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Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.
Battery drained overnight!!!!
- Thread starter chris308
- Start date
"Backyard Mechanic"
New member
I know you probably say that you did'nt leave any thing on,but I once left the mirror light on and did'nt know until the battery died.Also did you check your battery cables?Could you jump it?If so test your alternator,It maybe going out.Just trying to suggest idea's.Check for any losse wires from maybe cleaning your engine compartment,you may have hit a wire losse?Is your new battery maintence free,if not check the water level and give it a good overnight charge after filling it.Hope this helped.Test your battery for volts and then started it and test it again,you should have a higher volt reading,if not it's probably your alternator.Good luck.Rob
navy2kcoupe
!ereH nI depparT m'I pleH
I've heard that you need to park the standard transmission cars in reverse to completely eliminate electrical drain. Did you park it in other than reverse? Maybe someone else will jump in here with additional info.
Andy
Andy
chris308
spam sniper
Ok here is what i found...
Used my multi-meter to check batteries voltage while dead, it reads 5v.
I used a hand help batt-charger (kind you can keep in your trunk) and it wouldn't jump it.
I used jumper cables attached to another car and presto it cranks over and idles!!
Ok, while idling, i check the batteries voltage again. DIC says 14.2-14.4v my voltmeter confirms.
I remove + terminal to check the alternator and yep, it stays running. So i can assume the Alt is good?
I kill the engine and recrank to see if it comes on and it does. So I let it idle a bit and turn off. Recheck battery voltage and it reads 12.5v.
Suggestions...thoughts?? :shrug01:
Used my multi-meter to check batteries voltage while dead, it reads 5v.
I used a hand help batt-charger (kind you can keep in your trunk) and it wouldn't jump it.
I used jumper cables attached to another car and presto it cranks over and idles!!
Ok, while idling, i check the batteries voltage again. DIC says 14.2-14.4v my voltmeter confirms.
I remove + terminal to check the alternator and yep, it stays running. So i can assume the Alt is good?
I kill the engine and recrank to see if it comes on and it does. So I let it idle a bit and turn off. Recheck battery voltage and it reads 12.5v.
Suggestions...thoughts?? :shrug01:
"Backyard Mechanic"
New member
Running the engine for brief period Will Not charge the battery,It needs to have a load on it,Drive it around the block a few times and keep a eye on your gauges.The battery charger you are talking about does not always work if the battery is too low.You need to give it long charge on a slow charger.I have one of them and it does not work when a battery is completely dead.Your reading of low 12's is normal because the battery isn't fully charged.About you taken the positive off and the engine still running,That does not always means that the alternator is still good.From what you have described,I would say you alternator is probably good.But take it for a spin and then test the battery with the car Not Running and see what your volts are.If they are higher then you are good, if it stays low then you need to check{test} your alternator or some type of votage regulators.good luck.Rob.
chris308
spam sniper
Thanks for the replies all :thumbsup:
Ok, just got back from driving it for about 10 minutes, went to get some dinner. Pulled in the driveway, threw my VM on it and it reads 12.7v a little more than before.
I'm done messing with it tonite, gonna see if its dead in the morning or not. :ack2:
chris
Ok, just got back from driving it for about 10 minutes, went to get some dinner. Pulled in the driveway, threw my VM on it and it reads 12.7v a little more than before.
I'm done messing with it tonite, gonna see if its dead in the morning or not. :ack2:
chris
chris308
spam sniper
Update:
Ok, this morning i go outside and i still have juice or enough to use the fob to unlock my doors. I get in and i have dash lights woo-hoo. I start it up, it kinda had a hard time but alas it started. I let it idle a bit and then I noticed that my radio presets were back to default. I set them right before leaving the car for the night. So appearantly I have a parasitic drain greater than the normal allowance of 20mA. I have read the diode in the alternator can drain the battery and still be Ok if bench tested out of the car.
Looks like im going to have to do a drain test and start pulling fuses!! :dancer01: :banghead:
Ok, this morning i go outside and i still have juice or enough to use the fob to unlock my doors. I get in and i have dash lights woo-hoo. I start it up, it kinda had a hard time but alas it started. I let it idle a bit and then I noticed that my radio presets were back to default. I set them right before leaving the car for the night. So appearantly I have a parasitic drain greater than the normal allowance of 20mA. I have read the diode in the alternator can drain the battery and still be Ok if bench tested out of the car.
Looks like im going to have to do a drain test and start pulling fuses!! :dancer01: :banghead:
Mark Dalton
New member
Checking the output of the alt. at the batt. terminals with the motor running is a good idea. You can also take the car to Auto Zone and they'll check it for you at no charge (no pun intended). Good luck.
sandman
New member
Radio presets
When you disconnect your battery on your Vette it will set all your radio channels to the factory settings. Your owners manual will confirm this. At least my manual had that statement in it. When you are cranking your engine your volts will go to about 17. When the engine is running your going to read around 14 and when it is turned off it will be in the 12's. Someone correct me if I am wrong. I just went through this because I had an alternator that went bad. Also you can lose some cells on a dead battery. It would be a good idea on your part to take it back and try to get a new one. Draining a battery down to the earth is not a good thing for them.
When you disconnect your battery on your Vette it will set all your radio channels to the factory settings. Your owners manual will confirm this. At least my manual had that statement in it. When you are cranking your engine your volts will go to about 17. When the engine is running your going to read around 14 and when it is turned off it will be in the 12's. Someone correct me if I am wrong. I just went through this because I had an alternator that went bad. Also you can lose some cells on a dead battery. It would be a good idea on your part to take it back and try to get a new one. Draining a battery down to the earth is not a good thing for them.
RevXtreme 1
www.revxtreme.com
Rich Z said:
I agree, although rare, we do sometimes see new ones that are bad & we are an Interstate/Optima dealer. Should be no problem for them to warranty it.:thumbsup:
chris308
spam sniper
Doh!! I thought i updated this...
Battery was fine, turns out the cd head unit was grounded out internally and was always on inside, draining the battery down to nothing! I found this out using an inline amp probe meter. Replaced the head unit and all is fine for a month now.
Battery was fine, turns out the cd head unit was grounded out internally and was always on inside, draining the battery down to nothing! I found this out using an inline amp probe meter. Replaced the head unit and all is fine for a month now.