Very important, and seemingly overlooked based on the responses.
Battery goes dead
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Gambrills Maryland
Battery goes dead
I have a new to me 2003 and just put a new optima battery in it so I know that the batt is good. I noticed that after sitting for a couple of weeks the battery goes dead. I used a current meter and there is about 160 ma being drawn from the battery with the car just sitting and "nothing" turned on. That sounds high to me. Can someone measure their car and tell what it should be?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: ST. PETE FL.
oPTIMA BATTERY
I just got an education on Optima batteris. When brand new check the voltage.It should be 12.8 volts. If they drop below 10.5volts you have to hook the battery to another fully charged battery ,then put on charger.
A c-tek maintainer is a must if you don't drive the car often.
Odssey batteries are better,but more $$$$$$$$$$$.
Hope this helps.
A c-tek maintainer is a must if you don't drive the car often.
Odssey batteries are better,but more $$$$$$$$$$$.
Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 18
From: Thompsons Station Tennessee
Optima
I have a new to me 2003 and just put a new optima battery in it so I know that the batt is good. I noticed that after sitting for a couple of weeks the battery goes dead. I used a current meter and there is about 160 ma being drawn from the battery with the car just sitting and "nothing" turned on. That sounds high to me. Can someone measure their car and tell what it should be?
Years ago I got a Fiat X19 very cheap because of a battery drain problem. I found about 4 shorts in the wiring. The cigar lighter wires were melted and the wiring bundle inside the steering column were fused togeather. The car ran but the battery would go dead overnight.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 324
Likes: 2
From: Rogersville TN
I have a new to me 2003 and just put a new optima battery in it so I know that the batt is good. I noticed that after sitting for a couple of weeks the battery goes dead. I used a current meter and there is about 160 ma being drawn from the battery with the car just sitting and "nothing" turned on. That sounds high to me. Can someone measure their car and tell what it should be?
I keep a Battery Tender on my Yellow Top Optima. I may not drive it for a month or longer.
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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
My OPTIMA is 6 years old and it can sit idle for 35 days and STILL crank the engine. If you have to keep a battery tender on the battery to have the car to start, you have excessive current drain issues.
Fully charge the battery and go have it tested. They should fully load it with a tester and see what the load voltage is and if it recovers.
I have a detailed list of things to check to see if they turn OFF when there suppose to at home. I will post the link to the post when I get home.
Be careful about pulling fuses. You can disturb the BCM and some fuse pulls will wake up the BCM and give you a false reading
The most common current grabbers are Installed ACCESSORIES
Drivers seat multi switch and or lumbar switch
Memory driving the drivers seat continuously
Bose amp relay stuck on.
Interior light/s hood lights remaining on
Dash lights never turning OFF
HVAC Fan turning on by is self (bad controller)
Head light control module malfunction. Feel it. If its WARM or HOT it having a bad day.
Un-plug big stuff and see what happens. 20ma is the goal.
BC
Fully charge the battery and go have it tested. They should fully load it with a tester and see what the load voltage is and if it recovers.
I have a detailed list of things to check to see if they turn OFF when there suppose to at home. I will post the link to the post when I get home.
Be careful about pulling fuses. You can disturb the BCM and some fuse pulls will wake up the BCM and give you a false reading
The most common current grabbers are Installed ACCESSORIES
Drivers seat multi switch and or lumbar switch
Memory driving the drivers seat continuously
Bose amp relay stuck on.
Interior light/s hood lights remaining on
Dash lights never turning OFF
HVAC Fan turning on by is self (bad controller)
Head light control module malfunction. Feel it. If its WARM or HOT it having a bad day.
Un-plug big stuff and see what happens. 20ma is the goal.
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Dec 26, 2009 at 08:59 AM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 606
Likes: 18
From: burke va
Had an Optima Redtop in my 97 when I purchased the car a few months ago. Battery was about 2 years old but went dead after 2-5 days. Replaced it with a new Delco. After sitting for 3 weeks the car started right up.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 324
Likes: 2
From: Rogersville TN
Don't forget that the reason for using a gel cell type battery like the Optima is that the battery sits over the computer. A defective standard type battery that develops a leak in the case can ruin the computer.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Leduc Alberta
My battery went dead as well, I installed a yellow top Optimax and noticed the draw again. Turns out the aftermarket stereo draws enough power that the battery will go dead within a month, also the original battery must have had a weak cell cause it would die in a week. I unplugged the stereo and things got alot better, that was the problem I had. Now i run a battery tender and things are fine.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
If you Google "Paul Koerner Seminar on C5 Column Lock Issues" you will find some very interesting videos with detailed information on batteries for C5 Corvettes and the special needs our cars seem to have in regard to battery voltage and reserves.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 812
Likes: 2
From: Metairie Louisiana
I had an Optima battery in my '99, if I went any longer than 2 days without connecting a battery tender there would be a substantial voltage drop. If it's an Optima, you must use a battery tender, and when they experience a significant discharge they may never come back. I now have a 6yr AC Delco and no issues.
