97 electrical upgrade ???????

96 B&W GTS

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I just bought a new Optima battery and the car has been sitting for little over 2 weeks and the battery is dead, is this normal?????

I read an old post that said 1996’s drain faster than other years because of an electrical upgrade that happen in 97. Is this true? …… it seems a little bogus to me. I also read most of you use battery tenders. I don’t have a garage with and outlet, just a car port. Will a battery cut off work the same?

Thanks in advance
 

Gerald Levin

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Not aware of any 97 electrical upgrade but I run a battery tender with the "leads" just inside the drivers side gill. This way you can hook up the battery tender without opening the hood. Just hook up a heavy duty extension cord to the battery tender and you will never have this problem again (assuming everything else is as it should be). If your battery discharges with a battery tender, then obviously you have other problems coexisting.
 

99 R/T 10

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Usually the battery drains because the alarm is armed. I'm not sure how long it will take, but have heard the battery will go dead in a matter of weeks, which you just confirmed. :confused: :(
 

Eric H

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Ive had the same problem on my 98 if it sat for 2-3 weeks without being started, the battery would go dead, I just put an optima redtop in it and it seems to help, but it hasnt sat for more than 2 weeks yet
 

Gerald Levin

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My 96 has sat for up to 2 months at a time and I've never had a battery problem so the battery tender definitely does the job. Only takes a few minutes to hook up the leads to the battery terminal and ground under the hood on the drivers side. And use wire ties so the battery tender "leads" are just inside the driver side gill for easy connect and disconnect. Money well spent.
 

Steve-Indy

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I know that there was a TSB on the 97 EEU...may malfunction, and if so, could get new EEU AND two new fobs to match. As I recall, when I PURCHASED a spare EEU for our 97 (has original unit), I recall a set of instructions that the Tech downloaded for me that that pointed out the differences of installation between a 96 and 97...AND, I recall a Viper Tech telling me that the newer units were not only more reliable, but used less juice as well....noting that I cannot prove same. Suggest that you ask someone such as Tom Sessions or Chuck Tator for the real scoop. Others may be able to shed more light here as well.
 
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