How long is your factory battery lasting?
05-04-2010, 05:41 PM
#41
Instructor
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Jacksonville Florida
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My '06 with 35,000 miles, built in late '05 is still going strong on original battery. I installed a Priority Start device on it in late '06 because of all the posts on CF that referred to Dead Battery Syndrome. This was a preventive measure- I never actually experienced DBS, but I sure as heck didn't want it. The Priority Start has activated on about 4 occasions over the years when it sensed a drain on the battery from my having accidentally left the radar detector plugged in while the car was parked, but all you have to do is plug in the lighter and it reconnects the battery. When it comes time to replace the battery, I will get another Delco.
05-04-2010, 05:48 PM
#42
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Location: Jacksonville Florida
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I've had Optimas for years in MANY cars and I've never had ANY trouble with any of them. If others aren't as fortunate, that is their lot in life.
I have EVERYTHING covered in my engine bay with red fiberglass covers, You couldn't see the battery and you still can't see the battery.
Elmer
I have EVERYTHING covered in my engine bay with red fiberglass covers, You couldn't see the battery and you still can't see the battery.
Elmer
05-04-2010, 06:14 PM
#43
Moderator/Tech Contributor
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
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2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Elmer- I prefer the Delco, but I think the Optima red top has a pretty cool techy look, and if I had your car, I would show it off since it has the red theme going for it anyway. Great engine compartment by the way. Last time I saw your car was Vettes at the Village. Where will you show it next?
Funny, that is the next thing on our Corvette Club's list of things to do! Back to the Vettes at the Village on the 19th (?) of June. Saturday before Father's day.
Elmer
05-05-2010, 07:29 PM
#45
Race Director
Just over 3 years for my '07 and it's still good. Drove the car today for the first time in a couple of weeks and it started right up.
My C5 had 3 batteries in 5 years and left me stranded a couple of times.
My C5 had 3 batteries in 5 years and left me stranded a couple of times.
05-05-2010, 07:52 PM
#49
Drifting
I had a 2002 and the battery died suddenly without warning in 2005. I currently have a 2005 (built late in the model year) that I have a tender on WHENEVER it is not being driven. The repair shop did a load test on the battery and told me that it's better than some of the new batteries he's put into cars.
I'm not taking any chances. I'm replacing it with an Interstate battery this Saturday. With the summer ahead of us, I don't want to take any chances. Five years is just about all you can ask of a battery.
I'm not taking any chances. I'm replacing it with an Interstate battery this Saturday. With the summer ahead of us, I don't want to take any chances. Five years is just about all you can ask of a battery.
05-05-2010, 07:57 PM
#50
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Location: Rancho Palos Verdes Caifornia
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05-05-2010, 08:13 PM
#52
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My 06 (built the end of June '06) has the original battery. It stays on a tender when it is going to sit for more than a week.
05-05-2010, 09:43 PM
#53
CF Senior Member
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Location: Tucson Arizona
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I don't hibernate my car for the winter but it isn't started everyday either. I've never used any battery tender or priority start. My OEM battery provided about 3.5 years of faultless service. Even after the car sat idle for weeks it always fires right up. Here in Arizona I generally get 3 to 4 years from my batteries.
05-06-2010, 12:18 AM
#55
Le Mans Master
48,008 miles - 43 months - original battery still going strong - no battery tender.
05-06-2010, 12:24 AM
#56
Racer
08 DD w/ 29 month old original battery usually kept on a battery tender. No issues. The newer Vettes have an optional (I believe it's optional) battery tender set up.
Why the electronics can't be better isolated and powered OFF with the igniition OFF is a mystery to me.
A wild guess may be that certain electronics function better warmed up and stay in the STAND BY mode. My home audio system stays on "Stand By" to optimize better sound upon initial start-ups.
Why the electronics can't be better isolated and powered OFF with the igniition OFF is a mystery to me.
A wild guess may be that certain electronics function better warmed up and stay in the STAND BY mode. My home audio system stays on "Stand By" to optimize better sound upon initial start-ups.
05-06-2010, 12:24 AM
#57
Race Director
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Location: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
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C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I just had my '08 (29 months and 62K miles old) battery die two weeks ago. Put it on a charger for several hours and got notta. Charged a spare battery the had been setting for about 3 years and still nothing. So based on the forum experiences, I traded it in for a new one. When I was ready to install, I noticed some corrosional discoloration on the internal positive terminal that didn't seem normal. A wire brush and sandpaper didn't seem to help much. It still didn't have that clean metal look. Out came the dremel and a sanding flapper.
WARNING: If you do this, use a mask so you don't breathe the dust. It's toxic.
It cleaned up to a nice shiny copper. It appeared the zinc plating had oxodized just enough to be a non-conductor, but not so much to show the white corrosion that is obviously a problem.
Long story shortened. The spare battery was good and I opted to keep the new one anyway.
Lesson learned. Check the terminals first.
WARNING: If you do this, use a mask so you don't breathe the dust. It's toxic.
It cleaned up to a nice shiny copper. It appeared the zinc plating had oxodized just enough to be a non-conductor, but not so much to show the white corrosion that is obviously a problem.
Long story shortened. The spare battery was good and I opted to keep the new one anyway.
Lesson learned. Check the terminals first.
05-06-2010, 12:57 AM
#59
Instructor
I've owned almost 20 vehicles over the years (three Vettes) and my experience with good batteries is that once they are over about 36 months old and have been properly cared for, you can expect them to fail. I've had a couple enter their fifth year (60 months) still going strong, but they were the exception. None of these batteries were ever drained flat, and I've never used a battery tender.
