Battery problems
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Battery problems
Bought a 2008 GS convertible in February of 11.
This is not a daily driver but a toy that depending on weather gets weekend use mostly. By October, the battery that was in the vehicle died. The dealer replaced it. This wasd after all a certified vehicle with 32 k miles when I bought it so it had an extended warranty.
Well the battery the dealer put in also met an early deaththis past week...the dealer says the battery is still good but it took 4 hours to charge it before they could test it and the alternator. They say everything checked out ok. Because its driven sparsely (in 18 months I've put 6k miles on it.) the dealer suggested a battery tender.
Do C6 convertibles have a history of electrical/battery problems?
Thanks
This is not a daily driver but a toy that depending on weather gets weekend use mostly. By October, the battery that was in the vehicle died. The dealer replaced it. This wasd after all a certified vehicle with 32 k miles when I bought it so it had an extended warranty.
Well the battery the dealer put in also met an early deaththis past week...the dealer says the battery is still good but it took 4 hours to charge it before they could test it and the alternator. They say everything checked out ok. Because its driven sparsely (in 18 months I've put 6k miles on it.) the dealer suggested a battery tender.
Do C6 convertibles have a history of electrical/battery problems?
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Get a battery tender since the car sits. Also on some models with manual transmissions you must leave it in reverse otherwise it will drain your battery dead. As new as yours is I don't know if they still did that in that year.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,709
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '06
The battery on my '06 has no problem going for 2 weeks or even a month without the car being driven. However, when it is not in use I typically keep the battery on a tender anytime it's going to sit longer than a week or two without use. I took delivery of my car in December of '05 and am still on my original battery.
Any newer vehicle will draw power while just sitting. In my experience Corvettes will not sit as long as many without excessive battery drain but I woldn't call it a 'problem' just a fact.
Any newer vehicle will draw power while just sitting. In my experience Corvettes will not sit as long as many without excessive battery drain but I woldn't call it a 'problem' just a fact.
Last edited by C-INRED; Jul 8, 2012 at 03:27 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
The battery on my '06 has no problem going for 2 weeks or even a month without the car being driven. However, when it is not in use I typically keep the battery on a tender anytime it's going to sit longer than a week or two without use. I took delivery of my car in December of '05 and am still on my original battery.
Any newer vehicle will draw power while just sitting. In my experience Corvettes will not sit as long as many without excessive battery drain but I woldn't call it a 'problem' just a fact.
Any newer vehicle will draw power while just sitting. In my experience Corvettes will not sit as long as many without excessive battery drain but I woldn't call it a 'problem' just a fact.
Same situation here I am on my original 2005 Battery on A-4 and up to 43,000 I did not use tender. Drove it twice a week or less. I put a battery tender on it now at this late stage of the the game.
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 188
Likes: 5
From: Was Los Angeles, now Phoenix, Arizona
Because of the fob, the computer is always waiting to detect and does not totally shutdown. Onstar and low jack contributes to this also.
Easy solution is battery tender as every one suggest.
Easy solution is battery tender as every one suggest.
Last edited by magls2; Jul 8, 2012 at 06:37 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
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.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 20
From: Kingston WA
I have an 08 vert as well. My battery finally pooped out last Monday. 4 year old battery. Never used a tender. I drive the car sometimes a couple times a week and other times it would sit for a couple of weeks....
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida
'08 Convertible
BTW...it is nthe Crystal Red with a beige interior and top.
I keep it outside normally with a cover...anyone recommend a top brush & cleaner? I'm not impressed with the products Eckler's has!
Also while this is certainly in the wrong forum, I'm consireding FI.
Any "used" superchargers out there ? what brand? I'm not looking for 600 hp but 500 + would be nice!
I keep it outside normally with a cover...anyone recommend a top brush & cleaner? I'm not impressed with the products Eckler's has!
Also while this is certainly in the wrong forum, I'm consireding FI.
Any "used" superchargers out there ? what brand? I'm not looking for 600 hp but 500 + would be nice!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 2
From: Danielsville Georgia
Top won't come clean if you are referring to all the dark marks on it. According to HAARTZ corp. Maker of the material the marks are CREASE MARKS. Replacing the 'BEIGE" top on mine today with a black one. You can try RAGGTOP cleaner. I used a fingernail brush. TWICE. Didn't faze those nasty looking stains which are not stains or dirt according to HAARTZ corp. . G.M. is aware and says 'normal' Does your top have these 'stains' 
Last edited by Ketchum; Jul 9, 2012 at 08:06 AM.
