2007 Dead Battery - Any GM Response?
06-07-2011, 03:22 PM
#1
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2007 Dead Battery - Any GM Response?
I remember years ago when I first go my 2007 Corvette reading about the DBS (dead battery syndrome) and thinking I got away lucky. Not the case.
In January I went out to start the car after a good 1.5 months of just sitting and the battery was dead. I took the blame for that thinking that I had just let it sit too long. Well I replaced the battery with the Optima Yellow Top and added a Battery Bug to it just to be sure.
Yesterday I drove the car out about 30 minutes each way to play golf and had no problems - didn't notice dimmed lights or lengthened start times, etc. Today I went out to start the car and the door wouldn't open. Indicator on the bug read 6.6V. Ouch.
I called the Chevy dealer and they basically said all they would do is replace the battery if it was under warranty (it was not) and they had no service "fix" for the issue. And in reality, they refused to acknowledge it was an issue at all. "Blah blah lots of electronics blah blah" - that kind of thing.
In truth this is just as much embarrassing as it is annoying as I will have to get my 2000 Dodge Durango with 145k miles on it to jump start my Corvette after pushing it out of the garage. Meanwhile my family that drives a lot of BWM's looks on and snickers about me spending $50k on a GM.
Since I know this problem is pervasive, my question is this: has GM released any responses about this problem, any fixes, anything at all that I can take into the dealership service center to get them to "fix" anything? Are there any solutions or ideas that I just don't know about having been out of the "corvette loop" for the last two years?
Thanks!!!
In January I went out to start the car after a good 1.5 months of just sitting and the battery was dead. I took the blame for that thinking that I had just let it sit too long. Well I replaced the battery with the Optima Yellow Top and added a Battery Bug to it just to be sure.
Yesterday I drove the car out about 30 minutes each way to play golf and had no problems - didn't notice dimmed lights or lengthened start times, etc. Today I went out to start the car and the door wouldn't open. Indicator on the bug read 6.6V. Ouch.
I called the Chevy dealer and they basically said all they would do is replace the battery if it was under warranty (it was not) and they had no service "fix" for the issue. And in reality, they refused to acknowledge it was an issue at all. "Blah blah lots of electronics blah blah" - that kind of thing.
In truth this is just as much embarrassing as it is annoying as I will have to get my 2000 Dodge Durango with 145k miles on it to jump start my Corvette after pushing it out of the garage. Meanwhile my family that drives a lot of BWM's looks on and snickers about me spending $50k on a GM.
Since I know this problem is pervasive, my question is this: has GM released any responses about this problem, any fixes, anything at all that I can take into the dealership service center to get them to "fix" anything? Are there any solutions or ideas that I just don't know about having been out of the "corvette loop" for the last two years?
Thanks!!!
06-07-2011, 03:43 PM
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In January I went out to start the car after a good 1.5 months of just sitting and the battery was dead. I took the blame for that thinking that I had just let it sit too long. Well I replaced the battery with the Optima Yellow Top and added a Battery Bug to it just to be sure.
06-07-2011, 03:52 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
It takes a special process to recover an Optima battery if it ever goes below as I recall 9.5 volts (some where around there anyway).
A normal charging process will not work!!!!
Resuscitating a Deeply Discharged AGM Battery
http://www.optimabatteries.com/produ...agmbattery.php
A normal charging process will not work!!!!
Resuscitating a Deeply Discharged AGM Battery
http://www.optimabatteries.com/produ...agmbattery.php
06-07-2011, 03:54 PM
#5
Safety Car
Two things, maybe you have a parasitic drain. And sometimes you just get a bad battery. If it's only 6 months old, the manufacturer should have a warranty, if only pro rated. Sorry for your troubles. Have it tested and replace. I have seen brand new off the lot batteries die. It does happen. A pain in the butt, I know.
06-07-2011, 04:14 PM
#6
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Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I agree... 6-month old battery should be warrantied. Lots of Optima's have issues of failing soon after being placed into service. Those that last, seem to last for a very long time. No one has pinned down why this is happening to new ones.
06-07-2011, 04:24 PM
#7
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Dump the Optima. Over rated and overpriced. Get an AC Delco 7 year Professional series battery and a C-Tek 3300 battery tender and your battery issues will likely be over. DBS was an 05 6 speed issue.
06-07-2011, 04:37 PM
#8
Race Director
I called the Chevy dealer and they basically said all they would do is replace the battery if it was under warranty (it was not) and they had no service "fix" for the issue. And in reality, they refused to acknowledge it was an issue at all. "Blah blah lots of electronics blah blah" - that kind of thing.
I owned an '06 Z51 car, never had a single issue with 'DBS'.
Admittedly I haven't followed any battery issues with '07s; but, can't recall hearing any either, 'til now.
