Battery Question
Thread Starter
Lifetime NCM Member #2482
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 1
From: West of Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '11
Battery Question
Hey guys! I just bought a 2011 ZR1 a few weeks ago. I've noticed that it seems hard to start. Almost as though the battery is not good. I've not driven it much due to weather but maybe I need to hook up a trickle charger to it? My '08 has the original battery in it and has no issues - starts right up. Thoughts? Is this something the dealer should deal with since the car is brand new? Is it a ZR1 issue - harder to start? Just wondering your thoughts. Thx.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Hey guys! I just bought a 2011 ZR1 a few weeks ago. I've noticed that it seems hard to start. Almost as though the battery is not good. I've not driven it much due to weather but maybe I need to hook up a trickle charger to it? My '08 has the original battery in it and has no issues - starts right up. Thoughts? Is this something the dealer should deal with since the car is brand new? Is it a ZR1 issue - harder to start? Just wondering your thoughts. Thx.
San
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: Martinez California
What he said and:
I was told by the dealer that anytime you are planning to not drive the car for any longer than three days to connect it to a charger, like a battery tender plus, or at least to put it into reverse. Apparently, in reverse, it bypasses most all of the electronic monitoring that runs the battery down fast.
I was told by the dealer that anytime you are planning to not drive the car for any longer than three days to connect it to a charger, like a battery tender plus, or at least to put it into reverse. Apparently, in reverse, it bypasses most all of the electronic monitoring that runs the battery down fast.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
What he said and:
I was told by the dealer that anytime you are planning to not drive the car for any longer than three days to connect it to a charger, like a battery tender plus, or at least to put it into reverse. Apparently, in reverse, it bypasses most all of the electronic monitoring that runs the battery down fast.
I was told by the dealer that anytime you are planning to not drive the car for any longer than three days to connect it to a charger, like a battery tender plus, or at least to put it into reverse. Apparently, in reverse, it bypasses most all of the electronic monitoring that runs the battery down fast.
San
Thread Starter
Lifetime NCM Member #2482
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 1
From: West of Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '11
There's another thread on Gen Disc. about the battery issue in '05s. I don't park mine in reverse, I, for some reason, leave it in first. Maybe that's how I learned years ago.
Thanks guys!!!!
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 21
From: Placitas New Mexico
Really - I think a call to them to see where my battery tender is is in order. We have one so I'll hook it up today. However, since the dealer had the car on the lot at least since August, I'm thinking the battery is not good. I'm thinking they owe me one of those too.
There's another thread on Gen Disc. about the battery issue in '05s. I don't park mine in reverse, I, for some reason, leave it in first. Maybe that's how I learned years ago.
Thanks guys!!!!
There's another thread on Gen Disc. about the battery issue in '05s. I don't park mine in reverse, I, for some reason, leave it in first. Maybe that's how I learned years ago.
Thanks guys!!!!
Thread Starter
Lifetime NCM Member #2482
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 1
From: West of Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '11
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Lisa, note that there is a difference between a "charger" and a battery "maintainer" (brand names is/are Battery Tender, Ctek, Schumacher, Battery Tender Jr., etc.). the "maintainer" has an internal on/off so that your battery does not overcharge itself.
I use the lighter plug, too, to keep mine maintained. But I would think there is some kind of battery terminal/connection under the hood, not just where the battery is physically located.
As to hooking up this battery "maintainer" whichever brand you buy, when you're not going to use the car for a few days---let's put it this way: it can't hurt. One poster put it very well: why not do it since it's easy, and then days later when you have left the car for 5, 7 or more days, you don't have to be worrying that you may have an issue. Of course, you shouldn't have to for a few days of not using it, or even more.
You probably already know the price of these maintainers can be as little as <$10 at Harbor Freight, $20+ at Walmart, up to $80 for some Cteks.
Good luck with it.
I use the lighter plug, too, to keep mine maintained. But I would think there is some kind of battery terminal/connection under the hood, not just where the battery is physically located.
