Keeping Battery Charged
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Keeping Battery Charged
I parked my 2010 Vette for 3 weeks.... the battery was flat... I charged the battery and all was fine... I parked for 2 days.. the batter was dead again... my local Chev dealer tells me that the battery is only good for 16 days with the draw on it.... and creates a memory and now won't completely recharge... I will only drive the car periodically over the winter... the car is parked inside but there is no power to leave a charger on it... how can I maintain the battery without disconnecting it??
I would be interested to hear how others store their Vettes without power... I was looking for a portable battery pack with a trickle charge on it... anyone know of any available ... all information will be great-fully received
I would be interested to hear how others store their Vettes without power... I was looking for a portable battery pack with a trickle charge on it... anyone know of any available ... all information will be great-fully received
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
I parked my 2010 Vette for 3 weeks.... the battery was flat... I charged the battery and all was fine... I parked for 2 days.. the batter was dead again... my local Chev dealer tells me that the battery is only good for 16 days with the draw on it.... and creates a memory and now won't completely recharge... I will only drive the car periodically over the winter... the car is parked inside but there is no power to leave a charger on it... how can I maintain the battery without disconnecting it??
I would be interested to hear how others store their Vettes without power... I was looking for a portable battery pack with a trickle charge on it... anyone know of any available ... all information will be great-fully received
I would be interested to hear how others store their Vettes without power... I was looking for a portable battery pack with a trickle charge on it... anyone know of any available ... all information will be great-fully received
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,378
Likes: 11
From: St Louis MO
Priority Start
A Priority Start will disconnect your battery automatically when the voltage drops below 12.5 v.
Pushing in the cigarette lighter makes it reconnect and there should be enough charge to start the car.
Make sure you know how to access the car via trunk key since the doors will not unlock.
Pushing in the cigarette lighter makes it reconnect and there should be enough charge to start the car.
Make sure you know how to access the car via trunk key since the doors will not unlock.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,277
Likes: 550
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Give the battery a long 2 amp charge (don't try to charge it by driving it), then get it tested to see how well it holds a charge. Replace if necessary - might still have some warranty left on it.
As an alternative to removing the battery or using a Priority Start, just remove the negative cable. Make sure you can get into it without power, and re-index the windows when starting it up again.
As an alternative to removing the battery or using a Priority Start, just remove the negative cable. Make sure you can get into it without power, and re-index the windows when starting it up again.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 64
From: Lakeville, MA
St. Jude Donor '10
I'd try to avoid disconnecting it if possible. I did that with mine while I was working on it and now the car does not recognize the key fobs. I need to start the car with the fob in the glove box. All the research I've done seems to be that when the battery goes dead or is disconnected, this issue can happen. Seems silly to me, just from disconnecting the battery. Never happened in my '06, but first time I disconnected the battery in my '08 it caused this issue.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 12
From: OH
just hooked up a battery charger/maintainer from harbor freight today...24.99 shipped.
took 5min or less to hook up. I put the charger on a glass cutting board in the back hatch, just in case it got hot or something...
So far so good.
took 5min or less to hook up. I put the charger on a glass cutting board in the back hatch, just in case it got hot or something...
So far so good.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,026
Likes: 9,777
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
My 08Z was built 4 years ago and put in service on Feb.20th or so of 08. It is still on the original battery sits in a cold garage and has always been able to start the engine after sitting for 4 to 5 weeks. It sat for 6 weeks waiting to get a new engine earlier this year and seemed to handle that situation well. Will know soon whether or not it still has the capability to do that. Will be letting it sit in the cold for 3 plus weeks.
Bill
Bill
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 288
Likes: 39
From: tulsa okla
My 08Z was built 4 years ago and put in service on Feb.20th or so of 08. It is still on the original battery sits in a cold garage and has always been able to start the engine after sitting for 4 to 5 weeks. It sat for 6 weeks waiting to get a new engine earlier this year and seemed to handle that situation well. Will know soon whether or not it still has the capability to do that. Will be letting it sit in the cold for 3 plus weeks.
Bill
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 23
From: Santa Barbara CA
Do you have any aftermarket parts on the car? My '08 only has around 20 ma draw after all modules enter their "sleep" mode, which is pretty good. But if I leave my exhaust controller in the quiet mode, the draw goes up to 350 ma - which will kill a healthy battery in a few days. Fwiw, most new cars with a lot of electronics have a ~50 ma draw specification.
And yes, a battery that has been fully discharged will never be 100% again. So stay on top of keeping it properly maintained and have a draw test done for good measure.
And yes, a battery that has been fully discharged will never be 100% again. So stay on top of keeping it properly maintained and have a draw test done for good measure.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the advice... the car is under warranty.. it is only 9 months old.. so I am will be taking it to the dealer. The car is garaged but I cannot plug it in... I did buy a jumpstart box to allow me to get the car running... Thanks again for all the help
