Topic: another battery shot? or major electrical drain?
in Forum: C3 Electrical, Body and Interior
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I'd still start with having the battery tested, then the alternator, and then go from there.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
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Lifetime Member1978 L82 4speed
1994 LT1 6speed
If the battery was drawn down to 2 volts then there was a drain of some sort.... however, if it charges up to 11.5 volts then there is a cell that has gone bad. Each cell provides about 2.2 volts . Costco batteries are usually the heaviest batteries that Interstate carries. Though I don't advocate using the heaviest battery available, at least in our cars(C3's) the battery is not located in the engine compartment, so heat is not a factor in the life of these batteries. I have seen Costco bad batteries in the pile that were not very old. As the boss usually says about some of our batteries "Two pounds of 'stuff' in a one pound bag". Otherwords, the higher output batteries have more plates in them to obtain higher cranking amps, which is ok given that its not in the engine compartment, otherwise the heat from the engine would severely shorten the life of the battery.
have the battery checked then go from there to find a drain.... :)
StingrayJim 
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If the battery was drawn down to 2 volts then there was a drain of some sort.... however, if it charges up to 11.5 volts then there is a cell that has gone bad. Each cell provides about 2.2 volts . Costco batteries are usually the heaviest batteries that Interstate carries. Though I don't advocate using the heaviest battery available, at least in our cars(C3's) the battery is not located in the engine compartment, so heat is not a factor in the life of these batteries. I have seen Costco bad batteries in the pile that were not very old. As the boss usually says about some of our batteries "Two pounds of 'stuff' in a one pound bag". Otherwords, the higher output batteries have more plates in them to obtain higher cranking amps, which is ok given that its not in the engine compartment, otherwise the heat from the engine would severely shorten the life of the battery.
have the battery checked then go from there to find a drain.... :)
Thanks for the additional info, Jim. That 2 volts may have been wrong, but I'm not sure. My voltmeter may have been acting up. It did definitely come up to full charge, though. When I was exchanging it, Costco asked if it was a "bad cell" and I did just say yes. So is there something about that battery that would not work well with our cars? It's a group 78, CCA 800, CA at 32 degrees is 1000.
|UPDATED|5/23/2016 6:21:41 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|