4th gen battery drain
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From: Baltimore, MD
4th gen battery drain Alright so I haven't driven my Camaro much lately with all the snow and road salt this winter. I had been trying to start it once a week to keep it fresh, but I let it go for two weeks earlier this month and it was weak to start. So I took it for a short drive. Now today I go out, about a week and a half later, and it's completely dead. No power what so ever. Now I just put a new battery in it last March, so it shouldn't be that. I'm thinking maybe alternator?
Jump start it and after it starts disconnect the negative cable to your battery......if the engine keeps running the alternator works.
Then your battery is probably bad because you ran it down so low. It's rare, but batteries do sometimes get ruined if they go dead or way down.
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Then your battery is probably bad because you ran it down so low. It's rare, but batteries do sometimes get ruined if they go dead or way down.
.
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From: Baltimore, MD
I know the battery is pretty much no good now, I was more wondering what wore it down so fast since it's not that old. I was thinking maybe the alternator wasn't charging it enough.
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From: Baltimore, MD
Probably was from the cold I guess. It's been below 30* for 2 weeks now. I just though it was odd that my dad has his '76 Camaro right next to it in the driveway and it started right up after over 3 weeks untouched.
If u have a multimeter you can see how many amps it's drawing with everything shut off. Set the multimeter to amps. With the car off disconnect the negative battery cable then touch one lead to the cable and one lead to the negative battery terminal. Should read a very small amount. Not sure what the exact specs on these cars are but my truck is a max of .035 amps. If it reads a lot higher than that start pulling fuses until it drops then you will have an idea where to start tracing wires.
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I can leave my '98 sit for 6-8 weeks and it's still got enough power to crank the engine over, albeit a bit slow. Usually shows about ~12.0-12.1 volts on a multi-meter after sitting 6-8 weeks in the winter cold. I actually just put the smart charger on it about two weeks ago after having sat for a month in record cold temps, and the battery was still over 12.1v, and this battery was installed in the spring of '09 so it's certainly not new.
If you have a new/good battery (that is fully charged when the engine is shut down) severely draining in 1-2 weeks time, then either you have a faulty new battery, or you have a drain somewhere. No way should it discharge to the point of no crank or no power AT ALL in such a short period.
If you have a new/good battery (that is fully charged when the engine is shut down) severely draining in 1-2 weeks time, then either you have a faulty new battery, or you have a drain somewhere. No way should it discharge to the point of no crank or no power AT ALL in such a short period.
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On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 119
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From: SE Indiana
Mine does this too, every 10-14 days. (Brand new battery too, like 3 weeks old) I just chalked it up to this ridiculous cold everyone is getting, and having all the electronics sucking power from it.
I can leave my '98 sit for 6-8 weeks and it's still got enough power to crank the engine over, albeit a bit slow. Usually shows about ~12.0-12.1 volts on a multi-meter after sitting 6-8 weeks in the winter cold. I actually just put the smart charger on it about two weeks ago after having sat for a month in record cold temps, and the battery was still over 12.1v, and this battery was installed in the spring of '09 so it's certainly not new.
If you have a new/good battery (that is fully charged when the engine is shut down) severely draining in 1-2 weeks time, then either you have a faulty new battery, or you have a drain somewhere. No way should it discharge to the point of no crank or no power AT ALL in such a short period.
If you have a new/good battery (that is fully charged when the engine is shut down) severely draining in 1-2 weeks time, then either you have a faulty new battery, or you have a drain somewhere. No way should it discharge to the point of no crank or no power AT ALL in such a short period.
I did in the past and was starting the car every week and eventually, the battery would need a jump start anyway. This aint good for a battery's life..
Another thing; its been proven that the alternator of the 4th Gen was crap. I got tired of the charging problems and got and OEM (used) Cadillac Escalade alternator for mine. It was 10x better than the 'custom rebuilt' alternator I got from a local shop FYI. Any rebuilt alternator is crap; they always cut on quality. There is a guy on youtube that might be good to buy from though;
www.not-a-sponsor.com.net.org
Last edited by RPM WS6; Jan 28, 2014 at 11:47 PM.
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
30°F isn't cold enough to drain a well charged, strong battery to the point of being dead in 1-2 weeks. There must be excessive system drain, or a weak/faulty battery, or one that wasn't fully charged to begin with.
If your battery is low on power, the cold temperature will make things much worse.
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: SE Indiana
Alrighty. My battery drain problem has gotten a lot worse. Before, it would go dead after a 10-14 days, but now it is only lasting just 24-72 hours max. I've searched and searched for an answer why. I know I gotta hook up a meter and start pulling fuses, but I don't have one, and I haven't found out WHY it's happening. Anyone know what's causing it? (I know what I gotta do, but don't have the tools to do it.)
Chasing electrical drain is tough. Do you have any added items on the car which could be tapped into 12v all the time?
You need the meter, go to store and spend 20-30 bucks. The issue could be a shorted wire, a bad motor or even a bad alternator.
You need the meter, go to store and spend 20-30 bucks. The issue could be a shorted wire, a bad motor or even a bad alternator.
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: SE Indiana
I do have an aftermarket radio that always has the power button lit up, thats where I was going to start first.
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Paducah, Ky
If u have a multimeter you can see how many amps it's drawing with everything shut off. Set the multimeter to amps. With the car off disconnect the negative battery cable then touch one lead to the cable and one lead to the negative battery terminal. Should read a very small amount. Not sure what the exact specs on these cars are but my truck is a max of .035 amps. If it reads a lot higher than that start pulling fuses until it drops then you will have an idea where to start tracing wires.
I was reading that in amps. Is the battery charged up good? What's the voltage? You're right the battery shouldn't be going dead with that draw. I'd take it and have it load tested somewhere- preferably some place you didn't buy the battery.
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 119
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From: SE Indiana
Noob question...
How long should I charge my new (ish) battery with this older 2/10/50 amp charger? I think my problem might be it may have never been fully charged, plus this never ending cold we all have.
How long should I charge my new (ish) battery with this older 2/10/50 amp charger? I think my problem might be it may have never been fully charged, plus this never ending cold we all have.