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I have a 2015. Replaced the battery last year. Went dead on me again. AAA did a “ diagnostic “ test and detected a diode ripple, a parasitic drain on the battery. Any thoughts? Is this common? Should I maintain a trickle charge all the time? Any idea what the drain might be? It’s at 0.45V
I run a C-Tek battery maintainer on the car at all times even though in Florida I do get to drive it almost daily. The drain read? How was it found. Our cars stay "live" for 10 minutes on RAP power and then the shut down and even then there may be a very miniscule draw at times to do ECM crap..
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I keep my car in a battery maintainer whenever it is not being driven. The cars do have a small drain on the battery even while not being driven so the maintainer keeps the battery topped off and ready to go.
I run a C-Tek battery maintainer on the car at all times even though in Florida I do get to drive it almost daily. The drain read? How was it found. Our cars stay "live" for 10 minutes on RAP power and then the shut down and even then there may be a very miniscule draw at times to do ECM crap..
Elmer
I agree per say on all of these new car on what ever it is has a very small drain on them. My BMW 640i after so long if I don't drive it in a day r so will come up and say went to shut down mod. Robert
... a parasitic drain on the battery. Any idea what the drain might be? It’s at 0.45V
Parasitic drain is measured in milliamps (mA). 0.45 mA is nothing; 45 mA is a little high but it takes a while for everything to go to sleep; 0.45 A (450 mA) would kill a battery in a few days.
Yep, leaving C7s on a tender when not in use is a good precaution against battery issues.
Even though I'm a huge fan of AAA as they have gotten me out of many emergencies (especially when my kids were teens) their drivers are typically not top notch mechanics.
So since you just replace your battery a year ago, you may want to take your C7 in to a good dealer or repair shop to evaluate your electrical system/battery.
I use the GM optional charger whenever I think I'll not be driving for a few days. Since the C7 is a nominal daily driver, the same as all my other vehicles, its hard to predict when it will roll out... or not, but after more than 4-years no issues yet doing such. All the best.
Only put mine on in the winter when the temp drops below 40 degrees and I'm not driving it much.
Original battery, April 2018 build date. Thinking of replacing it next year -- every 4 years -- before it fails.
I agree, I'd take it in and have it checked to see if the drain is higher than normal. Until then charge it if you don't plan to drive it soon.
I don't usually like to change a battery or alternator without thoroughly checking the other. Bad battery kills a good alternator and bad alternator kills a good battery. Maybe you got a freak. It has happened before. My first new car in 91 had a dead battery in 3 months. GM towed it back and replaced it under warranty. 3 months later, here we go again. Everything tested out fine. Next one lasted 5 years, I think. Service manager could not believe I had 2 duds in a row. Still, I would check the alternator. I usually have say Autozone check it 3 times on the bench whenever I do a battery. Maybe in this case, have GM check it out?
Diode ripple has nothing to do with parasitic drain. Parasitic drain is load on the battery to provide power to systems that operate when the car is off. Sometimes there is a fault with a device in the car, or with the wiring that causes parasitic drain. Ripple is caused by the regulator diodes failing. The spec we used in the boating world is 0.4 vac. Notice I said AC. That is what the ripple is. It rides on the DC voltage. Major problem with it is noise in the system which can affect some equipment, like some sound equipment.
Battery in my 15 lasted 3 months shy of 7 years according to the date on the delco battery, just replaced it with another delco, use the factory tender in cold temps here in Ohio because it is not my daily driver.
Does the word RAP mean anything to the light reamins on issue. When you turn off the engine, a timer starts. After 10 minutes if you sit there and watch birds fly around all the power in the car turns off. If, during that 10 minutes, you open the door to get out, the RAP power turns off immediately. The iddy biddy little light in the engine bay, if you have one, has no power. It should also have no power if the hood is down.
The problem being discussed is not affected by a light , if installed (my 2014 does not have one) in the engine bay.
Diode ripple has nothing to do with parasitic drain. Parasitic drain is load on the battery to provide power to systems that operate when the car is off. Sometimes there is a fault with a device in the car, or with the wiring that causes parasitic drain. Ripple is caused by the regulator diodes failing. The spec we used in the boating world is 0.4 vac. Notice I said AC. That is what the ripple is. It rides on the DC voltage. Major problem with it is noise in the system which can affect some equipment, like some sound equipment.
Does the ripple in fact drain the battery causing it to go dead? Is this something I should address at the dealership?
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C7 battery