Since I know this problem is pervasive, my question is this: has GM released any responses about this problem, any fixes, anything at all that I can take into the dealership service center to get them to "fix" anything? Are there any solutions or ideas that I just don't know about having been out of the "corvette loop" for the last two years?
One member suggested the 'new' 6 month old cell could've been defective. Since you've a prorated warranty with Optima cut to the chase, get it replaced.
One more thing, "Bugs" notwithstanding perhaps you could benefit from a battery tender. Especially if your car sits longer than 10 days to 2 weeks at a time. My Z06 goes on "Life Support" without hesitation when it has to sit. When I'm ready it's guarenteed ready to roll.
06-07-2011, 06:16 PM
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I will get the Optima replaced but I continue to dislike the suggestions of a battery tender. If I wanted to get a car that I plugged in every time I went home I'd buy a Volt. And it does no good when I parking NOT at home. :/
06-07-2011, 06:22 PM
#10
Drifting
You do not need to plug it in everytime, just when you are not going to use it for 4 or 5 days. If you think your C6 is bad, you should have owned a C5 !
06-07-2011, 06:41 PM
#11
Safety Car
I haven't seen anything that would indicate ongoing systemic issues with the 2007's. If this is only the second time you have had an issue, I would guess that you're not the victim of any GM design flaw either.
The Corvette draws more power when off than most cars. So having it parked for 1.5 months on a 4+ year old battery was almost certainly the culprit.
With the new battery, there have been many, many instances of defective Optimas over the last couple of years. Quite possibly you have one.
Also possible is your car has developed some issue which is now causing problems. Relays go bad. Contacts get corroded or stuck. Could be something cause by normal wear and tear.
Instead of trying to get Chevy to admit to some design issue, which probably isn't there, I'd have the current draw measured when the car is off to find out if there is a problem with the car. And I'd have the battery checked to see if that's the culprit.
If you drive the Vette regularly, I wouldn't worry about a charger. You DO NOT need to plug in the Vette if you drive it daily. But if you don't drive it for long periods, it (and almost any car with electronics that have to stay "on" - electronic door releases or alarms, etc) should be plugged in.
BTW - I routinely leave the Vette in the garage for 2-4 weeks at a time - 4-5x per year - and I've never had a problem with my 2007.
Good luck with sorting it all out.
The Corvette draws more power when off than most cars. So having it parked for 1.5 months on a 4+ year old battery was almost certainly the culprit.
With the new battery, there have been many, many instances of defective Optimas over the last couple of years. Quite possibly you have one.
Also possible is your car has developed some issue which is now causing problems. Relays go bad. Contacts get corroded or stuck. Could be something cause by normal wear and tear.
Instead of trying to get Chevy to admit to some design issue, which probably isn't there, I'd have the current draw measured when the car is off to find out if there is a problem with the car. And I'd have the battery checked to see if that's the culprit.
If you drive the Vette regularly, I wouldn't worry about a charger. You DO NOT need to plug in the Vette if you drive it daily. But if you don't drive it for long periods, it (and almost any car with electronics that have to stay "on" - electronic door releases or alarms, etc) should be plugged in.
BTW - I routinely leave the Vette in the garage for 2-4 weeks at a time - 4-5x per year - and I've never had a problem with my 2007.
Good luck with sorting it all out.
06-07-2011, 06:59 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
I haven't seen anything that would indicate ongoing systemic issues with the 2007's. If this is only the second time you have had an issue, I would guess that you're not the victim of any GM design flaw either.
The Corvette draws more power when off than most cars. So having it parked for 1.5 months on a 4+ year old battery was almost certainly the culprit.
With the new battery, there have been many, many instances of defective Optimas over the last couple of years. Quite possibly you have one.
Also possible is your car has developed some issue which is now causing problems. Relays go bad. Contacts get corroded or stuck. Could be something cause by normal wear and tear.
Instead of trying to get Chevy to admit to some design issue, which probably isn't there, I'd have the current draw measured when the car is off to find out if there is a problem with the car. And I'd have the battery checked to see if that's the culprit.
If you drive the Vette regularly, I wouldn't worry about a charger. You DO NOT need to plug in the Vette if you drive it daily. But if you don't drive it for long periods, it (and almost any car with electronics that have to stay "on" - electronic door releases or alarms, etc) should be plugged in.
BTW - I routinely leave the Vette in the garage for 2-4 weeks at a time - 4-5x per year - and I've never had a problem with my 2007.
Good luck with sorting it all out.
The Corvette draws more power when off than most cars. So having it parked for 1.5 months on a 4+ year old battery was almost certainly the culprit.
With the new battery, there have been many, many instances of defective Optimas over the last couple of years. Quite possibly you have one.
