2006 - Dead Battery Question
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: New Mexico
2006 - Dead Battery Question
I travel a lot and the battery in my 2006 Convertible has been dead last two times that I came home after being gone for 2- to 4-weeks. 
I know you had to park a 2005 in Reverse to prevent Accessory mode drain, however, I was told this wasn’t the case for a 2006. Any idea why the battery would die?
Also, during the installation of the “Factory Wind Screen” my battery did die and needed a quick jump (due to the constant up and down of the roof during installation). I did dive the car for about an hour after we started it. Then I did play the radio for about 2-hours when I got home to detail it.
All-in-all, none of this has ever killed a battery in any of my other Vettes. This time, it was so dead that a Jump Box couldn’t even turn it over and I had to get towed to the dealership for a replacement battery.
Any feedback or thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Andrew
I know you had to park a 2005 in Reverse to prevent Accessory mode drain, however, I was told this wasn’t the case for a 2006. Any idea why the battery would die?
Also, during the installation of the “Factory Wind Screen” my battery did die and needed a quick jump (due to the constant up and down of the roof during installation). I did dive the car for about an hour after we started it. Then I did play the radio for about 2-hours when I got home to detail it.
All-in-all, none of this has ever killed a battery in any of my other Vettes. This time, it was so dead that a Jump Box couldn’t even turn it over and I had to get towed to the dealership for a replacement battery.
Any feedback or thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Andrew
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by 71 Stingray
I travel a lot and the battery in my 2006 Convertible has been dead last two times that I came home after being gone for 2- to 4-weeks.
I know you had to park a 2005 in Reverse to prevent Accessory mode drain, however, I was told this wasn’t the case for a 2006. Any idea why the battery would die?
Also, during the installation of the “Factory Wind Screen” my battery did die and needed a quick jump (due to the constant up and down of the roof during installation). I did dive the car for about an hour after we started it. Then I did play the radio for about 2-hours when I got home to detail it.
All-in-all, none of this has ever killed a battery in any of my other Vettes. This time, it was so dead that a Jump Box couldn’t even turn it over and I had to get towed to the dealership for a replacement battery.
Any feedback or thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Andrew
I know you had to park a 2005 in Reverse to prevent Accessory mode drain, however, I was told this wasn’t the case for a 2006. Any idea why the battery would die?
Also, during the installation of the “Factory Wind Screen” my battery did die and needed a quick jump (due to the constant up and down of the roof during installation). I did dive the car for about an hour after we started it. Then I did play the radio for about 2-hours when I got home to detail it.
All-in-all, none of this has ever killed a battery in any of my other Vettes. This time, it was so dead that a Jump Box couldn’t even turn it over and I had to get towed to the dealership for a replacement battery.
Any feedback or thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Andrew
Mercedes puts two batteries in the SL500, one for the engine and one for the rest of the car.
If it was my car, I would put a Yellow Top Optima group 35 in it. Yellow tops are made to be cylced and recharged.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,357
Likes: 5,242
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Sounds like you have a weak battery. Have them replace it under warranty (if it tests bad) and then start using a battery tender. Infrequent driving isn't good for battery life. I keep mine hooked up to a battery tender when I'm not using it. It charges only on demand.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: College Park Maryland
As the future owner of an 06 C6 Manual, how often does DB syndrome occur on the 06 models, and what brand battery tender do people use since my vehicle will not be a daily driver? Is there a fix to this problem yet, or is this just a result of poor batteries?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
Originally Posted by Mystical Musician
As the future owner of an 06 C6 Manual, how often does DB syndrome occur on the 06 models, and what brand battery tender do people use since my vehicle will not be a daily driver? Is there a fix to this problem yet, or is this just a result of poor batteries?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Originally Posted by StanNH
I use a Priority Start on mine, which disconnects the battery if it drops below 11.9 volts. Dead batteries can happen with any brand of car ... the 2006 C6 with any transmission and the 2005's with automatics don't seem to have a serious issue though. The real "spike" is on the 2005 MN6 cars which have the "shift to reverse" shut down requirement and associated electronics. So, no, on the whole I don't think there have been an unusual amount of battery problems with any of the 2006 cars ... just a normal sprinkling of some bad batteries showing up.
If I ever have DBS I will install the PS.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
The battery in my '06 C6Z was dead yesterday after sitting in the garage for two weeks. Car isn't driven that much - 580 miles since purchase the end of January. Jump started it and seems to be OK after taking it out for a couple of hours. Optima doesn't make a battery for the Z06 yet. She'll go on the Tender from now on.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,517
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by Mystical Musician
As the future owner of an 06 C6 Manual, how often does DB syndrome occur on the 06 models, and what brand battery tender do people use since my vehicle will not be a daily driver? Is there a fix to this problem yet, or is this just a result of poor batteries?
The unexplained dead or multiple dead battery rate is about 7-8% on this poll for '06 MN6. There are some Z06's in there, and also some '05 manuals mistakenly voted.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer