Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery
| [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 09:10  |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a combiner.
The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be removable with out breaking it
Do you all stay plugged in?
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Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313529 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 09:22  |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
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I do not have a combiner but a jumper in the engine bay to connect the
house and chassis at the boost solenoid. I do not trust my aftermarket
internal battery charger to not over charge so I will leave plugged in for
a week or more depending on outside temps then un plug for a week or two.
It has worked for a couple years so far..
Sully
77 eleganza 2
Seattle
On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 10:11 AM Keith V wrote:
> just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
>
> I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
>
> I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a
> combiner.
>
> The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
>
> I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be
> removable with out breaking it
>
>
> Do you all stay plugged in?
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313530 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 09:25 |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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Mine is plugged in full time -20 years so fat - you have something on,
On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 7:23 AM Todd Sullivan wrote:
> I do not have a combiner but a jumper in the engine bay to connect the
> house and chassis at the boost solenoid. I do not trust my aftermarket
> internal battery charger to not over charge so I will leave plugged in for
> a week or more depending on outside temps then un plug for a week or two.
> It has worked for a couple years so far..
>
> Sully
> 77 eleganza 2
> Seattle
> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 10:11 AM Keith V wrote:
>
>> just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
>>
>> I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
>>
>> I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a
>> combiner.
>>
>> The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
>>
>> I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be
>> removable with out breaking it
>>
>>
>> Do you all stay plugged in?
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
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--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313531 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 09:39 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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I am not such a fan of the combiner. I like the known separation of the systems. But others love them.
Batteries are batteries and we live in Mn. So you may just have a battery that went south.
My coach stays plugged in, pd charger takes care of house battery, but I just have the isolator and have a battery tender that maintains the starting battery.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313533 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 09:34 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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I leave my 78 Royale plugged in all the time. I have a Progressive Dynamics
65 amp converter with charge wizard. I have a single engine battery, a
separate identical boost battery, and two Trojan 6 volt batteries in the
generator compartment. I am on my second set of batteries since I purchased
the coach. I bought all new ones when I got rid of the old buzz box
converter. I routinely pull the batteries out and top off the water about
once a year. They will be down a bit, but not low enough to expose the tops
of the plates. The old buzz box would require topping off in 2 months. I
suggest using them for a drift boat anchor. They are nice and heavy. Just
what I do.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Feb 20, 2017 7:23 AM, "Todd Sullivan" wrote:
I do not have a combiner but a jumper in the engine bay to connect the
house and chassis at the boost solenoid. I do not trust my aftermarket
internal battery charger to not over charge so I will leave plugged in for
a week or more depending on outside temps then un plug for a week or two.
It has worked for a couple years so far..
Sully
77 eleganza 2
Seattle
On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 10:11 AM Keith V wrote:
> just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
>
> I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
>
> I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a
> combiner.
>
> The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
>
> I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be
> removable with out breaking it
>
>
> Do you all stay plugged in?
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313534 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 09:43 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Keith V wrote on Mon, 20 February 2017 09:10
just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a combiner.
The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be removable with out breaking it
Do you all stay plugged in?
Yes plugged in all the time with a PD converter. No problem with batteries; engine, house or Onan. I do have to add a bit of water to the house batteriy once a year. Other batteries are sealed. The GMC batteries have 5 years on them. The DC systems have combiners so all batteries are on the PD.
Of course now that I have said that Murphy is gonna bite me in the ass.
I use Battery minders on every thing else and have no trouble and they a very long life. Although if you keep the plates in good shape then the most likely failure mode is with internal connections. Problem with that it is a sudden death failure.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313537 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 10:00 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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Actually it's not young. The average useful life of an engine battery is 3 to 4 years. Back in the late 60s I would sometimes attend SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) meetings at Atlas Laboratories in Cranbury, NJ. They were the testing lab for the various Standard Oil companies. They would test oils, fuel, batteries and everything else sold by Standard Oil. I was told the 3-4 year life by them about 50 years ago and that hasn't changed much over the last 50 years or so. Even battery's with a 5 year warranty often need replacement within the warranty period.
I just googled "what is car battery life" and several sites say "2-4 years", "less than 5 years", "3 years", etc.
it sometime depends on your average ambient temperature, number of times you start your engine in a year, your charging system, and other factors.
I purchase the longest free replacement warranty battery and usually have to replace it before the warranty is up. I usually buy from Walmart because it is easy to replace it when on a GMC trip. It always seems to happen when I'm at an across country rally.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO
> On Feb 20, 2017, at 8:10 AM, Keith V wrote:
>
> just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
>
> I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
>
> I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a combiner.
>
> The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
>
> I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be removable with out breaking it
>
>
> Do you all stay plugged in?
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313538 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 10:30 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Hupy, don't waste the original power supply - it's a great bench supply for powering and testing things automotive. Stuff that drags a wll wart down to nothing like a ViAir or a big stereo work fine4 on the many amp supply, although for the stereo you may want to hang a filter at the output to preclude some background hum.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313539 is a reply to message #313537] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 10:41 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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I guess I'm comparing to my daily drivers that can go 5 years easy on a battery.
But they are starting tiny little engines compared to that 455.
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Emery Stora
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 10:00:45 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery
Actually it's not young. The average useful life of an engine battery is 3 to 4 years. Back in the late 60s I would sometimes attend SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) meetings at Atlas Laboratories in Cranbury, NJ. They were the testing lab for the various Standard Oil companies. They would test oils, fuel, batteries and everything else sold by Standard Oil. I was told the 3-4 year life by them about 50 years ago and that hasn't changed much over the last 50 years or so. Even battery's with a 5 year warranty often need replacement within the warranty period.
I just googled "what is car battery life" and several sites say "2-4 years", "less than 5 years", "3 years", etc.
it sometime depends on your average ambient temperature, number of times you start your engine in a year, your charging system, and other factors.
I purchase the longest free replacement warranty battery and usually have to replace it before the warranty is up. I usually buy from Walmart because it is easy to replace it when on a GMC trip. It always seems to happen when I'm at an across country rally.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO
> On Feb 20, 2017, at 8:10 AM, Keith V wrote:
>
> just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
>
> I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
>
> I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a combiner.
>
> The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
>
> I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be removable with out breaking it
>
>
> Do you all stay plugged in?
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
_______________________________________________
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Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313542 is a reply to message #313538] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 10:47 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Johnny, don't know about using the buzz box for a bench source. If it had a
12 volt battery in the circuit with it, it probably would be O.K. for most
stuff like relays and fan motors. Don't know about delicate electronic
stuff, some of that stuff is kinda particular. I build wireless remote air
suspension systems, and I bench test them all before I ship them. I have
used the buzz box for that a couple of times without a battery in the
circuit and got some goofy results with the remote. When I switched to just
a 12 volt battery the glitches went away. Perhaps it was a problem with the
electronics in the manifold, don't know for sure. But I like to duplicate
the power supply that will be used in the coach environment anyway. Just me.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Feb 20, 2017 8:31 AM, "Johnny Bridges via Gmclist" <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> Hupy, don't waste the original power supply - it's a great bench supply
> for powering and testing things automotive. Stuff that drags a wll wart
> down
> to nothing like a ViAir or a big stereo work fine4 on the many amp supply,
> although for the stereo you may want to hang a filter at the output to
> preclude some background hum.
>
> --johnny
> --
> '76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and
> add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> "The road goes on forever, and the party never ends" --Robert Earl Keen
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313543 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 10:57 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Like I say, you may want to filter it if hum's a problem. A couple of BIG caps with a choke between them, or less expensive a lawn tractor battery. Disconnect the battery when you aren't using the supply.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313544 is a reply to message #313543] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 11:16 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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definitely need to filter the buzz box if it's used without a battery, it's noisy as all heck and will drive your RF and processors crazy.
RF be crazy
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Johnny Bridges via Gmclist
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 10:57:35 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Cc: Johnny Bridges
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery
Like I say, you may want to filter it if hum's a problem. A couple of BIG caps with a choke between them, or less expensive a lawn tractor battery.
Disconnect the battery when you aren't using the supply.
--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"The road goes on forever, and the party never ends" --Robert Earl Keen
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Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313546 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 11:50 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Keith V wrote on Mon, 20 February 2017 10:10just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a combiner.
The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be removable with out breaking it
Do you all stay plugged in?
Keith,
I would not be at all surprised to see the combiner fail. I used to replace them frequently. They can also drop out for some reason known only to them. If it did, and you being an un-retired working person, you have probably not run it in a while and you did put in a new and zoomy digital radio that has "Keep Alive" drain.
What to try something silly? Disconnect the battery and put in on a free standing charger and see if it comes back up....
Lots of times batteries that are killed slowly and gently come back to 80~90% when recharged carefully (low rate and long time).
Or, the battery could be toast. That is why they sell them with warranties.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313557 is a reply to message #313546] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 14:46 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I'll try that Matt.
I have a couple of things that draw milliamps forever, I suppose a guy should put in a master kill switch to prevent that.
I keep telling the Wife being un-retired is a bad idea [?]
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Matt Colie
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 11:50:10 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery
Keith V wrote on Mon, 20 February 2017 10:10
> just discovered my engine battery is dead, 0 volts.
>
> I bought it in Sept 2013. So it's pretty young IMHO.
>
> I have a nice PD charger and keep it plugged in all the time with a combiner.
>
> The house battery is still OK, but it's newer.
>
> I tried to check the water level, but gave up as the top looks to not be removable with out breaking it
>
> Do you all stay plugged in?
Keith,
I would not be at all surprised to see the combiner fail. I used to replace them frequently. They can also drop out for some reason known only to
them. If it did, and you being an un-retired working person, you have probably not run it in a while and you did put in a new and zoomy digital radio
that has "Keep Alive" drain.
What to try something silly? Disconnect the battery and put in on a free standing charger and see if it comes back up....
Lots of times batteries that are killed slowly and gently come back to 80~90% when recharged carefully (low rate and long time).
Or, the battery could be toast. That is why they sell them with warranties.
Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313569 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 19:00 |
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RF_Burns
Messages: 2276
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
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On the first weekend of August 2005 I took delivery of a new Pontiac G6 and 2 new pickup trucks (A Chev and a GMC). Three years later in August of 2008 all 3 vehicles had their batteries fail in a similar way. Vehicle started fine, then was shut off for a short period of time then upon restart the solenoid would just "tick" . So there was voltage but a high cell resistance, no current to run the starter.
Of course they all failed on a Saturday or Sunday so I had had to buy an aftermarket battery to replace it.
In turn, two of the aftermarket batteries all failed in their third year ( I traded the GMC pickup for a new one). The battery I bought for the car was a Canadian Tire Eliminator so one of their upper end batteries. It failed when my wife stopped at a convenience store. They replaced it with their Nascar brand which promptly failed about 3 years later. They repaced it with another Nascar battery. What really PO'd me was the radio can't handle a power failure. It sits there grinding away for the past 9 years now dispaying CD Error. Dealer says they can fix it for $1000. bucks for a new radio. I'm reminded of this each time I drive the car. I swore I'd never buy another GM product it pissed me off so much, but in the meantime I've bought a 2010,2011,2014, 2015 & 2016 Chev pickups. I guess the other offerings don't impress me either.
The trucks were replaced with Napa batteries. The 2005 Chev pickup was my truck and is now the shop truck, the last battery in it is about a year old now.
The real kicker was December of 2015. In July I bought a new 2015 Chev pickup. In December 2015 we took it to the airport in Toronto and left it in the parking garage for 10 days. Upon return at 2:45am we found the battery was dead flat. This was a stock truck, nothing added to it, and nothing plugged into it. Chev dealer said it is designed to shed loads like the radio memory, as the voltage drops. That battery is still working, but I throw a spare battery and booster cables in the back anytime we leave it for more than a few days.
So it comes down to like everything else, they don't build them like they use to. Tomorrow I'm off to pick up about $10,000 worth of standby batteries for tower sites. They are rated for 15 year service life, I'll be happy with 10.
/Rant Off
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313572 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 19:18 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Geez, what are you using for standbys for ten years? We ran several 35 KVA 3 phase UPSes and did batteries every four years. They supposedly had ~~ 25 minutes at load, we never needed more than five or six if the genset didn't fire up, 7 seconds if they started properly. Up to ten seconds the transmitters would come back on, beyond that the would run through the start cycle.
Modern computerized cars simply die when the battery gets iffy, whereas an older ride will crank (slowly) and sometimes fire and run on a poor battery. I think underhood heat shortens the life drastically.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313575 is a reply to message #313528] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 19:44 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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To store a vehicle I make sure it us fully charged and electrolyte level ok if servicable type. Then I disconnect the negative cable for storage to prevent parasitic drains and eliminate fire hazard. Once a month I put a Battery Minder on to make up for self discharge losses. My typical battery life is 6-10 years some longer. Had good luck with AC Delco and Farm and Fleet brands. But yours is typical fail mode where it works then doesn't with no slow crank warning. My common fail mode is where it gets hot when charging and won't go to zero amps draw. Get rid of this type ASAP as hard on alternator
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313576 is a reply to message #313569] |
Mon, 20 February 2017 20:10 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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Batteries on our Harleys have lasted over 5 years. Of course they were always on a Battery Tender, then replaced with Battery Minders, a better unit IMNHO. Harleys were garage-kept. Car, truck, SUV, and GMC MH all are out in the weather and tough to keep charged. Prolly why their batteries only last about 3-4 years.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Bruce Hislop
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 19:00
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery
On the first weekend of August 2005 I took delivery of a new Pontiac G6 and 2 new pickup trucks (A Chev and a GMC). Three years later in August of
2008 all 3 vehicles had their batteries fail in a similar way. Vehicle started fine, then was shut off for a short period of time then upon restart
the solenoid would just "tick" . So there was voltage but a high cell resistance, no current to run the starter.
Of course they all failed on a Saturday or Sunday so I had had to buy an aftermarket battery to replace it.
In turn, two of the aftermarket batteries all failed in their third year ( I traded the GMC pickup for a new one). The battery I bought for the car
was a Canadian Tire Eliminator so one of their upper end batteries. It failed when my wife stopped at a convenience store. They replaced it with
their Nascar brand which promptly failed about 3 years later. They repaced it with another Nascar battery. What really PO'd me was the radio can't
handle a power failure. It sits there grinding away for the past 9 years now dispaying CD Error. Dealer says they can fix it for $1000. bucks for a
new radio. I'm reminded of this each time I drive the car. I swore I'd never buy another GM product it pissed me off so much, but in the meantime I've
bought a 2010,2011,2014, 2015 & 2016 Chev pickups. I guess the other offerings don't impress me either.
The trucks were replaced with Napa batteries. The 2005 Chev pickup was my truck and is now the shop truck, the last battery in it is about a year old
now.
The real kicker was December of 2015. In July I bought a new 2015 Chev pickup. In December 2015 we took it to the airport in Toronto and left it in
the parking garage for 10 days. Upon return at 2:45am we found the battery was dead flat. This was a stock truck, nothing added to it, and nothing
plugged into it. Chev dealer said it is designed to shed loads like the radio memory, as the voltage drops. That battery is still working, but I
throw a spare battery and booster cables in the back anytime we leave it for more than a few days.
So it comes down to like everything else, they don't build them like they use to. Tomorrow I'm off to pick up about $10,000 worth of standby
batteries for tower sites. They are rated for 15 year service life, I'll be happy with 10.
/Rant Off
--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dead 3 year old battery [message #313605 is a reply to message #313572] |
Tue, 21 February 2017 12:03 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Johnny Bridges wrote on Mon, 20 February 2017 19:18Geez, what are you using for standbys for ten years? We ran several 35 KVA 3 phase UPSes and did batteries every four years.
--johnny
At the electric utility I worked at our substation batteries last over 20 years. Before we started a more stringent replacement cycle we usually ran them to 25 years. They were required to serve load for at least 8hrs. I did a study to try and justify earlier replacement due to loss of capacity. Even the 25yo batteries passed. Analysis of failures showed failures were almost always connection failures or shorted cells.
These batteries are spec'd for this service and the cost refelects this. How you treat a battery has a lot to do with it's life. My mother would only get 2 years out of a battery, and exhaust system. However she very seldom made a trip over 2 miles but was out al;most every day. MIL hardly ever took her Ford Escort out at all. Only real running it got was when I would give it a good 1hr run to exercise it about twice a year. She never had battery problems but old gas was always a concern. Always filled it with premium to avoid the ethanol. Also added Sta-bil to every tank.
I wonder how long a battery lasts on a big rig that is almost always on the road?
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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