Battery Question
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 87,045
Likes: 25
From: "when lightning strikes twice, the funerals insane, the funerals insane"
St Jude Donor '14-'15
Battery Question
I have a 2000,,,put into service 3 years ago this month. It is stored winters,but this year I left the battery in it figuring its time was up. So in January, I went to start it and no big surprise, it was dead. So I figure enough farting around and I went and bought an Optima Red top and put it in in February.
Today I go to start it and it is deader than dead. So, if everything was off, ( I double checked after I jumped it), could there still be a short or could I possibly have a bad battery?
TIA> :)
Today I go to start it and it is deader than dead. So, if everything was off, ( I double checked after I jumped it), could there still be a short or could I possibly have a bad battery?
TIA> :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
Re: Battery Question (repo)
The only way to avoid the dead battery is to disconnect it while the car is not being used (or put it on a trickle charger). After being left idle for 2 - 4 weeks the C5 will kill your battery. This has been a common subject lately as everyone getting their rides out for summer.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 23,731
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From: Making my carbon footprint as BIG as possible
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06
Re: Battery Question (repo)
I thought you were going to buy a battery tender? :confused: :smash: :smash:
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Re: Battery Question (repo)
Unfortunately, it is very common for forum members to immediately blame the battery for every no-start condition. One guy left his perfectly-good AGM battery in his C5 for 6 weeks while away for business, came back to a no-start condition, threw away his $100 AGM and bought an Optima. Of couse, if he tries the same thing all over again, the Optima will grant him a no-start, guaranteed.
I strongly advise you to get that Battery Tender Plus and hook it up before leaving your car for periods of more than three weeks.
I strongly advise you to get that Battery Tender Plus and hook it up before leaving your car for periods of more than three weeks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 1
From: Stillwater,MN
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Battery Question (Dave68)
I strongly advise you to get that Battery Tender Plus and hook it up before leaving your car for periods of more than three weeks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,341
Likes: 0
From: Addison IL
Re: Battery Question (repo)
Same kinda thing happened to me with my 98. I replaced the original in Sept last year, with a Red top, only cause I didn't want it to leak (car has 7000 miles on it) Put it away for storage and 5 weeks into winter it was dead. I took it out and put it on a timer/trickle charger. Has been ok since I put it back in 5 weeks ago. I did notice that before starting the voutage on DIC was as low as 10.9. For some reason they don't seem to hold as strong a charge as the lead cells.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,407
Likes: 1
From: HONOLULU HAWAII
Re: Battery Question (Stilcrazee)
Thats why I have a Yellow top, its a deep cycle battery and will fully recover if it runs low. I have left my car parked for 4-5 weeks with no problems at all. Maybe I have just been lucky...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 87,045
Likes: 25
From: "when lightning strikes twice, the funerals insane, the funerals insane"
St Jude Donor '14-'15
Re: Battery Question (WWK888)
Looks like a tender it is. :smash:
any suggestions? :seeya Maineiac.
[Modified by repo, 9:06 AM 3/31/2003]
any suggestions? :seeya Maineiac.
[Modified by repo, 9:06 AM 3/31/2003]
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Baja Oregon
Re: Battery Question (repo)
Here's a good source for the Battery Tender Plus: http://www.accwhse.com/batteryt.htm
$33.95 is about the best number I've seen on this item (list is $59)
:cheers:
$33.95 is about the best number I've seen on this item (list is $59)
:cheers:
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 87,045
Likes: 25
From: "when lightning strikes twice, the funerals insane, the funerals insane"
St Jude Donor '14-'15
Re: Battery Question (Touringpro)
Here's a good source for the Battery Tender Plus: http://www.accwhse.com/batteryt.htm
$33.95 is about the best number I've seen on this item (list is $59)
:cheers:
$33.95 is about the best number I've seen on this item (list is $59)
:cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
From: Dallas City IL
Re: Battery Question (repo)
I had a similar problem w/ the Optima Red Top, plus moving over to custom stereo wasn't going to help the problem.
My fix was a Hawker Energy AGM battery (said to be newer technology then Optima) with an on-board 6A Battery Tender.
Say goodbye to dead batteries! :seeya
My fix was a Hawker Energy AGM battery (said to be newer technology then Optima) with an on-board 6A Battery Tender.
