I have a red top optima that I'd installed in Jan 05. The car has been sitting for 30 days now, and now its dead The car will be in storage for an extended period of time (Houston Texas), however while I am deployed my sister will start it up for me once a month (so I thought) , and no need for a battery trickler. I told her not lock the doors because that will set the alarm and drain the battery. Since the alarm is not the case, what else can be draining the battery?

 

Derrick, normal battery drain with all systems off is 40 milliamps. Few if any batteries will retain a significant charge after 30 days with that kind of draw. If you have the means to check it, and it is in the 40 or so milliamp range, then everything is normal. Either disconnect the battery, install a battery on-off switch and show your sister how to use it, or use the tender.

 

BCM is supposed to go into 'sleep mode'. Why the drain?

 

Cause it's not dead, just asleep. Seriously Bob, I don't know. I'm just forwarding good info I got from Bill Curlee, the Master. He'll explain if he sees this, I'm sure.

 

I just thought youi might know. I see these posts all the time regarding dead batteries. I wonder if there's a problem with the BCM that would account for that.

 

Just found this:

check with the customer or the sales department to determine if the vehicle is equipped with an aftermarket security system. These systems use a small transmitter or GPS locator that is hidden in the vehicle and is usually unknown to the technician. The transmitter is typically installed in the hot-at-all-times dome lamp circuit and prevents the Body Control Module (BCM) from entering the sleep mode.

 

The radio and power seat switch are notorious problems for draining power - mine had a bad ps switch that drained mine down after about a week or so - easy fix -

 

Easy fix when you found it. So how is it now? Any battery drain?

 

You should disconnect the battery, and forego the sister starting it up once a month. Unless she's going to drive it around and thoroughly warm up the engine and exhaust, she's doing more harm than good just starting up once a month.

All that starting it up once a month without a thorough heat up will do, is further drain your battery and contaminate your oil, and put moisture in your exhaust system.

 

Either use a battery tendor or disconnect the battery. If you are nowhere near the car, disconnecting the battery is the way to go, IMO.

 

been reading on other posts that fuse 46 might be a/the culprit. don't know if that's accurate. by the way, fuse 46 for headlight washer. funny, didn't know they had that.

 

sorry, please disregard my fuse 46 comment. that's a c6 issue evidently

 

If you are going away for an extended period of time, I would either use a battery tender or disconnect the battery. Just for the sake of "PIECE OF MIND" do the current draw test:

Open the hood and disconnect the under hood light. Shut the doors, trunk and any other thing that would be on when open, glove box ect.

Disconnect the Negative battery terminal of the battery.

Insert an AMP Meter (capable of reading at least 10 amps) in series with the negative terminal. Positive lead on the battery terminal, negative lead on the battery cable.

When you first connect the meter into the circuit, the current draw will be HIGH! 4-5 amps. It is reading all of the circuits that come on when the computer wakes up. After abput 2-3 minutes, the computer will sense that nothing is happening and it should go into slep mode. The meter should be reading 40 milli amps. You can leave it hooked up and see if it spikes high after it sits for a while. On Englandgreen's car he has a problem where his AC fan motor will come on and run for about 30-40 seconds when the car is OFF!

That is what you are looking for, Something that will cause the current meter to spike high after the car is off for a while. Other things that can cause this issue is:

Seat control module;
Seat control switch
Glove box lamp.
Bad diode in the alternator.
BCM never going into sleep mode.

All the above will show as an excessive current draw.

I also agree; starting the car every now and then is worse than not starting it at all.


BC

 

I agree with all the above about disconnectiong the battery or using some form of battery tender (I have the Sears unit). Starting the car once a month will drain the battery more, it's not enough use to charge it fully.

 

I had a red top that was less than a year old and it had trouble holding a charge for more than one week. I suspected the electrical system was pulling the battery down prematurely, so I took it to mr goodwrench for a checkup. The Z was fine but the redtop was toast according to Mr G. He was right. My new redtop holds a charge much better. I think a healthy redtop should hold a sufficient charge to start the car for about 30 days, but have not been able to stop driving the car enough to test that yet. It is good for more than 2 weeks though.

Do a search. You will find this is not an isolated problem for the red tops. Go get a new one.

PS,
If this happens to me again in less than 3 years, I'll be looking for another brand of battery.

 

I can tell ya more than 10 days and you will be struggling to start it

 

I am not sure if this was mentioned, but i'd get a Priority Start (www.prioritystart.com) works great. i had a battery brain or buddy or something, and dumped it. this is a cool page too http://www.kickinglettuce.com/Prioritystart/ has a bunch of places where you can buy it

 

Thanks Bill. I appreciated the info.