2004 Convertible battery problems.
 

I had to replace the original battery in May 2007. I took in into the local dealer and had an original equipment delco unit installed. Now the replacement battery is also dead. Although it is still under warranty I am wondering why they are not lasting longer.

I don't drive the Vette in the winter and only have 31000 miles total.

Would it help if I left a trickle charger on the battery during the winter?

:yesnod:

If it's not being driven at least once a week then put a "smart" battery tender on it.

Using a tender would help a lot:cheers:

I had the identical problem with my 04 vert. It seems that if you leave the car in the garage with the key in the ignition, it sends a signal and drains the battery. Also, even in non Corvette weather- you should pull the car out of the garage and run it. Leaving the car without starting it will bring more problems than a drained battery-the gas breaks down and the hoses can get damaged-from my experience. Finally, there were defective 04 batteries resulting in a loose negative terminal.
Hope this helped.

Run the electrical grounds while you are at it!


Do a search for grounds and Bill Curlee for the locations!

If you are not driving the car all winter, any battery will die if not maintained. You need to use a battery tender, they are designed specifically for that. A trickle charger will ruin the battery if you leave it on there long term.

I've been storing cars for 10 years now, vettes , camaros and others and have never had a problem with hoses, or gas breakdown etc...

It's better to let the car sit alll winter than pull it out and start it..if you are going to do that, better to drive it for at least a half hour to let everything get up to operating tempature.

For the battery, use a battery tender

For the gas, you add stabil fuel stabilizer.

As long as you check the hoses and make sure they are not cracking, that should not be a problem.

Many people store cars without problems, there is a method to it:cheers::thumbs::thumbs:

Maybe your electric top has something top do with it?

:iagree:

i have an 04 vert that isn't exactly a garage queen as it gets driven on weekends and on some trips. it has about 26000 miles on it and still has the original battery, so either i am very lucky (i guess i should be knocking wood at this point) that my 04 doesn't suffer whatever malady that might befall other 04s, or there isn't a general problem with the 04s. i would put a battery tender on it for certain. i keep one on my 78 pace car all the time because that one only comes out of the garage about once a month on average to attend a show or go on a cruise in. the battery tender has kept alive the replacement battery i put in it more than 4 years ago.

???????????

CTEK makes a great quality tender :cheers:

Have you tried to see if your current battery will hold a charge? If you take the battery to the dealer they may see if it will take a charge first and probably charge you as well. Looking over some receipts from the previous owner of my 97, I see that those pirates at the dealership charged her $70 to diagnose a bad battey, $90 for a new battery and $90 to install it (in 2001). If they prorate your "bad" battery you will still have to pay about half the price for a new one right? Will they charge you for installation? If you post what city you live in, I am sure someone would be glad to help you with the removal and installation. I know I would be willing to drive at least 75 miles to help someone rather than see them pay a dealership that kind of money. ( even if you can afford it, its the principle)

Where in the world did you get this information? The infamous "leaking battery" was phased out in 2000. GM installed AGM batteries in 2001-2003 C5s and in 2004, went to a much better-designed (compared to the 97-00 batteries) battery. Many OEM batteries last 7 years or more if kept charged.

It's on the page in the owners manual right after the page about the electric top draining the battery, :lol:

Thanks for the reply everyone.

I jumped her off yesterday and went back to the dealer for a replacement. The battery I had put in in 07 had a seven year warranty. They charged me $39.13 labor and tax to install a replacement.

The good news is spring is here so she won't be spending nearly as much time in the garage.

Also I'll be going down to the parts store today to get a battery tender.

:cheers:

I was just joking... There were no power tops in the vettes..