As to hooking up this battery "maintainer" whichever brand you buy, when you're not going to use the car for a few days---let's put it this way: it can't hurt. One poster put it very well: why not do it since it's easy, and then days later when you have left the car for 5, 7 or more days, you don't have to be worrying that you may have an issue. Of course, you shouldn't have to for a few days of not using it, or even more.
You probably already know the price of these maintainers can be as little as <$10 at Harbor Freight, $20+ at Walmart, up to $80 for some Cteks.
Good luck with it.
Thread Starter
Lifetime NCM Member #2482
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 1
From: West of Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '11
Lisa, note that there is a difference between a "charger" and a battery "maintainer" (brand names is/are Battery Tender, Ctek, Schumacher, Battery Tender Jr., etc.). the "maintainer" has an internal on/off so that your battery does not overcharge itself.
I use the lighter plug, too, to keep mine maintained. But I would think there is some kind of battery terminal/connection under the hood, not just where the battery is physically located.
As to hooking up this battery "maintainer" whichever brand you buy, when you're not going to use the car for a few days---let's put it this way: it can't hurt. One poster put it very well: why not do it since it's easy, and then days later when you have left the car for 5, 7 or more days, you don't have to be worrying that you may have an issue. Of course, you shouldn't have to for a few days of not using it, or even more.
You probably already know the price of these maintainers can be as little as <$10 at Harbor Freight, $20+ at Walmart, up to $80 for some Cteks.
Good luck with it.
I use the lighter plug, too, to keep mine maintained. But I would think there is some kind of battery terminal/connection under the hood, not just where the battery is physically located.
As to hooking up this battery "maintainer" whichever brand you buy, when you're not going to use the car for a few days---let's put it this way: it can't hurt. One poster put it very well: why not do it since it's easy, and then days later when you have left the car for 5, 7 or more days, you don't have to be worrying that you may have an issue. Of course, you shouldn't have to for a few days of not using it, or even more.
You probably already know the price of these maintainers can be as little as <$10 at Harbor Freight, $20+ at Walmart, up to $80 for some Cteks.
Good luck with it.
I know we have a tender that hubby used on his bike but I thought it plugged into a wall socket. I'll be checking this out and getting something. This car isn't going to see the miles that my other one has so it will be sitting sometimes for days.
Hope you are warm up north - it's darn cold down here in the south.
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,472
Likes: 546
From: Jackson NJ
What he said and:
I was told by the dealer that anytime you are planning to not drive the car for any longer than three days to connect it to a charger, like a battery tender plus, or at least to put it into reverse. Apparently, in reverse, it bypasses most all of the electronic monitoring that runs the battery down fast.
I was told by the dealer that anytime you are planning to not drive the car for any longer than three days to connect it to a charger, like a battery tender plus, or at least to put it into reverse. Apparently, in reverse, it bypasses most all of the electronic monitoring that runs the battery down fast.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: Martinez California
This urban legend just won't go away....and goes to prove how uninformed Dealer personnel may be. Only the '05 MN6's require shutdown in Reverse. The issue was some idiot Federal regulation in that year (and '05 only) that led to the on board electronics remaining "live" unless trans was in Reverse on shut down. If not, there would be drain on batteries that led to the so-called "DBS"....Dead battery Syndrome.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 152
Likes: 8
From: San Diego California
of the battery having a weak cell.
My 09 battery has been great but when it goes I will put a Sears Platinum in it. I have them in my truck and my previous car. I have never seen a battery with the reserve power those have. I run the rad fans at the track almost all day. When I put the Platinum in the last car I went from be careful not to kill the battery to don't worry at all.
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,288
Likes: 129
From: Providence Forge, VA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
No, actually I meant he may be owed one. To the OP, check to see if you have RPO Code ERI in your ZR1 order. If so, that's the GM Battery Protection Package and its a battery tender. If its in your order, then they should have provided it to you.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Ford sent the owners of the GT (the one that looked like the GT40, not the Mustang) a charger because the batteries kept going dead. Maybe GM should do that fro ZR1 owners......
