Killing Batteries - PLEASE HELP
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 5
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Killing Batteries - PLEASE HELP
I have an 03 Z06 and I have killed 3 batteries in the last 3 days. This does not include the battery I replaced 4 months ago either. When I say kill, I don't mean they are drained dead and need to be charged. The cells in the battery go bad. 2 of the 3 batteries had a battery tender on them when they went bad ( 2 different tenders). Each time the battery dies I take it to Autozone, they give me a new one and 24 hours later it is toast. I understand a parasitic draw could drain the battery but what in they hell would ruin the battery?
History
I am 2nd owner and have had the car 4.5 years. It has 18,000 miles and is excellent condition. I have always had issues with batteries draining after the car sat for a couple weeks but never like this. I replaced the radio this summer but drove it for months with no battery issues. The battery I replaced earlier in the summer was before the radio install.
I appreciate any help I can get
Jeremy
History
I am 2nd owner and have had the car 4.5 years. It has 18,000 miles and is excellent condition. I have always had issues with batteries draining after the car sat for a couple weeks but never like this. I replaced the radio this summer but drove it for months with no battery issues. The battery I replaced earlier in the summer was before the radio install.
I appreciate any help I can get
Jeremy
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 1,214
From: Wisconsin
I just killed a 2 year old interstate battery, same bad cell diagnosis. Second one like that, but the other was a couple years older. I replaced my battery maintainer, not sure if that's the problem but over charging will kill a battery. I store my car every winter. Maybe just a run of junk batteries is to blame.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I tried a new battery tender on the last battery. It seems statistically improbable to get 2 bad batteries in a row, but I don't know at this point. I'm not even sure where to start with the problem solving.
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
Get a multimeter out and measure the charging voltage on the charger AND on the cars charging system - The typical charging voltage for a Lead Acid battery is between 2.15 volts per cell (12.9 volts for a 12V 6 cell battery) and 2.35 volts per cell (14.1 volts for a 12V 6 cell battery). These voltages are appropriate to apply to a fully charged battery without overcharging or damage.
If you have a Gel or AGM battery, Deep Cycle AGM:- AGM batteries should be charged using a charger with a mode switch for AGM type batteries. It is recommended to use a charger, current limited to 20% or 0.2C of the batteries capacity at a charging voltage of between 14.6 – 14.8V following deep cycle use, or 13.6V – 13.8V for standby use.
Your alternator should be charging anywhere between 13.5 - 14.5 VDC. Measure that voltage directly at the battery terminals with the engine running. I would test it under a daytime load and a night time load (lights ON, HVAC fan on high and rear defrost on. Se if the alternator regulator maintains the charging voltage.
Let us know what you find.
Bill
If you have a Gel or AGM battery, Deep Cycle AGM:- AGM batteries should be charged using a charger with a mode switch for AGM type batteries. It is recommended to use a charger, current limited to 20% or 0.2C of the batteries capacity at a charging voltage of between 14.6 – 14.8V following deep cycle use, or 13.6V – 13.8V for standby use.
Your alternator should be charging anywhere between 13.5 - 14.5 VDC. Measure that voltage directly at the battery terminals with the engine running. I would test it under a daytime load and a night time load (lights ON, HVAC fan on high and rear defrost on. Se if the alternator regulator maintains the charging voltage.
Let us know what you find.
Bill
