Battery goes dead
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On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: NW OR.
Battery goes dead Hello all.
I've had a 2000 Camaro Z28 since 2010. For the last 2 years I've noticed the battery goes dead if I don't use the car as much. As I get older it doesn't get used as much. So I notice the battery going dead. It has about 64,000 miles on it with headers, LS6 intake, Mail order tune by Frost and some other stuff. I've replaced the battery twice. I've had it in to check for voltage drain and nothing shows.
My wife has a 2018 Mustang GT that the battery gets week after a month of no use. Dealer ship said this is normal with cars with electronic ignitions.
I can't believe this would apply to older cars.
Any opinions out there ?
I've had a 2000 Camaro Z28 since 2010. For the last 2 years I've noticed the battery goes dead if I don't use the car as much. As I get older it doesn't get used as much. So I notice the battery going dead. It has about 64,000 miles on it with headers, LS6 intake, Mail order tune by Frost and some other stuff. I've replaced the battery twice. I've had it in to check for voltage drain and nothing shows.
My wife has a 2018 Mustang GT that the battery gets week after a month of no use. Dealer ship said this is normal with cars with electronic ignitions.
I can't believe this would apply to older cars.
Any opinions out there ?
Last edited by jg rider; Nov 25, 2024 at 06:11 PM.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,550
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I use a smart charger on my '98 Z28 every 2-3 weeks if I haven't driven the car. At the furthest point in that cycle, the battery never gets below about 12.4v if it's healthy and the weather is warm. In the cold months, and/or when the battery is older, it'll get down to 12.2-12.3 at the end of the cycle (meaning 2-3 weeks). Still plenty of power to start the engine, but cranking is just a touch slower at that point. If the battery in your 2000 Z28 is going completely dead (or even just doesn't have enough power to crank the engine) after 2-3 weeks, there is either an excessive drain somewhere or the battery has gone bad.
However, if you are leaving the car sit for very long periods (like months instead of weeks), then it might well be very normal that the battery is dead (assuming, of course, that it's been connected the whole time).
I made my cars that sit in the garage into stud mount Battery Terminals on one post. 3/8-16 stud that's on there with a lock washer and a nut, and I connect/disconnect one of the power wires with a 9/16" nut & washer. Slip on and tighten when I drive them, take off and cover the stud with a rubber cap when I'm not driving. Takes seconds to do this why I did it. Saves the Batteries.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,550
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I made my cars that sit in the garage into stud mount Battery Terminals on one post. 3/8-16 stud that's on there with a lock washer and a nut, and I connect/disconnect one of the power wires with a 9/16" nut & washer. Slip on and tighten when I drive them, take off and cover the stud with a rubber cap when I'm not driving. Takes seconds to do this why I did it. Saves the Batteries.
Only reason I don't do this with my '98 is not wanting to go through the idle relearn, etc., every time I drive it. The later PCMs are less sensitive to this, but my '98 really needs some relearn time before it will idle perfectly after a battery disconnect.
Probably why I've never had an issue with my 02 Z06 and the 2002 Fbody 0411 PCM thats in my MCSS. The SS will run pig rich on first start, shut it off re-start and it levels out perfectly. Never been able to figure that out as a tune issue I was thinking it was something to do with a re-learn of sorts. Has a healthy Cam in it.
