Dead battery?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,123
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From: Rednecks-R-Us
Dead battery?
Z has been sitting for ~3months - every 2weeks i start it up and drive around on my driveway (it's a big driveway, heh). Went to fire it up today and it just went 'click click', DIC said 'low voltage'.
I'm guessing battery is done or needs recharging.
In it's lifetime it's been through 4GM batteries, and now an optima red top (current) - should I replace w/ another optima battery, or do I need a trickle charger or something like it?
I'm guessing battery is done or needs recharging.
In it's lifetime it's been through 4GM batteries, and now an optima red top (current) - should I replace w/ another optima battery, or do I need a trickle charger or something like it?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Starting it up every two weeks and driving around your "big driveway" isn't enough to keep the battery at peak power. Allowing any battery to slowly die shortens it's life expectancy. There's a lot of electronics in your C5/Z06 that draws power from the battery. It is also harmful in that the condensation never has a chance to burn off, so it ends up in the oil and exhaust system.
I prefer OPTIMA on a BATTERY TENDER PLUS @ 1.25 amp while my car is stored from late November to March or April. I don't start it during that time period. Weather permitting, it's better to drive the car for a few miles to charge the battery, lubricate everything well and burn off the condensation.
I'd suggest getting a float maintenance charger (BATTERY TENDER by DELTRAN) or a pulse charger (CTEK) and just slowly charge your now dead battery. If it's an OPTIMA, chances are very good it'll come back to full peak power with a slow charge. Leave the charger on it during the winter or disconnect your battery cable(s).
It's your car to do with as you please.
I prefer OPTIMA on a BATTERY TENDER PLUS @ 1.25 amp while my car is stored from late November to March or April. I don't start it during that time period. Weather permitting, it's better to drive the car for a few miles to charge the battery, lubricate everything well and burn off the condensation.
I'd suggest getting a float maintenance charger (BATTERY TENDER by DELTRAN) or a pulse charger (CTEK) and just slowly charge your now dead battery. If it's an OPTIMA, chances are very good it'll come back to full peak power with a slow charge. Leave the charger on it during the winter or disconnect your battery cable(s).
It's your car to do with as you please.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Feb 2, 2008 at 06:27 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: New Bern NC
I agree, we have had the same problems with cars stored for long periods of time. If you have tags on these vehicles a quick 15-20 minutes drive will do more for charging the battery. But still with long periods of storage the high tech chargers are a good idea.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 0
From: Rednecks-R-Us
Starting it up every two weeks and driving around your "big driveway" isn't enough to keep the battery at peak power. Allowing any battery to slowly die shortens it's life expectancy. There's a lot of electronics in your C5/Z06 that draws power from the battery. It is also harmful in that the condensation never has a chance to burn off, so it ends up in the oil and exhaust system.
I prefer OPTIMA on a BATTERY TENDER PLUS @ 1.25 amp while my car is stored from late November to March or April. I don't start it during that time period. Weather permitting, it's better to drive the car for a few miles to charge the battery, lubricate everything well and burn off the condensation.
I'd suggest getting a float maintenance charger (BATTERY TENDER by DELTRAN) or a pulse charger (CTEK) and just slowly charge your now dead battery. If it's an OPTIMA, chances are very good it'll come back to full peak power with a slow charge. Leave the charger on it during the winter or disconnect your battery cable(s).
It's your car to do with as you please.
I prefer OPTIMA on a BATTERY TENDER PLUS @ 1.25 amp while my car is stored from late November to March or April. I don't start it during that time period. Weather permitting, it's better to drive the car for a few miles to charge the battery, lubricate everything well and burn off the condensation.
I'd suggest getting a float maintenance charger (BATTERY TENDER by DELTRAN) or a pulse charger (CTEK) and just slowly charge your now dead battery. If it's an OPTIMA, chances are very good it'll come back to full peak power with a slow charge. Leave the charger on it during the winter or disconnect your battery cable(s).
It's your car to do with as you please.
I'll look into a battery tender and give it a slow charge. Thanks.
Fyi, my driveway is ~1/4 mile, it's more than just a little put put up and down 0.00000001miles
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
I'm still on my original 03 battery. I leave it sit for sometimes up to a month and it fires right up each time (even in the 30 degree weather we just had a week ago). Ive never had any of my batteries in 8 of our vehicles go dead on me and they sometimes sit for several months at a time or longer. I guess so far Ive just been lucky with factory originals and Ive never used a battery tender on anything Ive ever owned. My dads 3 year old Caddy battery just went flat dead overnight last week and its a daily driver. Go figure.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Rednecks-R-Us
Just to check - don't want to blow anything up (hehe!) - this is the one I'd want to buy - http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Just to check - don't want to blow anything up (hehe!) - this is the one I'd want to buy - http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Another option is the more "high tech" European made CTEK pulse charger. It's sold by some site supporting vendors (C.C.A.) It usually retails for about $69.95. It has some features that the BATTERY TENDER line does not offer. Either maintenance charger will keep your battery at peak power during hibernation.
If you use 303 PROTECTANT, they also sell that in one gallon (and smaller) containers for a great price.
SUMMIT doesn't charge shipping, but they do charge "handling".
A 1/4 mile long driveway??
Last edited by hotwheels57; Feb 3, 2008 at 02:14 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,331
Likes: 518
From: Admit Nothing, Deny Everything, Make Counter Accusations.
You can find them cheaper at online Motorcycle shop. For example:
http://www.compacc.com/prod.cfm/cid/1304005/pid/503
http://www.compacc.com/prod.cfm/cid/1304005/pid/503
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
You can find them cheaper at online Motorcycle shop. For example:
http://www.compacc.com/prod.cfm/cid/1304005/pid/503
http://www.compacc.com/prod.cfm/cid/1304005/pid/503
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Like said above, a TENDER, not a charger. I leave my car all winter and she starts right up in March.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,286
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From: Southwestern OH
St. Jude Donor '08
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Rockton Il
Oh yeah - trickle charger is the ticket.
EDIT - I see now. Crazy Canadians!!
