Battery Dead after 8 days sitting the garage

spearfish25 · 07-18-2010, 11:20 AM

My battery has been fine, even with 2 week trips. There is no reason a battery can't sit a month or more and still hold a charge. I do a lot of boating, and the boat batteries (just car batteries) sit for very long periods when I can't get to the boat. No issues.

On a side note, it seems the hot weather has been killing car batteries in Chicago left and right. Had to jump my wife's car last week, a co-worker's battery just died, and my doorman said that three people have asked him for jumper cables this week as well.

zoom · 07-18-2010, 01:06 PM

My plan is to just watch it the next couple of days and see what happens. With the car placed in the ON position and not running the battery gauge reads roughly 13v. Once the car is started the battery gauge reads roughly 14v. I drove it around today and it seems to be doing just fine...holding steady at 14v all over town. I'm in Texas and we are having 100+ degree days so I'm thinking that might have added to the battery stress.

Question...sorry for going off topic a bit but I wanted to ask...

After the car starts up all my gauge needles peg out then go back to normal (this is with the car sitting still) ...it looks cool so I'm hoping this is for show. To my knowledge this has always occurred since I bought the car. Is this correct that its just for show?

daisuke149 · 07-18-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom

My plan is to just watch it the next couple of days and see what happens. With the car placed in the ON position and not running the battery gauge reads roughly 13v. Once the car is started the battery gauge reads roughly 14v. I drove it around today and it seems to be doing just fine...holding steady at 14v all over town. I'm in Texas and we are having 100+ degree days so I'm thinking that might have added to the battery stress.

Question...sorry for going off topic a bit but I wanted to ask...

After the car starts up all my gauge needles peg out then go back to normal (this is with the car sitting still) ...it looks cool so I'm hoping this is for show. To my knowledge this has always occurred since I bought the car. Is this correct that its just for show?

yeah its meant to do that. Alot of cars do that now.

07-18-2010, 01:52 PM

+1 on the double tap

specZ · 07-18-2010, 05:24 PM

The radio was definately left on. How do I know? Because I did it myself.

Only difference is, I came back to my car 45 mins later to see my damn stereo on.

joentown · 07-18-2010, 06:40 PM

I've left my Z in the garage while I was on a 2 week trip to Australia. Came back abd it started right up. Sounds like you inadvertently left ACC on

maxtodorov · 09-08-2010, 11:44 AM

How did you open the car with a dead battery? My windows do a slight 1/8 inch movement down every time I open or close the door. Did any rubber part was damaged from opening the door without lowering the windows down?

kenchan · 09-08-2010, 02:19 PM

first thing i did when i got home after purchase was charge the battery at 2amps... it took over 18hrs to float. the battery while sitting at the dealer was low.

i only motor my G and Z on the weekends... during the week i use a battery manager/tender. it's cheap (amazon has them) and worth every penny.

also during the 3month hibernation it's plugged in.

Amazon.com: Battery Tender 021-0123 Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger: Automotive

wilsonp · 09-08-2010, 05:26 PM

According to the manual, page 3-10, the car will turn off power after 60 minutes when the switch is in ACC, all doors are closed, and for 7AT, the transmission is in Park.

So it shouldn't run down the battery to leave it in ACC.

Modshack · 09-08-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsonp

So it shouldn't run down the battery to leave it in ACC.

Sure it will. As long as the battery is connected there is residual draw. Go long enough and you'll be dead.

wilsonp · 09-08-2010, 06:07 PM

True enough, but I think we were talking about in a week.

Modshack · 09-08-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsonp

True enough, but I think we were talking about in a week.

A bad battery, or one not fully charged can deplete in a week Used to happen to the Corvette guys ALL the time..

370Zsteve · 09-08-2010, 07:08 PM

Got out of mine just the other night, it was beeping at me. I thought it was off but the data screen was showing "Key not in car". I must have double-tapped the start button when shutting it off, no other explanation.

wilsonp · 09-08-2010, 09:48 PM

Maybe mine is still new (to me), but I always wait and listen to the turbine wind down sounds it makes after shutting it off

Stosh Rickles · 02-08-2012, 06:46 PM

Just for the sake of troubleshooting and TSBs, my Z also died after about a week of non-use sitting outside... and while, for now, I'll take the blame as user error, I have never left anything "on" in my car for as long as I've owned a vehicle.

