Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

battery dies after one week

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-11-2002, 11:09 AM
  #1  
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
 
Jake99SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 894
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default battery dies after one week

I went out Friday to clean up the car and get a cover on it and noticed the battery was completely drained. I've never had good luck with batteries in this car. Are there any obvious things that could cause a constant drain on it? Light switch was off, radio (aftermarket) was off, my laptop wasn't plugged in.
Even if it's 2-3 days between startups, I get the RRR-RRR-RRR then it starts.

I did notice the wipers hadn't completely descended from when I shut the car off the week before last. The A/C switch was set to defrost too. Would either of these drain power even though the fan was off and the ignition was in the off position?
Old 02-11-2002, 11:10 AM
  #2  
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
 
RPM WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,230
Likes: 0
Received 1,660 Likes on 1,190 Posts

Default Re: battery dies after one week

You don’t have any luck period with that car Jake. I think it’s telling you that it wants to be raced more often <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">
Old 02-11-2002, 02:12 PM
  #3  
Staging Lane
 
itSStock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Cape Coral, FL
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: battery dies after one week

I had a similar problem with mine. Turned out the positive terminal was leaking. I had to replace the battery...f---n cheap A/C Delcrap batteries. It seems to be a popular problem. Any how, check the positive terminal...
Old 02-11-2002, 02:26 PM
  #4  
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
 
Jake99SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 894
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Re: battery dies after one week

Thanks. I've got a few other things to check when I look at it this week.

What's a good brand of battery to use instead of Delco? Was thinking either a regular Champion battery for ~$40 or a yellow top Optima.
Old 02-11-2002, 02:28 PM
  #5  
LS1Tech Co-Founder
iTrader: (34)
 
Pro Stock John's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 44,693
Received 1,139 Likes on 740 Posts

Default Re: battery dies after one week

Jake, I have a battery I got like last August.

I have no charging problems.

You need to check alternator, maybe change your battery cables.

JOHN
Old 02-11-2002, 02:28 PM
  #6  
Teching In
 
Z-28Hugger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: San Antonio, Tejas
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: battery dies after one week

I had that problem too, and my instruments would go nuts at startup. I just replaced the ac-delcrap battery and everything was fine.

Old 02-11-2002, 02:41 PM
  #7  
Teching In
 
Matt 01SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: St Louis Mo
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Re: battery dies after one week

When I first got my car it would sit for a couple weeks at a time, and I had the battery replaced 3 times during the first few months. Since then my car has been in the garage for the winter months and I havn't had any problems. I will start it from time to time and the battery is fine. I don't know what happened to the first 3, but this one seems to be OK.

[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: Matt 01SS ]</p>
Old 02-11-2002, 02:48 PM
  #8  
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
 
RPM WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,230
Likes: 0
Received 1,660 Likes on 1,190 Posts

Default Re: battery dies after one week

I don’t think anyone here lets their car sit as much as mine, but I’ll be coming up on two years with the same battery this spring/summer and it’s doing just fine. Always starts strong, even after months of sitting.
Old 02-11-2002, 03:03 PM
  #9  
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
 
Jake99SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 894
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Re: battery dies after one week

Ryan, do you leave the alarm set all the time? I wouldn't think that'd make a difference but...
Old 02-11-2002, 03:42 PM
  #10  
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
 
RPM WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,230
Likes: 0
Received 1,660 Likes on 1,190 Posts

Default Re: battery dies after one week

[quote]Originally posted by Jake99SS:
<strong>Ryan, do you leave the alarm set all the time? I wouldn't think that'd make a difference but...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yep. Alarm is set full time. Just to give you an example, it sat from the middle of Oct last year till mid-December when I took it out to test the PCM. And you remember the PCM issue I had (no need to get into that again), but point is I had to crank on it A LOT, and even after 2 months of sitting (with alarm on), and then cranking on it intermittently for over 10 minutes (hoping it would start) the battery never sounded weak.

I've bought used cars with Delco batteries that I know have had years of use on them, and I put even more years on with them still being good. Sounds to me like the quality control for these batteries is letting some (too many) bad ones slip by...
Old 02-11-2002, 07:07 PM
  #11  
TECH Apprentice
 
Matt98SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: battery dies after one week

mine is nearly dead after a weekend if I don't drive it all day saturday and sunday not dead enuff to clear the radio stations and whatnot but not quite powerful enuff to crank the engine over everytime

I had AC Delcos in other cars like RPM and they were great. One lasted 7 years and was still good when I sold the car




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:18 PM.