General LSX Automobile Discussion Non-technical LSX related topics.

winter killed my car

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-10-2007, 06:49 PM
  #1  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
WS6_00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NM, 6-8,000DA land :(
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default winter killed my car

I didn't know where else to put this sorry if its in the wrong spot
the search isn't working for me at the moment so thought i'd post.

ok, so I have a 2000 m6 trans am ws6 and am having a bit of a problem with it. I put her away for the winter so she'd be away from the snow. Well I went to start her today and found - it didnt start! didn't make a noise, nothing. dead. This happened to me last winter and I replaced the battery and thought everything would be fine. whats going on? Is it the coldness that kills it do I need to remove the battery for winter storage or something? or is it another problem? help please

Last edited by WS6_00; 01-10-2007 at 07:25 PM.
Old 01-10-2007, 07:00 PM
  #2  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (6)
 
slw ls1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Did you leave the battery connected? How long has it been since the car was started? You always have a small parsitic(sp?) drain from your radio, alarm, ect. and that will run your battery down over a period time with your car not being started and driven.
Old 01-10-2007, 07:22 PM
  #3  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
WS6_00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NM, 6-8,000DA land :(
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

it's been about a month since I last started it, it got below freezing ( if that matters) N ya I left the battery connected I didn't know that would make it die thank you for setting me straight . and sorry I think this has been discussed before
Old 01-10-2007, 07:26 PM
  #4  
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
 
RPM WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,039
Likes: 0
Received 1,489 Likes on 1,072 Posts

Default

Leaving the battery connected for a month without starting the motor will NOT kill the battery unless you have a bad battery or an above average drain on the electrical system.

I store my Z28 from November till March/April, and I don't start the car any more than once a month. I leave the battery connected the ENTIRE winter. No problems at all, fires up strong and quick even after 4-6 weeks, even when it had the stock 6 year old battery (finally got a new one in 2005).

You need to look for a drain somewhere. Or you've got a bad battery.
Old 01-10-2007, 08:14 PM
  #5  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
WS6_00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NM, 6-8,000DA land :(
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

well the last time i brought it out was when I went to get a power steering leak fixed- they didn't fix it. anyways that was ...around the 18th? or so of november so actually its been longer than a month. I do have an alarm system and amp, subs n head unit if that could be a drain but I think i'll just have to take out the battery
Old 01-10-2007, 09:50 PM
  #6  
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
mapleredt/a's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Cochran Ga
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Id just take the battery back and try it with a new one first.
Old 01-10-2007, 09:51 PM
  #7  
Teching In
 
Bobbo1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

If you don't want to spend the time looking for the drain, just disconnect the positive during storage, reconnect once throughout winter and start up, then disconnect once again. I don't think the cold is the issue.
Old 01-10-2007, 09:58 PM
  #8  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (30)
 
Cole Train's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MN
Posts: 2,829
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

yeah it could have been the cold but i doubt it. Take it out during the winter and put it back when you start the car.
Old 01-10-2007, 10:33 PM
  #9  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (18)
 
SHINER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SW Houston
Posts: 4,185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

seriously doubt its a mechanical problem. Look in to the electrical side of things
Old 01-10-2007, 11:05 PM
  #10  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (36)
 
Magnet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Fort Myers Florida
Posts: 4,075
Received 69 Likes on 50 Posts

Default

yea definitely sound electrical...
Old 01-10-2007, 11:30 PM
  #11  
TECH Fanatic
 
ICEMAN 31's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 1,813
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by RPM WS6
I store my Z28 from November till March/April,

.

wow you are one patient man. wouldn't be able to do that, glad I live in Florida
Old 01-11-2007, 01:34 AM
  #12  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (30)
 
Cole Train's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MN
Posts: 2,829
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

i put mine away from October to April of whenever we get a few good heavy rains to get the salt off the roads. I HATE that about MN but other then that i consider it the off season. time to upgrade, so to speak
Old 01-11-2007, 10:50 AM
  #13  
Teching In
 
m-port-h8r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Aberdump, MD
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Does your battery and cables have corrosion? My car did the same thing. I found that the crappy battery leaked acid out of the side terminal (+) and coroded the cable. I switched to an Optima and replaced the whole + battery cable harness ($65) . The corrosion traveled all the way through the cables up to the starter!! Also make sure the battery has a full charge. You don't want your alternator to work over time and fry trying to charge a dead battery. Just something to concider.
Old 01-11-2007, 10:59 AM
  #14  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (68)
 
ICRAZY6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Lacon, IL
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts

Default

I would pull the battery and give it a good charge. Invest in a quick disconnect for your battery, the kind with a **** that you turn and it seperats the contacts. Then when you store it you just disconnect the battery and not have to worry. The big thing it to make sure your battery is fully charged before storage. Just my oppinion tho.
Old 01-11-2007, 11:05 AM
  #15  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (7)
 
01SSRMS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by WS6_00
I do have an alarm system and amp, subs n head unit if that could be a drain but I think i'll just have to take out the battery
I would start there. I would guess one or all of the devices above are causing an extra parasitic drain on the battery. Best option may be to disconnect the battery in this case.
Old 01-11-2007, 11:35 AM
  #16  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (17)
 
BlackBADaSS02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Glad to hear your ok. That is one nasty wreck.
Old 01-11-2007, 12:17 PM
  #17  
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
 
RPM WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,039
Likes: 0
Received 1,489 Likes on 1,072 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by m-port-h8r
Also make sure the battery has a full charge. You don't want your alternator to work over time and fry trying to charge a dead battery.
Good point.

People often do this; they will try to consistantly recharge an almost dead battery with the alternator. This is very bad for the alternator, these devices were never intended to fully charge dead batteries, they are built for battery maintenance (i.e. maintaining a proper charge in a good condition battery).




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:41 AM.