Also possible is your car has developed some issue which is now causing problems. Relays go bad. Contacts get corroded or stuck. Could be something cause by normal wear and tear.
Instead of trying to get Chevy to admit to some design issue, which probably isn't there, I'd have the current draw measured when the car is off to find out if there is a problem with the car. And I'd have the battery checked to see if that's the culprit.
If you drive the Vette regularly, I wouldn't worry about a charger. You DO NOT need to plug in the Vette if you drive it daily. But if you don't drive it for long periods, it (and almost any car with electronics that have to stay "on" - electronic door releases or alarms, etc) should be plugged in.
BTW - I routinely leave the Vette in the garage for 2-4 weeks at a time - 4-5x per year - and I've never had a problem with my 2007.
Good luck with sorting it all out.
06-07-2011, 07:02 PM
#14
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I remember years ago when I first go my 2007 Corvette reading about the DBS (dead battery syndrome) and thinking I got away lucky. Not the case.
In January I went out to start the car after a good 1.5 months of just sitting and the battery was dead. I took the blame for that thinking that I had just let it sit too long. Well I replaced the battery with the Optima Yellow Top and added a Battery Bug to it just to be sure.
Yesterday I drove the car out about 30 minutes each way to play golf and had no problems - didn't notice dimmed lights or lengthened start times, etc. Today I went out to start the car and the door wouldn't open. Indicator on the bug read 6.6V. Ouch.
I called the Chevy dealer and they basically said all they would do is replace the battery if it was under warranty (it was not) and they had no service "fix" for the issue. And in reality, they refused to acknowledge it was an issue at all. "Blah blah lots of electronics blah blah" - that kind of thing.
In truth this is just as much embarrassing as it is annoying as I will have to get my 2000 Dodge Durango with 145k miles on it to jump start my Corvette after pushing it out of the garage. Meanwhile my family that drives a lot of BWM's looks on and snickers about me spending $50k on a GM.
Since I know this problem is pervasive, my question is this: has GM released any responses about this problem, any fixes, anything at all that I can take into the dealership service center to get them to "fix" anything? Are there any solutions or ideas that I just don't know about having been out of the "corvette loop" for the last two years?
Thanks!!!
In January I went out to start the car after a good 1.5 months of just sitting and the battery was dead. I took the blame for that thinking that I had just let it sit too long. Well I replaced the battery with the Optima Yellow Top and added a Battery Bug to it just to be sure.
Yesterday I drove the car out about 30 minutes each way to play golf and had no problems - didn't notice dimmed lights or lengthened start times, etc. Today I went out to start the car and the door wouldn't open. Indicator on the bug read 6.6V. Ouch.
I called the Chevy dealer and they basically said all they would do is replace the battery if it was under warranty (it was not) and they had no service "fix" for the issue. And in reality, they refused to acknowledge it was an issue at all. "Blah blah lots of electronics blah blah" - that kind of thing.
In truth this is just as much embarrassing as it is annoying as I will have to get my 2000 Dodge Durango with 145k miles on it to jump start my Corvette after pushing it out of the garage. Meanwhile my family that drives a lot of BWM's looks on and snickers about me spending $50k on a GM.
Since I know this problem is pervasive, my question is this: has GM released any responses about this problem, any fixes, anything at all that I can take into the dealership service center to get them to "fix" anything? Are there any solutions or ideas that I just don't know about having been out of the "corvette loop" for the last two years?
Thanks!!!
06-07-2011, 07:12 PM
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I have 2005 and had DBS. GM had a TSB that had the dealer disconnect the analog portion of Onstar since it relentlessly kept calling in search of a signal ( analog doesnt exist, only digital). No more DBS after that. Its been 2 years since that and the AC Delco failed. I replaced with cheap autozone battery. Works fine.
06-07-2011, 07:20 PM
#16
Still driving my 07 with the original battery.
06-07-2011, 08:33 PM
#19
& risk the chance that battery acid will destroy your plastic vehicle? I have a 2003 Z06 and have went through 2 Optima Red Tops in 8 years (once I let the vehicle sit for over 2 months because of an overseas vacation)....I swiched out the OEM AGM battery within a week after purchasing the new car. Based on my experience, Delco makes some pretty shoddy batteries (3 vehicles worth of experience).
06-08-2011, 07:25 AM
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& risk the chance that battery acid will destroy your plastic vehicle? I have a 2003 Z06 and have went through 2 Optima Red Tops in 8 years (once I let the vehicle sit for over 2 months because of an overseas vacation)....I swiched out the OEM AGM battery within a week after purchasing the new car. Based on my experience, Delco makes some pretty shoddy batteries (3 vehicles worth of experience).
Unfortunately a battery tender is the only way to go with these newer Corvettes if they are not used as your primary transportation and will sit for prolonged periods.