I see all these threads about dead battery's after vette just left undriven for a short time. My 08 C6 coupe is currently on order and will be a DD. Is it still a problem with the 08's? is there a way to minimize the issue without a battery tender as mine will likely be outside. If nothing is left plugged in like radar detectors, cell phones or Ipod's, then what causes the drain?

 

I have an 07 DD and have never experienced a problem with the battery. I expect the 08 for you won't be any different.

But if I find that I won't be driving the car for an extended period of time I plug in the ctek 3300 charger to be safe.

 

I don't think you'll have a problem if it's used on a regular basis.But I'd have tender at the ready.

 

there is no problem if you actually Drive your car

your's will be a DD, so it is a non-issue, don't even worry about it

 

You should be allright. Most cars are, but for some reason some develope problems. Yours as a DD should do well. The longer your daily drive is the better, a couple miles does not do a great recharge. Longer drives are your friend.

 

I have an 06 and its not a DD. Depending on weather it has sat idle for 3 weeks without a battery problem.And thats in a NY winter. You should be OK.

 

My 05 has only had a dead battery once within two months of purchasing and I think I either left it in 1st gear when shutting it off or left it in accessory mode. I've let it sit for a month a couple times and had zero problems ever since. I wouldn't worry at all about an 08 DD. (Congrats on the soon to arrive 08!)

 

While I don't doubt there are cars that sit for days and weeks without problems, the above is far more likely. If your drives are short, it could eventually become a "battery" issue. If longer, probably not.

Your weather (more temperate, less juice-robbing cold) and the fact that you will drive it almost every day, are a help.

I think for $20 +/-, however, having a battery tender and using it occasionally can't hurt. And they are available at just about every car parts store.

That's my understanding of the "battery issue."

 

For the price, of them, too many have battery problems. Why can't GM fix it ???????? ----------

 

GM HAS fixed the problem.

The posts the OP is referring to relate to the 2005-2006 m.y. C6's. In 2005, the MN6 cars were released with a software problem - you had to leave the cars in reverse when shutting down in order to command the computers to shutdown. Lots of people didn't do that, so the computers kept running, causing a battery kill. GM issued a reflash for that, and later 2006 cars onward did not need this procedure. The issue was resolved.

A second issue also cropped up some 2005-06 cars (MN6) and 2006 cars (A6) that also caused the computers to continue to run, even after shutdown. Personally, I went through 3 batteries under warranty until GM issued a reflash in 12/06 to address this issue. I have had no problems since, and I've heard of no reports of DBS (dead battery syndrome) hitting 2007-2008 cars.

The fact is, however, that some systems are always running on the car - the sensors for the FOB, for example. OnStar is always active as well. This drains power, and if the car is left for too long without recharging the battery, the car won't start. It's that simple.

As a DD, you may be alright, but frequent short trips cause a problem because the car doesn't run long enough to recharge the battery. Make sure the car is run long enough (20 minutes or so) to do that. If it is going to sit - plug it in. Wally World sells a $15 charger that works great (I use it).

 

When ? -- I had problems, in sept 07, with my new, 07. I took it to the dealer, 3 times, and finally they replaced the battery. Because I was hearing of so many problems, here on the forum, I immediately got a battery tender, and started using it. At this point, I really don't know whether or not the new battery fixed the problem.

 

I have an 08.. other than the time when I must have left something on... everything has been fine.
My car has sat for over a week with no starting issues..

 

2007 A6
Bought Sept. 06
DD - 22,000 miles
No battery problems

 

Thanks for the input

 

No problems with my 2007 Vert, A6, purchased in April, 2007!

 

I have a 2007 with Z51, a MT, driver/passanger side air bags, single CD player/radio and power seats. That's all the options I have.

My battery is totally drained if the car sits for 7 days. I've had that happen twice in January and last night I went out and bought a trickle charger. For the amount of money the vehicle costs, I would think it would be able to sit without starting it for 7 days before the battery dies.

BTW, when I put the trickle charger on the battery, it sounds like relay is clicking on and off. I found the relay and had to remove it from the fuse box.

All accessories are turned off before I shut down the motor.

Chuck

 

I would find out more about that relay. That could be the key to your problem.

 

Actually, this isn't quite right. If a 2005 MN6 is shutdown without having it in reverse, the BCM stays awake. That's not a software flaw, it's the way the system is designed to operate. The reflash has nothing to do with that...it corrects anomolies in the computer that prevent it from staying awake or reawakening even though the car was shut down properly. DBS never referred to improperly shut down 2005 MN6 cars, since that's simply user error, and the reflash does not address that in any way.

Other issues that may have drained batteries in 2005 and later vehicles included OnStar links, rolling garage door opener codes, fob placement, and RF interference from external sources. It took GM quite a while to figure it all out, but they eventually did and have apparently corrected most, if not all, of the issues.

Now, all we have to worry about is the capability of the Delco OEM batteries in dealing with the normal electrical background drain that is inherent in the C6. The factory claims a fresh battery should go 30 days before it drains. With a new battery, and in warm weather, this is probably true. In cold weather, and a less than new battery, this can vary quite a bit.

Hope this helps clarify the issue.

 

I have an '05 DD bought new by me in February, 2005.It has gone dead twice in three years, each time requiring a jump through GM roadside service. No battery tender. We were gone for an extended period during Xmas '07, almost a full month. I expected it to be dead when I got back, but all was OK. I assume that my two incidents were caused by my failure to shut it down properly as both times the car went down overnight. There was no battery replacement, reflash or any other repair than the jump and recharge through driving. It still has the original battery. BTW, I love the car.

 

If the car is used on a daily basis you should have no problems. If you let the car stand for more than 2 weeks you could get a dead battery and should connect a high quality tender to it such as the CTEK. Click on the link below, I have one and its the best I have seen so far. I have found that once a battery goes dead they never really come back to 100% charge again even after a deep charge so the tender is good insurance IMO.



http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1719717