07-18-2010, 11:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1858	My battery has been fine, even with 2 week trips. There is no reason a battery can't sit a month or more and still hold a charge. I do a lot of boating, and the boat batteries (just car batteries) sit for very long periods when I can't get to the boat. No issues. On a side note, it seems the hot weather has been killing car batteries in Chicago left and right. Had to jump my wife's car last week, a co-worker's battery just died, and my doorman said that three people have asked him for jumper cables this week as well. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

07-18-2010, 01:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
zoom Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 5 Drives: 2010 370z Rep Power: 16	Going to Watch It My plan is to just watch it the next couple of days and see what happens. With the car placed in the ON position and not running the battery gauge reads roughly 13v. Once the car is started the battery gauge reads roughly 14v. I drove it around today and it seems to be doing just fine...holding steady at 14v all over town. I'm in Texas and we are having 100+ degree days so I'm thinking that might have added to the battery stress. Question...sorry for going off topic a bit but I wanted to ask... After the car starts up all my gauge needles peg out then go back to normal (this is with the car sitting still) ...it looks cool so I'm hoping this is for show. To my knowledge this has always occurred since I bought the car. Is this correct that its just for show?

09-08-2010, 05:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
wilsonp A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,134 Drives: 2009 Touring Sp Nav Rep Power: 18	According to the manual, page 3-10, the car will turn off power after 60 minutes when the switch is in ACC, all doors are closed, and for 7AT, the transmission is in Park. So it shouldn't run down the battery to leave it in ACC. __________________ 2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

09-08-2010, 06:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
wilsonp A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,134 Drives: 2009 Touring Sp Nav Rep Power: 18	True enough, but I think we were talking about in a week. __________________ 2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

09-08-2010, 07:08 PM	#13 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 44	Got out of mine just the other night, it was beeping at me. I thought it was off but the data screen was showing "Key not in car". I must have double-tapped the start button when shutting it off, no other explanation. __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

07-18-2010, 01:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
blue660r01 Guest Posts: n/a	+1 on the double tap

07-18-2010, 05:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
specZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 336 Drives: On The Weekends Rep Power: 25	The radio was definately left on. How do I know? Because I did it myself. Only difference is, I came back to my car 45 mins later to see my damn stereo on.

07-18-2010, 06:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
joentown Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Philly, PA Posts: 70 Drives: 370Z '10 Tour Sport Rep Power: 18	I've left my Z in the garage while I was on a 2 week trip to Australia. Came back abd it started right up. Sounds like you inadvertently left ACC on

09-08-2010, 11:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
maxtodorov Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 9 Drives: 10 Nissan 370Z BL MT Rep Power: 17	How did you open the car with a dead battery? My windows do a slight 1/8 inch movement down every time I open or close the door. Did any rubber part was damaged from opening the door without lowering the windows down?

09-08-2010, 02:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141522	first thing i did when i got home after purchase was charge the battery at 2amps... it took over 18hrs to float. the battery while sitting at the dealer was low. i only motor my G and Z on the weekends... during the week i use a battery manager/tender. it's cheap (amazon has them) and worth every penny. also during the 3month hibernation it's plugged in. Amazon.com: Battery Tender 021-0123 Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger: Automotive

09-08-2010, 09:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
wilsonp A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,134 Drives: 2009 Touring Sp Nav Rep Power: 18	Maybe mine is still new (to me), but I always wait and listen to the turbine wind down sounds it makes after shutting it off __________________ 2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

02-08-2012, 06:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
Stosh Rickles Base Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 31 Drives: 370Z Touring/Sport Rep Power: 16	Just for the sake of troubleshooting and TSBs, my Z also died after about a week of non-use sitting outside... and while, for now, I'll take the blame as user error, I have never left anything "on" in my car for as long as I've owned a vehicle.

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