madgreek

I have an 08 C6 with 23k miles on it and whenever it sits for only 2 weeks the battery dies and needs a jump. Is this normal? Do i need to check charging system or safe to say battery just needs to be replaced after checked at Pep Boy? Battery tender any good once i replace battery as well? Thnks fellas

macdo

Get the battery checked to see if it's working properly or not. The battery is 5-6 years old and may need to be replaced...If not driving it for 2 weeks at a time, you may want to consider leaving it hooked up to a battery tender (whichever brand you like). I drive my 07 only 2 days a week (when I don't have to cart kids to daycare) and I plug it in after I park it in the garage...I figure if I can squeeze an extra year or so out of the battery before replacing it then what the heck!

6spdC6

Anytime my Vette is going to sit for more than a couple days I put a tender on. It’s cheap insurance.
FWIW GM batteries are crap!

Of course as a northerner my Vette sits from Dec to March, tender is on the whole time!! Coming out soon I hope!

Landru

IF the cell died & recharged (several times?), then yes it is normal.
Normal in the sense the cell wasn't solid to start after the first time it was run down/recharged.

C6s draw current sitting, usually driving for 30 or so minutes affords sufficient time for a full recharge. However, after prolonged sitting the battery simply gives up the ghost. Yours is the original battery, so it's 4-5 years old to boot.

Like other members livin in northern climates, my car's stored. IF I didn't have it hooked-up to a battery tender it'd be deader than a doornail after a few weeks.

Get yourself a battery tender, use it whenever you KNOW the car'll sit for extended periods. Odds are you'll not have this annoyance, again.

boraxman

For ref..I got just over 4 years on the OE Delco (2008), that was only driven a total of 6800 miles at time of replacement in Januay 2012.

Replaced with another Delco.

Sounds like you may have "dead battery syndrome", or just a bad battery.

LS WON

Still on my original Delco battery on 2005 with 43,800 miles. No tender used here. Just drive it once or twice a week sits the rest of the week. No problems.

johnodrake

I keep mine (06, 18K miles, original battery) on a battery tender when in the garage. I do the same thing with my CTS.

switchplanner

I have an '08 that was built in Sept. '07 and the battery is still fine, but I keep it on a tender if I don't expect to drive it for a week or longer.

Also, concerning AC Delco batteries, I have one in my daily driver that is seven years old and going strong.

vetteguy4

I had the same problem with my C6 with the memory package. In order to keep the memory intact, current is constantly being drawn from the battery and after a few weeks, the battery doesn't have enough juice to start the car. I bought the Battery Tender and have not had that problem since even though the car sat for 6 weeks without being started.

michaelinmech

The peace of mind and confidence it will start every time is worth the minute or two of hook up time.

LS WON

for AC Delco batteries

Vette5.5

Lots of variables here. If your battery was run down to total zero, then probably a goner. I put a Ctek 3300 on mine, if more than a week or so. Also, in a really hot climate like yours, batteries aren't going to last as long, as cooler climates like NY. Either way, I pretty much change out my batteries automatically about every 4 years, just because.

OnPoint

You need a new battery. Your's isn't going to be able to hold a charge anymore after cycling that far down so many times.

mikefili

I just replaced the battery in my little used 08, I think that it must be kept on a charger as I now do, I only got about two weeks also before it would die.

Gary '09 C6

same here, all the time. Use a Battery Tender Plus w/power outlet adapter.

Marc V.

I guess I'm lucky.

2007 with 22K miles. Never used a battery tender and mine sits for weeks at a time without any problems.

thirtythird

Bought my 07 new in March of 07. A6. 15K on clock now and original battery. I store it winters (2 to 4 months) and simply disconnect the - terminal. No problems at this point.

sportcruiser

Once a lead-acid starting battery dies, it's a goner. Replace it and keep it charged or do what I do.... drive it!

sportcruiser

You aren't lucky. Your battery has never died (if it does, replace it), and my guess is when you do drive it you cover some distance so it gets recharged. Put simply, you have a good battery that gets fully recharged fairly regularly.

Marc V.

That is incorrect. Only if it sits for a long time discharged is it a goner.

A dead battery can be brought back to full charge with a slow (several hours), low amp charge.