Battery volts while driving?...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,714
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Hello fellow Vette owners,
I was wondering if it is time for a new battery for my 2015 Stingray bought new and owned since May 2015. Don't have any symptoms / problems yet fortunately. Been keeping an eye on it and here is what I am seeing. Car starts out at about 14.5 volts and then while driving it goes down to 12.5 volts and stays around there. The reason I am wondering is when I hook up my battery tender, my Curb Alert would go off when I walked by the front, but lately it does not. The tender seems fine by going to both green lights after being hooked up for a couple of hours. It may be nothing or it may be time for a new battery. Going for an oil change soon, so I will ask the dealer to check it because it is now 3 years old.
Please let me know how many volts your Vette is showing at cruising speed. Thank you for your help with this.
Steve
I was wondering if it is time for a new battery for my 2015 Stingray bought new and owned since May 2015. Don't have any symptoms / problems yet fortunately. Been keeping an eye on it and here is what I am seeing. Car starts out at about 14.5 volts and then while driving it goes down to 12.5 volts and stays around there. The reason I am wondering is when I hook up my battery tender, my Curb Alert would go off when I walked by the front, but lately it does not. The tender seems fine by going to both green lights after being hooked up for a couple of hours. It may be nothing or it may be time for a new battery. Going for an oil change soon, so I will ask the dealer to check it because it is now 3 years old.
Please let me know how many volts your Vette is showing at cruising speed. Thank you for your help with this.
Steve
On the C5 and C6s, I would replace the battery every 3 years. On the C7 with the battery living in the cooler climate of the trunk area, I may go to 4 years.
Not gospel, but something to consider.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,010
Likes: 12,395
From: NE South Carolina
^^^
Wise as they are a PIA to change compared to other Vettes and no fun if having to do it in a remote location! Mine was reading low from day 1 typically 12.4 volts so I changed mine in 3 years with an AGM was on sale (then decided it was time to get a Grand Sport!) I don't keep the Vette on a charger although I bought one when I first got my 2014 to see if it fully charged would that help. Did not still 12.4 volts when the surface charge was depleted, ~12 hours. However the AGM voltage was about 12.7.
Of interest, I have a Yellow Top Optima in my Street Rod. It is always on a moderate price Shumacher charger. Just changed it when it was 10 years old! It was fine but made me nervous as the street rod has electric doors and the battery is inside! Have a method to energize the door solenoid to get the door open if at home but at a Show it would be a PIA! That spiral cell AGM battery, kept on a charger, did very well!
Wise as they are a PIA to change compared to other Vettes and no fun if having to do it in a remote location! Mine was reading low from day 1 typically 12.4 volts so I changed mine in 3 years with an AGM was on sale (then decided it was time to get a Grand Sport!) I don't keep the Vette on a charger although I bought one when I first got my 2014 to see if it fully charged would that help. Did not still 12.4 volts when the surface charge was depleted, ~12 hours. However the AGM voltage was about 12.7.Of interest, I have a Yellow Top Optima in my Street Rod. It is always on a moderate price Shumacher charger. Just changed it when it was 10 years old! It was fine but made me nervous as the street rod has electric doors and the battery is inside! Have a method to energize the door solenoid to get the door open if at home but at a Show it would be a PIA! That spiral cell AGM battery, kept on a charger, did very well!
Last edited by JerryU; Jul 9, 2018 at 06:30 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
As far as the service manual data goes, I didn't say it was wrong on this issue specifically, I only said they provide updates all the time. The implicit meaning is, your absolute blind faith in the service manual is a mistake.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,010
Likes: 12,395
From: NE South Carolina
SIDE BAR:
Recently toured the huge Johnson Controls car battery recycling facility in our town. (They are one of the largest manufactures of car batteries) Had toured their battery manufacturing facility, also in town, a few years ago. They recover 99% of all car battery material! They "smash and grind" 1600 car batteries/hour. They recover all the lead, acid and plastic! They produce plastic pellets for reuse by their plants making battery cases.
The lead is melted in large furnaces and further refined into two types, one 99.9+% pure for plates and the other for posts. The refining is a several step process using slag etc. Material that does not meet the strict purity standards goes back to the furnace. Lead purity makes a difference in battery performance!
Very impressive facility, except our group had to wear hazmat suites and respirators the whole time!
Last edited by JerryU; Jul 10, 2018 at 09:32 AM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Findlay Ohio
I have a new to me 75 coupe. I noticed that when cranking the engine the voltmeter rises to approx 14v. Once the engine starts the meter slowly falls back to near 0 (maybe 2V). There is a relatively new battery installed.
Any suggestions on where to start?
Thanks
Any suggestions on where to start?
Thanks
