Dead battery - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

vilant · 02-02-2013

Last week when I tried starting it (it's been sitting for a couple of weeks), I got the clicking of a dead battery. I jumped it w/ another car (although after reading an old post after I did that, where someone fried there BCM, I'll never do that again) and she started right up, and I let it run for 15-20min. Figured I drive it around today and give it some exercise and maybe recharge the battery again. Unfortunately it wouldn't turn over berfore the clicking of a dead battery was back. I know the battery shouldn't be more than a few years old (at least the PO told it was changed recently), but the car has been sitting a lot before I got it and little bit recently. I've also been working inside the car, so the interior lights have been on more than they should have.I bought a battery charger and I'm trickle charging at 2A for @14hrs (charger recommendation, I also disconnected the battery leads, just in case).
My question is how to do you best preserve the life of your battery? At least for those who have to store their car for long periods of time (don't think LA or Vegas drivers have to worry to much about this). I'm not sure if just starting it, and letting it run, really charges the battery.
Or is just disconnecting the negative lead good enough?
Or do you leave it connected to a battery tender?

GOLDCYLON · 02-02-2013

Battery tender

Dynomite · 02-02-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by vilant

My question is how to do you best preserve the life of your battery? Or is just disconnecting the negative lead good enough?

I disconnect the negative battery cable if I know it is going to sit for a week or more. I use an 8 mm flex head ratchet wrench I keep in the center console

RICHARD TILL · 02-02-2013

My experience is that a brand new battery will be discharged after about 6 weeks of sitting.

Fully Vetted · 02-03-2013

Battery Tender. That's what they were made for.

Paul Workman · 02-03-2013

Battery Tender (again). Battery in the Z is more than 5 years old, and the one in Ami's 69 C3 is 8 years old - both on BTs, both crank like new - even in winter!

Soon as they're put in the garage, the Tenders are hooked up and they stay connected until the next outing.

P.

efnfast · 02-03-2013

I use a tender. Only during winter storage, car rarely sits for more than a week in driving weather.
Keep in mind, 5-7 years on a battery is pretty good these days.
15 minutes of engine run time is like being a big charger for 15 minutes, not really that long to fully charge the battery.
Good quality batteries will certainly last longer than cheap ones. -Steve

scottfab · 02-03-2013

I've been using a battery float changer since 1997.

Disconnecting a battery does not prevent hard sulfation.
Best practice is still the a battery float charger, however on the horizon is a new type of charger (de-sulfator) wish promises to be even better. Price could be an issue but technically speaking "the best" approach.
Read about it at the bottom of this article. I've been tracking this technology.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/a...to_prevent_it/

One example of an intelligent changer de-sulfator is:
http://jlzg.en.alibaba.com/product/6...esulfator.html

PS. a Kleenex is a general term for tissue but is a specific brand.
Tender is a specific type/brand of "float charger".

efnfast · 02-03-2013

Nice article Scott, thanks.

vilant · 02-03-2013

I read the article on sulfation that Cliff had in Solutions. It talked about sulfation while the battery is discharging, but I was wondering if it happens while the battery sits. Apparently it does. Makes you wonder how much it occurs while it sits on the shelf, before you buy one. Was also wondering if just running the car in idle charged it, that article says it doesn't, which is also nice to know. Looks like I need to add a Tender or float charger or maintainer to my inventory. Thanks for everyone's input, it helps a novice like myself a lot.

View Poll Results: Best way to extend battery life for stored cars?
Disconnect negative lead for duration	1	7.69%
Leave battery hooked up to a battery tender	11	84.62%
Other (post your method, please)	1	7.69%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

