will discharge 25 amps until the battery drops below 10.5 volts. An amp hour (AH) is a rating usually found on deep cycle batteries.
When you shut your C5 down and walk away, after a few minutes it goes into SLEEP /SECURITY Mode.
In that mode, it sheds all non necessary electrical loads (that the BCM has control over) and the maximum battery CURRENT draw in milliamps should be 25-30 milliamps.
To measure this value, you have to disconnect the battery NEGATIVE TERMINAL and set up a Multimeter to read 10 DC AMPS. Insert the ammeter in SERIES with the NEG battery terminal and NEG battery cable.
After approx 12 Min, you should be at the lowest SLEEP current reading. If it is HIGH, you need to look for what ever is drawing excessive current or not turning off.
EXAMPLE, Interior lights set to remain on all the time by accident.
BC
Your battery should be able to let your car sit idle for a GOOD MONTH!
What battery do you have? Batteries have a CCA rating and a RESERVE CAPACITY Rating
The Reserve Capacity should be 120. What is your reserve capacity rating??
What is reserve capacity of a battery?
Reserve Capacity (RC) is a very important rating. This is the number of minutes a fully charged battery at 80 ° F will discharge 25 amps until the battery drops below 10.5 volts. An amp hour (AH) is a rating usually found on deep cycle batteries.
When you shut your C5 down and walk away, after a few minutes it goes into SLEEP /SECURITY Mode.
In that mode, it sheds all non necessary electrical loads (that the BCM has control over) and the maximum battery CURRENT draw in milliamps should be 25-30 milliamps.
To measure this value, you have to disconnect the battery NEGATIVE TERMINAL and set up a Multimeter to read 10 DC AMPS. Insert the ammeter in SERIES with the NEG battery terminal and NEG battery cable.
After approx 12 Min, you should be at the lowest SLEEP current reading. If it is HIGH, you need to look for what ever is drawing excessive current or not turning off.
EXAMPLE, Interior lights set to remain on all the time by accident.
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
When I have a good proper battery in my 02 ZO6 and or my 11 Grand Sport, its sits idle for an easy 20-30 days and it will STILL CRANK.
Granted itS NOT a properly charged battery at that point in time. My point is, it can and should start AFTER SITTING for a period of time.
Do you think people would be happy if they could not leave their C5/C6 in an air port long term parking lot for a 4-5 day business trip. CAR manufactures SPECIFY what reserve capacity is necessary for the car to be a NORMAL use car and be able to have your GRAND MOTHER OWN IT AND BE HAPPY..
So,,, what reserve capacity is the battery rated at and WAHT is your sleep current draw??
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
A "tender" is not a battery charger. They only put out 1-2 amps or less, which will keep a fully charged battery from discharging, while a normal battery "charger" will put out 8, 10, or even 50 amps (for starting) and will bring a depleted battery up to full charge. Using a tender to recharge your battery may take many days if it works at all.
And, FYI, if you get an AGM battery, it MUST BE FULLY CHARGED PRIOR TO FIRST USE or it will prematurely fail. Do not rely on the guy in the battery store telling you it's good to go when you get it, you must charge it up first so be forewarned.
And, FYI, if you get an AGM battery, it MUST BE FULLY CHARGED PRIOR TO FIRST USE or it will prematurely fail. Do not rely on the guy in the battery store telling you it's good to go when you get it, you must charge it up first so be forewarned.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
A "tender" is not a battery charger. They only put out 1-2 amps or less, which will keep a fully charged battery from discharging, while a normal battery "charger" will put out 8, 10, or even 50 amps (for starting) and will bring a depleted battery up to full charge. Using a tender to recharge your battery may take many days if it works at all.
And, FYI, if you get an AGM battery, it MUST BE FULLY CHARGED PRIOR TO FIRST USE or it will prematurely fail. Do not rely on the guy in the battery store telling you it's good to go when you get it, you must charge it up first so be forewarned.
And, FYI, if you get an AGM battery, it MUST BE FULLY CHARGED PRIOR TO FIRST USE or it will prematurely fail. Do not rely on the guy in the battery store telling you it's good to go when you get it, you must charge it up first so be forewarned.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,756
Likes: 35
From: Bedford Mass
800 CCA means NOTHING if the RESERVE CAPACITY isn't what the car needS to be a normal C5.
When I have a good proper battery in my 02 ZO6 and or my 11 Grand Sport, its sits idle for an easy 20-30 days and it will STILL CRANK.
Granted itS NOT a properly charged battery at that point in time. My point is, it can and should start AFTER SITTING for a period of time.
Do you think people would be happy if they could not leave their C5/C6 in an air port long term parking lot for a 4-5 day business trip. CAR manufactures SPECIFY what reserve capacity is necessary for the car to be a NORMAL use car and be able to have your GRAND MOTHER OWN IT AND BE HAPPY..
So,,, what reserve capacity is the battery rated at and WAHT is your sleep current draw??
When I have a good proper battery in my 02 ZO6 and or my 11 Grand Sport, its sits idle for an easy 20-30 days and it will STILL CRANK.
Granted itS NOT a properly charged battery at that point in time. My point is, it can and should start AFTER SITTING for a period of time.
Do you think people would be happy if they could not leave their C5/C6 in an air port long term parking lot for a 4-5 day business trip. CAR manufactures SPECIFY what reserve capacity is necessary for the car to be a NORMAL use car and be able to have your GRAND MOTHER OWN IT AND BE HAPPY..
So,,, what reserve capacity is the battery rated at and WAHT is your sleep current draw??
Interstate
MPT-78
CCA 800
CA 1000
RC 110
And in the 2 hours on the tender, it went from charging to charged.
Then I opened the hood and the light went on and it went back to charging, which I'm sure is normal...
By the way, thanks so much for all the help...
Mark
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
The C5 might be unique when it comes to battery drain. The owners manual states:
I do not believe other cars have that recommendation.
If you're not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more, remove the black, negative (-) cable from the battery. This will help keep your battery from running down.
Last edited by JR-01; Apr 1, 2016 at 02:52 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 174
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From: Wilmington DE
I have an interstate battery installed 2yrs ago when I bought my 98. It's pretty much a garage Queen drive it on weekends to the the beach every weekend. Never had an issue with it starting even when sitting 2-3 weeks during the winter
However I was waxing the car last week had the radio on for about 2 hours, tried starting, won't turn over , had to jump start.
However I was waxing the car last week had the radio on for about 2 hours, tried starting, won't turn over , had to jump start.
