Battery Problems
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Belcamp MD
Battery Problems
So Ive had my 98 Coupe now for about 3 months (my first vette 
) and I have my first problem. About 3 weeks ago I started having to jumpstart it cause my battery was dead when the car would sit for more than 8 hours. The longer the car sits the less power it has. seems to me like something is draining power. I replaced the DieHard Gold with a Optima Yellow Top but I still have same problem. I think my Alternator is on its way out but I drive 75 miles per day and it should have died by now if it were bad. Ive checked all interior lights and so on for the obvious, any one have a clue. thanks in advance for the help.
Ryan
) and I have my first problem. About 3 weeks ago I started having to jumpstart it cause my battery was dead when the car would sit for more than 8 hours. The longer the car sits the less power it has. seems to me like something is draining power. I replaced the DieHard Gold with a Optima Yellow Top but I still have same problem. I think my Alternator is on its way out but I drive 75 miles per day and it should have died by now if it were bad. Ive checked all interior lights and so on for the obvious, any one have a clue. thanks in advance for the help. Ryan
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
What does the D.I.C. display for battery voltage while you are driving? If you fully charge your battery and then don't drive for a day, is the battery discharged? If so, it's not the alternator that's at fault.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Belcamp MD
When Im driving my volts are fine. It reads between 12 and 13. I think the alternator is recharging the battery b/c the car will start just not when left for like 8+ hours. I also checked power seat switches and they were fine. I will buy a meter tomorrow and see if I can find a draw.
Thank you
Thank you
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 0
From: Goose Creek SC
When Im driving my volts are fine. It reads between 12 and 13. I think the alternator is recharging the battery b/c the car will start just not when left for like 8+ hours. I also checked power seat switches and they were fine. I will buy a meter tomorrow and see if I can find a draw.
Thank you
Thank you
Hammer
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,817
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
battery keeps dying
I have a 98 Vert with about 50K miles and I to have had the same problem. I have owned the car a little over a year and have already taken it in a couple times to get it checked and everytime they say the alternator and battery are fine. Well, 2 weeks ago i bought a brand new battery for it and this morning it wont start. No keyless, not even any lights on. This car is a daily driver as well and was just driven yesterday. Volts are fine when car is driving. I am very irritated as I know you are. Hope to take it back to the chevy dealership tomorrow so if I find anything out Ill let you know (thank god i bought the extended warranty). Might be time for me to get a truck....
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 43
From: shavertown Pa.
dead battery
Sounds like something is staying on, take a test light and take the negitive cable off, and clip the test light ground, wire to the cable, then put the probe end on the battery terminal, if you see a light you have an obvious draw, make sure the doors have been closed and the timer for the interior lights, went off before disconnecting the battery.
You have to disconnect the hood light, also, now if you see a light or a dim light you have a draw, you can track down the draw by removing fuses one at a time untill the light go's out(test light), that will narrow it down to a particular circut, then eliminate each thing in that circut untill you find it....
You have to disconnect the hood light, also, now if you see a light or a dim light you have a draw, you can track down the draw by removing fuses one at a time untill the light go's out(test light), that will narrow it down to a particular circut, then eliminate each thing in that circut untill you find it....
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 35
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From: Frisco Texas
And just a side note. I had the same issue with my 99. Bought a red top and about 2 months later had the same issue. Parts store told me the battery was OK but I convinced them to replace it. I have been good now for over a year.The link above also helped me with the c5 electrical gremlins. Mostly sporadic stuff that was just dirty grounding points.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
So Ive had my 98 Coupe now for about 3 months (my first vette ) and I have my first problem. About 3 weeks ago I started having to jumpstart it cause my battery was dead when the car would sit for more than 8 hours. The longer the car sits the less power it has. seems to me like something is draining power. I replaced the DieHard Gold with a Optima Yellow Top but I still have same problem. I think my Alternator is on its way out but I drive 75 miles per day and it should have died by now if it were bad. Ive checked all interior lights and so on for the obvious, any one have a clue. thanks in advance for the help.
Ryan
) and I have my first problem. About 3 weeks ago I started having to jumpstart it cause my battery was dead when the car would sit for more than 8 hours. The longer the car sits the less power it has. seems to me like something is draining power. I replaced the DieHard Gold with a Optima Yellow Top but I still have same problem. I think my Alternator is on its way out but I drive 75 miles per day and it should have died by now if it were bad. Ive checked all interior lights and so on for the obvious, any one have a clue. thanks in advance for the help. Ryan
first let me just start by saying I went through the EXACT same experience with my 00'FRC.
Definately something (or THINGS) are draining the power. First I would do is read through Bill Curlee's sticky post on electrical gremlins.
Then look at his thread here...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...23&postcount=7
It has pics that detail how to correctly wire in an ampmeter to test how much draw is on your system when things power down.
When you turn the key off, and close the door it takes several minutes for the various systems to shut down, but you will always have a small amount of draw, keyword being small.
I used the setup described by Bill, and isolated two seperate problems. 1) a bad altenator.... the integrated voltage regulator was bad and had to be replaced. 2) an improperly wired window swith that was drawing current at all times.
I fixed these problems, added a new battery, and glad to say...my car has gone several months in the garage with no change in batery power.
Good luck
Larry