02-02-2013	#1
vilant Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 772	Dead battery Last week when I tried starting it (it's been sitting for a couple of weeks), I got the clicking of a dead battery. I jumped it w/ another car (although after reading an old post after I did that, where someone fried there BCM, I'll never do that again) and she started right up, and I let it run for 15-20min. Figured I drive it around today and give it some exercise and maybe recharge the battery again. Unfortunately it wouldn't turn over berfore the clicking of a dead battery was back. I know the battery shouldn't be more than a few years old (at least the PO told it was changed recently), but the car has been sitting a lot before I got it and little bit recently. I've also been working inside the car, so the interior lights have been on more than they should have.I bought a battery charger and I'm trickle charging at 2A for @14hrs (charger recommendation, I also disconnected the battery leads, just in case). My question is how to do you best preserve the life of your battery? At least for those who have to store their car for long periods of time (don't think LA or Vegas drivers have to worry to much about this). I'm not sure if just starting it, and letting it run, really charges the battery. Or is just disconnecting the negative lead good enough? Or do you leave it connected to a battery tender? __________________ Joe 1990 Bright Red ZR-1 #2599

02-02-2013	#2
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,153	Re: Dead battery Battery tender __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

02-02-2013	#4
RICHARD TILL Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Iuka, Mississippi 38852 Posts: 756	Re: Dead battery My experience is that a brand new battery will be discharged after about 6 weeks of sitting.

02-03-2013	#5
Fully Vetted Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Rockwall, Tx Posts: 1,510	Re: Dead battery Battery Tender. That's what they were made for. __________________ _________________ 1994 AB/Grey #141 430 RWHP/392 RWTQ FBI Lyposuction / Secondaries relieved of duty / SW Long Tube Headers / Corsa Exhaust / FIC SS Injectors / MSD Coils / Lightweight Pulleys / Corey tuned B & M Shifter / Aluminum Flywheel / Samco Hoses / Shelby Series One's / C4 No Flex Frame Stiffener BBC - Bling By Carter: Custom ZR-1 Center Caps / Custom Plenum Plate / Air Box Knobs / TB Cover / Oil Filter Cover

02-03-2013	#6
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,493	Re: Dead battery Battery Tender (again). Battery in the Z is more than 5 years old, and the one in Ami's 69 C3 is 8 years old - both on BTs, both crank like new - even in winter! Soon as they're put in the garage, the Tenders are hooked up and they stay connected until the next outing. P. __________________ Good carz, good food, good friendz = the best of timez! 90 #1202 "FBI" top end ported & relieved Cam timing by "Pete the Greek" Sans secondaries Chip & dyno tuning by Haibeck Automotive SW headers, X-pipe, MF muffs Former Secretary, ZR-1 Net Registry Last edited by Paul Workman; 02-03-2013 at 09:49 AM.

02-03-2013	#7
efnfast Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dunbarton NH Posts: 7,291	Re: Dead battery I use a tender. Only during winter storage, car rarely sits for more than a week in driving weather. Keep in mind, 5-7 years on a battery is pretty good these days. 15 minutes of engine run time is like being a big charger for 15 minutes, not really that long to fully charge the battery. Good quality batteries will certainly last longer than cheap ones. -Steve

02-03-2013	#8
scottfab Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Portland Oregon metro area (Washington side) Posts: 3,207	Re: Dead battery I've been using a battery float changer since 1997. Disconnecting a battery does not prevent hard sulfation. Best practice is still the a battery float charger, however on the horizon is a new type of charger (de-sulfator) wish promises to be even better. Price could be an issue but technically speaking "the best" approach. Read about it at the bottom of this article. I've been tracking this technology. http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/a...to_prevent_it/ One example of an intelligent changer de-sulfator is: http://jlzg.en.alibaba.com/product/6...esulfator.html PS. a Kleenex is a general term for tissue but is a specific brand. Tender is a specific type/brand of "float charger". __________________ Scott Vett owner since 1979._It's about the car and the people

02-03-2013	#9
efnfast Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dunbarton NH Posts: 7,291	Re: Dead battery Nice article Scott, thanks.

02-03-2013	#10
vilant Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 772	Re: Dead battery I read the article on sulfation that Cliff had in Solutions. It talked about sulfation while the battery is discharging, but I was wondering if it happens while the battery sits. Apparently it does. Makes you wonder how much it occurs while it sits on the shelf, before you buy one. Was also wondering if just running the car in idle charged it, that article says it doesn't, which is also nice to know. Looks like I need to add a Tender or float charger or maintainer to my inventory. Thanks for everyone's input, it helps a novice like myself a lot. __________________ Joe 1990 Bright Red ZR-1 #2599