Battery
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 87
Likes: 5
Battery
Hey guys!
What is different about a Corvette, C6 I have, where the battery will die after a week or two? I thought I read something about the electronics, but it can't be different than these new cars. I bought a battery tender, but I shouldn't have to keep a brand new battery charged for a week or two of not driving. I went on vacation for a week, came back and it wouldn't start. I have an Optima battery that should be stronger than factory.
Thanks,
JDawg
What is different about a Corvette, C6 I have, where the battery will die after a week or two? I thought I read something about the electronics, but it can't be different than these new cars. I bought a battery tender, but I shouldn't have to keep a brand new battery charged for a week or two of not driving. I went on vacation for a week, came back and it wouldn't start. I have an Optima battery that should be stronger than factory.
Thanks,
JDawg
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
You've got something in/on your car causing battery drain when the engine's not running. My 012 coupe went a week without being driven several times, no battery problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
I think most C-6 owners have come to terms realizing that our C-6's eat batteries over just a few week period if not driven or kept charged. Lots of little electrical juice sucking items in them......probably more than most. Most seem to be able to let them sit for 2-3 weeks when they have a decent battery installed. A fantastic batt may get you 4-5....with a poor batt cutting you down to about 2...or maybe even one week. Get you a tender of some kind and come up with a system of easy on and off attaching when you think the cars is gonna sit for a while.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,984
Likes: 380
From: Edmond Oklahoma
two common problems:
1. '05 models with standard shifts need to be parked to only parked in reverse, Otherwise the battery drains. Don't know why.
2. the cable connectors are a weak link. They sometimes don't make contact and need to be re-attached. The battery isn't bad, just the connection.
otherwise you have a drain
1. '05 models with standard shifts need to be parked to only parked in reverse, Otherwise the battery drains. Don't know why.
2. the cable connectors are a weak link. They sometimes don't make contact and need to be re-attached. The battery isn't bad, just the connection.
otherwise you have a drain
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 731
Likes: 156
From: New Albany Indiana
I keep the battery tender on my 13 GS whenever I am not driving it... even for a day... it extends battery life and battery reliability...I have the original battery which is a little over 6 years old... get a “smart” battery tender.. I use a CTEK 7002..I can just look at it on the wall and the lights indicates the battery is OK.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 609
Likes: 239
From: Franklin NC
Agree that there is a 'drain' somewhere. I let mine sit two weeks at a time with no issues. A new GM battery when I bought it about 1 year ago. Same with my other cars too with 2 week intervals. I always stick with the dealer batteries, whether Ford or GM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
There is nothing wrong with my car as everything works just as it should cept for that POS power top which is moody. The batt is only 1 year old and is in great shape. But still if it sits for more than 2-3 weeks not on a tender while it will start....you can definitely tell that the batt is a little weak. If it sits for 4-5 weeks without being driven, or tendered, then all bets are off on if it will start. Maybe....maybe not. If it does start then it will be one of those.....uh-uh-uh-uh slow motion moments. I'm not about to start chasing the chicken of electrical gremlins that probably don't exist, (thanks GM)... i'll just tender it if it's gonna sit for more than a couple a weeks.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 158
Good question for which I have not seen a definitive answer. I have owned 6 Corvettes over many years and found that I had good battery luck with C2,C3,C5 but not so much with C6 and C7. None of my Corvettes have been daily drivers and all used for fun drives on sonny days. Maybe it is the reduced use of most Corvettes combined with increased electronics and use of computers etc. that contributes to the problem. Whatever, my wife's Volvo has tons of electronics and never has had a battery issue but it is driven every day. Reality is that battery in C6 that sits for extended periods over 3 or 4 days may have the battery go dead over time as the battery ages. Chevy offers "Battery Protection" option in Corvette for a reason. Why gamble? A dead battery is a pain. You may have to re-index windows and re-set electronics which I choose to avoid. Simple solution and worth the effort for me is when my Corvette is in the garage I plug it into the battery tender. I like the GM tender that has a Corvette logo on it that comes with the battery protection package. Yes there are cheaper options available. I favor the tender that plugs into cig lighter and other end wire runs out open window or under closed door into a 110 outlet. No issues.