Dead Battery
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,439
Likes: 36
From: Etobicoke Ontario
Dead Battery
What do you do if you are not able to use a trickle charger. I am on # 4 all warranty from CTC. What battery do you use for your c6 mine is Motomaster Eliminator
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 335
Likes: 28
AC Delco, bought it about 5 years ago. My mechanic said there are two tiers of AC Delco batteries, and it's worth it to pay a bit more for the better ones. I do keep mine on a battery tender if I'm not driving it frequently, and it still seems to be going strong 5 years later.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 341
If by "run it" you mean take it out for a 20 mile romp, yes.
If by "run it" you mean let it idle for 20 minutes in the garage, no. Most alternators barely put out enough juice at idle not to further discharge the battery.
If by "run it" you mean let it idle for 20 minutes in the garage, no. Most alternators barely put out enough juice at idle not to further discharge the battery.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 341
I'm not sure why you can't use a trickle charger. No electrical outlet? Buy a solar charger from Harbor Freight. Hang it out the window or garage door. They're great and won't overcharge a battery.
Or just take the battery out of the vehicle and put it in the house. Either trickle charge or regular recharge 2x per winter. My motorcycle battery is sitting in the corner right now getting the treatment.
I'm not aware of any technical reasons why a car battery can't be trickled charged in situ. (alarm, LoJack, etc.) It's no different than the alternator charging the battery. Battery doesn't know where the electrons are coming from.
Or just take the battery out of the vehicle and put it in the house. Either trickle charge or regular recharge 2x per winter. My motorcycle battery is sitting in the corner right now getting the treatment.
I'm not aware of any technical reasons why a car battery can't be trickled charged in situ. (alarm, LoJack, etc.) It's no different than the alternator charging the battery. Battery doesn't know where the electrons are coming from.
Race Director
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Long Island
I'm not sure why you can't use a trickle charger. No electrical outlet? Buy a solar charger from Harbor Freight. Hang it out the window or garage door. They're great and won't overcharge a battery.
Or just take the battery out of the vehicle and put it in the house. Either trickle charge or regular recharge 2x per winter. My motorcycle battery is sitting in the corner right now getting the treatment.
I'm not aware of any technical reasons why a car battery can't be trickled charged in situ. (alarm, LoJack, etc.) It's no different than the alternator charging the battery. Battery doesn't know where the electrons are coming from.
Or just take the battery out of the vehicle and put it in the house. Either trickle charge or regular recharge 2x per winter. My motorcycle battery is sitting in the corner right now getting the treatment.
I'm not aware of any technical reasons why a car battery can't be trickled charged in situ. (alarm, LoJack, etc.) It's no different than the alternator charging the battery. Battery doesn't know where the electrons are coming from.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 191
From: Toronto Ontario
I'm not sure why you can't use a trickle charger. No electrical outlet? Buy a solar charger from Harbor Freight. Hang it out the window or garage door. They're great and won't overcharge a battery.
Or just take the battery out of the vehicle and put it in the house. Either trickle charge or regular recharge 2x per winter. My motorcycle battery is sitting in the corner right now getting the treatment.
I'm not aware of any technical reasons why a car battery can't be trickled charged in situ. (alarm, LoJack, etc.) It's no different than the alternator charging the battery. Battery doesn't know where the electrons are coming from.
Or just take the battery out of the vehicle and put it in the house. Either trickle charge or regular recharge 2x per winter. My motorcycle battery is sitting in the corner right now getting the treatment.
I'm not aware of any technical reasons why a car battery can't be trickled charged in situ. (alarm, LoJack, etc.) It's no different than the alternator charging the battery. Battery doesn't know where the electrons are coming from.
Last edited by Zeeman28a; Dec 7, 2018 at 01:02 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9,441
Likes: 240
From: Powassan ON
I have five batteries that I rotate among season equipment, vette, camper, lawn tractor and two snowmobiles.
i removed from the particular vehicle when fully charged. Store on a wood shelf in my shop and don't touch them again until a couple weeks before I use them.
Now with that said the vehicles don't have an internal computer that requires the battery.
I have a few brands of batteries, Delco, interstate, moto master, and whatever brand are in the sleds, some Chinese brand likely. Been storing them and not using them for months on end like this for years, never an issue. Just don't let a discharged battery freeze.
i removed from the particular vehicle when fully charged. Store on a wood shelf in my shop and don't touch them again until a couple weeks before I use them.
Now with that said the vehicles don't have an internal computer that requires the battery.
I have a few brands of batteries, Delco, interstate, moto master, and whatever brand are in the sleds, some Chinese brand likely. Been storing them and not using them for months on end like this for years, never an issue. Just don't let a discharged battery freeze.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,898
Likes: 981
From: Whitby Ont.
I have five batteries that I rotate among season equipment, vette, camper, lawn tractor and two snowmobiles.
i removed from the particular vehicle when fully charged. Store on a wood shelf in my shop and don't touch them again until a couple weeks before I use them.
Now with that said the vehicles don't have an internal computer that requires the battery.
I have a few brands of batteries, Delco, interstate, moto master, and whatever brand are in the sleds, some Chinese brand likely. Been storing them and not using them for months on end like this for years, never an issue. Just don't let a discharged battery freeze.
i removed from the particular vehicle when fully charged. Store on a wood shelf in my shop and don't touch them again until a couple weeks before I use them.
Now with that said the vehicles don't have an internal computer that requires the battery.
I have a few brands of batteries, Delco, interstate, moto master, and whatever brand are in the sleds, some Chinese brand likely. Been storing them and not using them for months on end like this for years, never an issue. Just don't let a discharged battery freeze.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,986
Likes: 393
From: Stoney Creek Ontario
Walleye Jack came over to my house in Tony Cheap, removed my battery for me, took it home to store and trickle charge for me over the winter....said he'll bring it back and re-install it come spring time.... I'm sure he'll do the same for you if you ask him nicely like I did....
Last edited by dankhts; Dec 8, 2018 at 12:09 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 273
From: Bradford, Ontario
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
You are not Alone Mr Randy. My car has been killing battery's been going thru 1 about every year and a half as well. On my 3rd Delco under same 30 month warranty.
LOTS of parasitic drains on the C6 so better to remove if you won't drive it at all. I have been just removing it and keeping in my basement, charging once a week or so. Supposedly not good if the Keyfob is near as may be trying to search for it.
Recently read one issue could be the Onstar trying to draw power. I don't subscribe to mine so I will pull that fuse next season, can't hurt.
LOTS of parasitic drains on the C6 so better to remove if you won't drive it at all. I have been just removing it and keeping in my basement, charging once a week or so. Supposedly not good if the Keyfob is near as may be trying to search for it.
Recently read one issue could be the Onstar trying to draw power. I don't subscribe to mine so I will pull that fuse next season, can't hurt.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 1,656
From: Toronto, Canada
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
You are not Alone Mr Randy. My car has been killing battery's been going thru 1 about every year and a half as well. On my 3rd Delco under same 30 month warranty.
LOTS of parasitic drains on the C6 so better to remove if you won't drive it at all. I have been just removing it and keeping in my basement, charging once a week or so. Supposedly not good if the Keyfob is near as may be trying to search for it.
Recently read one issue could be the Onstar trying to draw power. I don't subscribe to mine so I will pull that fuse next season, can't hurt.
LOTS of parasitic drains on the C6 so better to remove if you won't drive it at all. I have been just removing it and keeping in my basement, charging once a week or so. Supposedly not good if the Keyfob is near as may be trying to search for it.
Recently read one issue could be the Onstar trying to draw power. I don't subscribe to mine so I will pull that fuse next season, can't hurt.