Dead battery after only 4 months in the car

flatblack

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Posts
159
Reaction score
0
Location
Longview, TX
With my job, I'm usually out of state 3 to 5 weeks at a time. Back in June or July, after being parked for 4 weeks, I come home and the battery is dead. I left the alarm on and figured that's what killed the battery. I took it to a Dodge dealer and had a new Mopar battery installed. My last trip out of state, I parked the car in an air conditioned shop and made sure nothing was left on including the alarm. I get home 5 weeks later and the battery is dead.
What can I do to make sure I don't deal with this problem again? I thought of getting a battery tender and hook it up, but I don't want to leave one hooked up for 3 or 4 weeks straight with no one around to check on it. Is there a negative quick disconnect somewhere like there is with the positive cable on the drivers side?
 

Paul Hawker

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 1, 2000
Posts
4,660
Reaction score
0
Location
San Diego, Calif, USA
Get one of those small battery tenders, and use it whenever you will not be driving for a few days. Will do the trick.

You can either mount the plug in pig tail to hang out of the trunk, or under the hood, peaking out through the gills.

One wire to the positive terminal, the second to any solid ground.

Will keep your battery always topped up, but never overcharged.
 

Steve-Indy

VCA Venom Member
Venom Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2000
Posts
8,523
Reaction score
164
Location
Zionsville,IN. USA
Not surprised...tons already written on this. Before any assumptions are made, I would suggest that you or a competent tech do an Ignition Off Draw test...if draw is ghreater than 35 milliamps after all circuits have timed out, you may have a problem. If you do, common sources are EEM (do door handle LED's shut off after a couple of minutes??), stereo/ipod/radar detector/other aftermarket wiring misadventureswires chaffing with age/use. You may favor Mopar batteries...I don't...but that aside, one can always get a bad battery!!

I use Deltran Battery Tender Plus units on all of our Vipers...and, always physically unplug them if I plan to be away OR if storms are forecast or approaching...and, YES...I have a Thunderbolt lightning detector at the bedside !! :)
 
OP
OP
F

flatblack

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Posts
159
Reaction score
0
Location
Longview, TX
When I'm town, I drive the car almost daily, if not every single day. I'm just not sure about leaving a battery tender plugged onto it for several weeks at a time.
 
OP
OP
F

flatblack

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Posts
159
Reaction score
0
Location
Longview, TX
Steve, I don't prefer Mopar batteries, but on that day, the best option for me was the Dodge dealer. As far as I can tell, all lights go off after a few minutes and I don't leave anything plugged in. I'll try the test you recommended but don't think I can get it done between now and my next road trip. For the mean time, is there anyway to unplug the battery without taking off the rear wheel again?

If not, would disconnecting the positive access piece under the good solve the issue for now?
 

01sapphirebob

Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Posts
4,962
Reaction score
0
Location
"OIHO"
I'm just not sure about leaving a battery tender plugged onto it for several weeks at a time.

Vipers for whatever reason will kill a battery in about four weeks if car is not driven. I leave both my Vipers on a battery tender from the end of October to the middle of march and have had no problems. Been doing this for six years now.
 

Jerome Sparich

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 16, 2001
Posts
1,183
Reaction score
0
..... I'm just not sure about leaving a battery tender plugged onto it for several weeks at a time.

If you use a Deltran Battery Tender, don't even woory about it. Plug it in and forget it.
I use them on everything I have with a battery. My cars, trucks, ATVs, PWC, tractors. Never once had a problem. Now if you use one of the cheap China brands like they have from HF, well just don't. Is the risk of burning everything to the ground worth saving a few $s?

I have a PWC battery that is 7 years old and is still good. It is on the Tender every minute that is is not being used. Well not every minute, but when not being used and back in the garage it is on it. Without using a Tender I would get 2 years or so out of the little batteries.
 

viper_itch

Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 25, 2011
Posts
288
Reaction score
0
Battery save mode


Key in ignition, turn to ACC (towards you) and back 4 times, then hit the power lock up button. The horn will chirp, and you're in battery save mode until the next time you run the car.
 

