Battery not staying charged??

[Valeria H.]

When I first received my 2005 Corvette in December I was not aware that the ingnition button needed to be turned off in a specific fashion. The battery drained completely at least twice.

I invested in a battery charger in addition to a battery minder. I always back the car into the garage so I know the car is in reverse. I am certain that I am shutting the car off appropriately buy touching the lower left hand portion of the ignition switch. I also immediately hook the car up to the battery minder. The light on the minder is flashing when I hook it up indicating that the battery is fully charged and it is on maintenence charging. I even check the battery minder every day or so to make sure it is still on maintenence charging. The battery is still dead as a door knob when I go out to start it!

I took the car out to the chev dealership where I am having it serviced along with the battery minder. They told me that I needed a 12 volt battery minder instead of the 8 volt that I have.

This does not make sense to me???? They also told me all Corvettes today need to be placed on a battery minder???? Is this true? Is this a late April fools joke?

[Jim T.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

I have seen a 6 volt and a 12 volt battery minder/charger, but the 8 volt battery minder/charger is new to me.

[Tom H.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

I have not seen the 8 volt versions either. Not sure if that is your issue or not. Are you sure the battery is dead, or are your remotes ( fobs ) not working properly? I would have the batteries checked in the remotes too. Have you tried both of them when the car has failed to start ??

If your battery has gone completely dead, you will need to re index your windows. If you need help doing that, let me know.

If that battery is original, it might just be time for a new one !

[Bill M.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

They also told me all Corvettes today need to be placed on a battery minder???? Is this true? Is this a late April fools joke?

I store a '65 and a '92 for extended periods.

All the computers in the '92 will drain the battery in about a month to a no-start condition.

The '65 will go a lot longer (but my clock doesn't run).

I just disconnect the battery in the '92 if I'm going to store it for an extended (weeks) period. (Over the winter, I put the battery on a minder.)

Once the battery is fully run-down even once, it's toasted (unreliable). Replace it.

[Gary B.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

This does not make sense to me???? They also told me all Corvettes today need to be placed on a battery minder???? Is this true? Is this a late April fools joke?

When some GM Techs were at the NCM a couple of years ago "THEY" did say that if your new Vette is not driven in a couple of weeks it SHOULD be on a Battery Tender.

[Tom H.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

We keep tenders and chargers on all new Corvette we have in inventory.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

I have not seen the 8 volt versions either. Not sure if that is your issue or not. Are you sure the battery is dead, or are your remotes ( fobs ) not working properly? I would have the batteries checked in the remotes too. Have you tried both of them when the car has failed to start ??

If your battery has gone completely dead, you will need to re index your windows. If you need help doing that, let me know.

Tom'
If that battery is original, it might just be time for a new one !

Tom, I have tried both key fobs and neither works. I was able to jump start the car with a jump box easily.

The battery was suppose to be new when I purchased the car in Nov.

What do you mean by re-indexing the windows?

I think I would like to get a new battery as it has been drained too many times.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

I store a '65 and a '92 for extended periods.

All the computers in the '92 will drain the battery in about a month to a no-start condition.

The '65 will go a lot longer (but my clock doesn't run).

I just disconnect the battery in the '92 if I'm going to store it for an extended (weeks) period. (Over the winter, I put the battery on a minder.)

Once the battery is fully run-down even once, it's toasted (unreliable). Replace it.

Bill,
That was my thought! I think I'll do that today when I pick the car up.
Any suggestions on what I should get to replace the one in there now?
After purchasing 2 jump boxes I think I will need to buy a third one for "Trixie". I would hate to have her on a long trip and not be able to get her started. I have AAA but who wants to wait?
Thanks!

[Valeria H.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

We keep tenders and chargers on all new Corvette we have in inventory.

Tom,
I keep both of mine on the tenders at all times. I guess the one on Trixie was not powerful enough. New tender 12 volt battery tender plus comes in on Tuesday.

Thanks for the advice! I did not know that the computers in the new vettes drain the battery!

[Bill M.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

Bill,
Any suggestions on what I should get to replace the one in there now?
Thanks!

Valeria:

It's easy for me. I show my car in NCRS, so I always get a Delco. I lose the fewest points that way.

Bill

[Michael W.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

I have seen a 6 volt and a 12 volt battery minder/charger, but the 8 volt battery minder/charger is new to me.

Me too.

http://www.batteryminders.com/batterycharger/catalog/BatteryMINDer-Plus-8-Volt-13-Amp-Charger-Maintainer-Conditione-p-16149.html

Never seen an 8 volt battery other than for golf carts.

I wonder if attaching an 8 volt charger to a 12 volt battery would do harm and be the source of the discharge?

[Stephen L.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

An 8 volt charger will charge/deliver 8 volts to the battery. If the battery is at 12v then the battery will discharge to 8v and the power will be dissapated into the 8v charger. This presumption assumes there are no blocking diodes in the charger circuitry.

I'll bet if you check the voltage on the battery in question with the 8v charger on it you'll find the battery voltage to be 8v.

[Peter J.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

Valeria,
If you are using a Deltran Battery Tender hold on to the receipt. I have had two die on me over the years (one nine years later) and for a small fee they replaced both but you need the receipt.
Pete

[Gary B.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

I have been using the Schumacher Tenders and have not had any problems.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Battery not staying charged??

Valeria,
If you are using a Deltran Battery Tender hold on to the receipt. I have had two die on me over the years (one nine years later) and for a small fee they replaced both but you need the receipt.
Pete

Peter,
I keep and date/file all receipts. I think I purchased the wrong volt battery minder for this car.