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Old Jan 3, 2011 | 08:43 AM
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Default dead battery

I have a low mileage 2006 vette with a dead battery. I had several problems with a dead battery in the 2009. I installed a red-top optima battery 4 months ago. I haven't driven the car in 3 weeks. Yesterday, back to a dead battery. I only drive the car once or twice a month. Help! Any suggestions?
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Old Jan 3, 2011 | 09:41 AM
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You must remember that the electronics in the C-6's never really shut down all the way. There is a constant drain on the battery. So with that stated, most of us find that we must drive our cars at least once every 1.5 weeks or so, or put a battery maintainer onto the battery to keep it up...lots of people in the winter climates have no choice as they can't drive their car at all but still have to start and run it or keep it charged.
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Old Jan 3, 2011 | 09:46 AM
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Drive it or you must get a battery charger that can maintain the charge in the battery. You have no other options.


Elmer
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Old Jan 3, 2011 | 10:03 AM
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I went thru it, as a matter of fact it is still not fixed, I do know the cct where the problem lies. It can easily sit for more than 3 weeks & start.

My 06 did did some very strange things when I placed a MA meter in series with the battery. I think the reason is because there was a draw that never allowed the total shut down of the computers. The system would keep waking up which of course would aggravate the draining battery.

There is a thread I started where a couple of members chimed in & help with the troubleshooting.

My first question is are you capable of placing a DC MA meter in series with your battery?
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Old Jan 3, 2011 | 10:15 AM
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First off... Optima batteries (especially the red tops) are hit or miss. If you get a good one, they seem to last forever. If you get a bad one, they go dead if left sitting for more than a few days. I've left my C6 (with the original battery) sit for more than 2 weeks and have been fine when I went to start it up. It definitely is a good idea to use a battery tender (from Deltran) if the car will sit for more than 2 weeks or so.
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Old Jan 3, 2011 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Robls6
First off... Optima batteries (especially the red tops) are hit or miss. If you get a good one, they seem to last forever. If you get a bad one, they go dead if left sitting for more than a few days. I've left my C6 (with the original battery) sit for more than 2 weeks and have been fine when I went to start it up. It definitely is a good idea to use a battery tender (from Deltran) if the car will sit for more than 2 weeks or so.

Well, I guess I'm the luckiest SOB on earth as I had Optima red tops for years and they've been flawless in performance.


The Deltran tender is a good product and the issue is "He doesn't drive the car for long periods" and NO battery can handle that situation.

Elmer
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Old Jan 3, 2011 | 08:09 PM
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Default dead battery

I took my dead optima battery back to Auto Zone. The battery was charged, but will not hold the charge. I have a new battery that will get installed tomorrow. Thanks for the responses! I do have a battery tender and will hook it up this week.
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