Say goodbye to dead batteries! :seeya
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Baja Oregon
Re: Battery Question (M396 #00-011)
I had a similar problem w/ the Optima Red Top, plus moving over to custom stereo wasn't going to help the problem.
My fix was a Hawker Energy AGM battery (said to be newer technology then Optima) with an on-board 6A Battery Tender.
Say goodbye to dead batteries! :seeya
My fix was a Hawker Energy AGM battery (said to be newer technology then Optima) with an on-board 6A Battery Tender.
Say goodbye to dead batteries! :seeya
:thumbs: I have a couple of Hawker Energy products (Odyssey batteries http://www.odysseyfactory.com/ ) in my two Harleys. GREAT AGM batteries - Deep Cycle and SLI in one package. My only problem is conveniently finding them in sizes to fit my cars and P/U. For those applications I've gone with the Optima Red Top.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
From: Dallas City IL
Re: Battery Question (Touringpro)
:thumbs: I have a couple of Hawker Energy products (Odyssey batteries http://www.odysseyfactory.com/ ) in my two Harleys. GREAT AGM batteries - Deep Cycle and SLI in one package. My only problem is conveniently finding them in sizes to fit my cars and P/U. For those applications I've gone with the Optima Red Top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Re: Battery Question (Stilcrazee)
Same kinda thing happened to me with my 98. I replaced the original in Sept last year, with a Red top, only cause I didn't want it to leak (car has 7000 miles on it) Put it away for storage and 5 weeks into winter it was dead. I took it out and put it on a timer/trickle charger. Has been ok since I put it back in 5 weeks ago. I did notice that before starting the voutage on DIC was as low as 10.9. For some reason they don't seem to hold as strong a charge as the lead cells.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 87,045
Likes: 25
From: "when lightning strikes twice, the funerals insane, the funerals insane"
St Jude Donor '14-'15
Re: Battery Question (RedC5)
So I take it back to Pep boys, and the guy takes it over to the charger, and plugs it in. "yep, its dead" :rolleyes: ( no ship sherlock), so I'm standing there and after 10 minutes he says" you can come back in an hour, and if it doesnt hold a charge, we will give you a new one". Geez, thanks for telling me this 10 minutes ago ace.
So, I leave and go back later, and its defective. :thumbs: Brand new one with a new guarantee. Alls well that ends well.And no, I didnt tell him it was in a C5 battery eater for 3 months. :lol:
So, I leave and go back later, and its defective. :thumbs: Brand new one with a new guarantee. Alls well that ends well.And no, I didnt tell him it was in a C5 battery eater for 3 months. :lol:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
From: Dallas City IL
Re: Battery Question (M396 #00-011)
For reference,
Link to the on-board battery charger/tender for AGM batteries.
http://batterytendervps.chainreactio...99c71ef64064e9
Link to the on-board battery charger/tender for AGM batteries.
http://batterytendervps.chainreactio...99c71ef64064e9
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 87,045
Likes: 25
From: "when lightning strikes twice, the funerals insane, the funerals insane"
St Jude Donor '14-'15
Re: Battery Question (M396 #00-011)
For reference,
Link to the on-board battery charger/tender for AGM batteries.
http://batterytendervps.chainreactio...99c71ef64064e9
Link to the on-board battery charger/tender for AGM batteries.
http://batterytendervps.chainreactio...99c71ef64064e9
:cheers: thanks
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: IL
Re: Battery Question (repo)
I bought the International Version of the Battery Tender (I forgot why. Maybe the case or something.) It works great. From what I've read at http://www.batterystuff.com, the AGM batteries are better than the Optima batteries. The charger works great. The nice thing, is that it comes with a pigtail that I have connected to the car permanently. It also has another pigtail with clips in case I need t use it on another battery.
I sure would like to have all these good batteries people keep getting rid of. :D
I sure would like to have all these good batteries people keep getting rid of. :D
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 87,045
Likes: 25
From: "when lightning strikes twice, the funerals insane, the funerals insane"
St Jude Donor '14-'15
Re: Battery Question (Touringpro)
. . . the AGM batteries are better than the Optima batteries. . .
(sigh) Optimas are AGM batteries; the plates are simply spiral wound rather than flat. :banghead:
(sigh) Optimas are AGM batteries; the plates are simply spiral wound rather than flat. :banghead: