elburrito99

And, unfortunately, if your battery has been drained down enough times, it won't hold worth a charge worth sh*t. I would think a stereo/alarm shop worth their weight in salt would be able to come up with a workaround for folks like you with after-market electronics added.

eviligloo

Thanks for posting that Bob! I could look it up....but I didn't have access to the description.

sowaxeman

Damn gremlins [:@] As long as I turn the radio off prior to shutting down, my battery does not drain....not even after 60-90 days!

If I was having these problems, I would put my battery on a good charger for a full 8 hours to get it back to life, then invest $20 in a decent Battery Tender/Companion and just treat that as one of the typical steps of parking the car and putting the garage door down.

The Batt Tender I have came with a quick connector, so once the leads are attached to the battery, the connection/disconnection is done in a snap with the plastic connector.

demarcom

My car sits for a long time in the garage over the winter and the battery dies in about a month, but it's still frustrating. I replaced 2 batteries and now have an Optima Red top, which really did nothing to help. Go to Sears and buy a digital multimeter (about $20).

Put it on the Amps 10+ setting and then tape or clip the leads in series between the + terminal on the battery and the battery clamp. Turn off all your accessories and take a reading. Mine was .13 amps. then start pulling out fuses one at a time and see if you amps drop significantly. If it does, that's the circuit where you have a short or a drain. I would start with the fuses to the stereo. I found nothing that dropped my draw down beyond the .13 amps. Like I said my charge lasts for about a month.

I have also heard the electrical system "drops" amp draw after about 45 minutes of resting with everything turned off. I can't confirm this since i was too impatient and did not wait 45 min.

unclemilti

+1^


I finally tired of wondering if or when I could get my car to start, so I bought a Battery Tender, then went on Ebay and bought a long extension Battery Tender cord and rigged everything up.

I have the connect plug just inside the wheelwell, and the other end permanently connected to the leadson the battery. Now, when I pull the car in, I reach up in the fenderwell, connect the quick-connect plug, and boom...its done. No opening the hood, no anything. The Tender sits in my cabinet plugged in, and theres a narrow cord running from it to the car.

Works like a charm. Well worth the 60 bucks I have tied up in it. No turning off the radio, no saying the Lords prayer, no sprinkling dust around the car after I pull it in the garage.

Just a quick plug in.

calshamus

For what it's worth, Optima batteries are total crap. I bought one for my 56 Chevy and another one for my 67 Mustang Fastback, both red-tops. I ended up replacing each one several times until the warranty went out, then I swore them off for life. Never had a worse experience with a product, especially a *premium product.

Cal

AmyVCTexas

I had the battery drain issue when I first got Georgia. Took her to the dealer and they found it was a problem with the wiring harness to headlights. And indeed was a Saleen issue. They fixed it and no issues since. And she sits for several days at a time, starts right up. I don't turn the radio (Shaker 500) off first or do anything else "special" (other than petting her and thanking her for a nice drive).

Jazzer The Cat

^ I too pet the VIXN after a nice drive, although, some may say a little heavier than you [sm=Awwww.gif]

The Jaz [sm=smiley9.gif]

cobraT

Jonsey,

If you have some type of GPS equipment. Chances are that is the issue. The unit probably is powered 24-7. I had a marine unit with the same issue,aka dead battery. Find the power lead and put a switch in circuit to power off the unit.

Bob D.

Very disappointing to hear, and I have heard similar stories elsewhere lately. IME these were truly excellent products when they first came out; it used to be the first purchase I would make for any "collector" car I would buy.I currently have a 6 year-old red-top Optima in an old VW I own that cranks right over even after sitting literally months at a time. Since the car lacks modern electrical accessories I assume there is 0 draw when it is sitting, but still it is impressive as I have never had the battery on a tender.

Yet, the newer Optimas seem problematic at best. What a shame, as a hardier battery might really help some folks with borderline battery drain problems.