Battery problems
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
That's why I got the automatic. But thanks that's good info to know for other model years.
Now I understand they are making Corvette with wider bodies as option plus higher price tage?
Is this the GS model with same base engine?
What's the advantage of a wider body?
I think the Corvette should have a smaller body if anything else don't make it any wider.
Now I understand they are making Corvette with wider bodies as option plus higher price tage?
Is this the GS model with same base engine?
What's the advantage of a wider body?
I think the Corvette should have a smaller body if anything else don't make it any wider.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 335
Likes: 28
I just had the battery in my '08 replaced a few months ago while the mechanic was turning on the Afterblow feature. He said AC Delco has two lines of batteries, one good, one crap. If you're not aware of this you might get the crap. I trust this mechanic so I don't think he was blowing smoke. Having said that, I don't know how to tell the difference, although my new 'pro' AC Delco battery is not maintenance free, which I find a little odd.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 545
Likes: 85
All newer cars will drain the battery because of systems that stay on. Even the clock takes power. My vette had the battery saver option and came with a battery tender. I always plug a tender in if the car will sit for more then a week. Your battery may start the car after a week or two but the battery will be low and will be getting a max charge for awhile. Doing this often will shorten battery life. Even a $40 battery tender will do fine as long as the battery is fully charged when you plug in the tender.
The reason I know that SOME cars are programmed this way is because I'm retired and sometimes drive only very short trips (nearby gym and stores) over a 2 or 3 week period. I owned a brand X that kept experiencing dead battery episodes even after dealer replaced battery, implemented a TSB, and eventually told me to buy and use a float charger. I wrote brand X manufacturer that this shouldn't be necessary. They agreed and bought back my 2.5 year old car for $160 less than I paid for it (i.e., prorated to first episode). I added a few bucks and bought a 2012 Corvette. No dead battery episodes so far.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
This is true. Also true is the fact that SOME manufacturers program the ECM or BCM so that the battery doesn't start charging until the vehicle has been driven one or two miles. I suspect but I'm not sure that the reason they do this is to minimize the alternator load during an important part of the EPA emissions (and FE rating) certification test. I have no idea if any Corvettes are programmed this way.
The reason I know that SOME cars are programmed this way is because I'm retired and sometimes drive only very short trips (nearby gym and stores) over a 2 or 3 week period. I owned a brand X that kept experiencing dead battery episodes even after dealer replaced battery, implemented a TSB, and eventually told me to buy and use a float charger. I wrote brand X manufacturer that this shouldn't be necessary. They agreed and bought back my 2.5 year old car for $160 less than I paid for it (i.e., prorated to first episode). I added a few bucks and bought a 2012 Corvette. No dead battery episodes so far.
The reason I know that SOME cars are programmed this way is because I'm retired and sometimes drive only very short trips (nearby gym and stores) over a 2 or 3 week period. I owned a brand X that kept experiencing dead battery episodes even after dealer replaced battery, implemented a TSB, and eventually told me to buy and use a float charger. I wrote brand X manufacturer that this shouldn't be necessary. They agreed and bought back my 2.5 year old car for $160 less than I paid for it (i.e., prorated to first episode). I added a few bucks and bought a 2012 Corvette. No dead battery episodes so far.