Steve-Indy

VCA Venom Member
Venom Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2000
Posts
8,523
Reaction score
164
Location
Zionsville,IN. USA
viper itch, I don't think battery save mode came into play until 2003.

flatblack, if you do not want to go with a conventional battery tender...I have also used a low output solar panel on a Grand Cherokee successfully for 4 years. Best "disconnect" is at the battery(not under hood)...otherwise, PCM (and more) gets power.
 

kblake905

Viper Owner
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Posts
169
Reaction score
0
Location
Pickering, Ontario
My viper stays on a Deltran Battery Tender for months at a time...zero issues.
Mine stay on battery tenders all winter! After the first year without one I had to replace a 2 year old battery! Battery tenders for me now over the winter for no issues come spring.:D
 

viper_itch

Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 25, 2011
Posts
288
Reaction score
0
viper itch, I don't think battery save mode came into play until 2003.

Thanks, that is right, it was introduced with the Gen III, so no help to the OP.

Even if you could get the battery to last the down time with enough to start the car, you are still taxing the battery and shortening its life. Battery save mode gets you a few more weeks, but for extended periods the tender is necessary anyway.
 
OP
OP
F

flatblack

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Posts
159
Reaction score
0
Location
Longview, TX
Hey guys, thanks for the info!

Dave6666, yes I have an aftermarket stereo I installed back in June.

I'll deffinately get a Deltran unit now. Where are they available at? And is there a certain model I should look for? Tomorrow is my last day in town, so hopefully I can find a store that carries them.
 

dave6666

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Posts
14,975
Reaction score
0
Location
Explaining Viper things to you
Although each install is different, sometimes the stereo installs result in miswiring (that can result in constant current draw), or downright hack jobs (no telling what's happening). Not every time, but hey, I knew to ask, and bingo, you answered the million dollar question with... why yes, I did have that done to my car ;)
 

coupe

Viper Owner
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Posts
230
Reaction score
0
Location
Birmingham, Alabama
Whether you get a battery tender or not, I still highly recommend doing an "Ignition Off Draw" test (as per Steve-Indy) to find out what the electrical system is doing.
 

Paul Hawker

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 1, 2000
Posts
4,660
Reaction score
0
Location
San Diego, Calif, USA
You can get battery tenders all over the place. Walmart, Kmart, corner auto parts store, on line, Harbor Freight.

Some are really cheap, and others well made. They last for years and years, so most of us look for a nice, high quality one.

They are not for recharging a dead battery, but for keeping a good condition battery in tip top charge without overcharging.
 
OP
OP
F

flatblack

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Posts
159
Reaction score
0
Location
Longview, TX
I got a Deltran at O'Reilly's today. Thanks for the help guys!

I'll try to do the "ignition off draw" test when I get back home.
 

DJ'sviper

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Posts
284
Reaction score
26
I use a battery tender on two of my classics and my 93 viper. They work great. Save me money on batteries. Batteries usually last 4 years in the viper. Classics about the same. They don't overcharge just keeps them fresh. Have been doing this for at least 20 years. One tender went bad and I am getting a new one for Xmas, I think. If not I'm buying one. The alarm system (I believe) in the viper is what drains the battery in my 93 even if I don't have it on. Don't make the mistake of getting a charger or it will blow up your battery.
 

LaViper

VCA Venom Member
Venom Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Posts
520
Reaction score
3
Location
Ponchatoula, La
I got a Deltran at O'Reilly's today. Thanks for the help guys!

I'll try to do the "ignition off draw" test when I get back home.

:omg: Brad, If you like, I'll go over to your house & take it for "A Spin" :burnout: :burnout: every day so the Battery doesn't give you any trouble. :lmao::lmao::lmao:" What are friends for" :rolaugh: Ha Ha. :drive:All good advise ! :headbang:
 
OP
OP
F

flatblack

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Posts
159
Reaction score
0
Location
Longview, TX
:omg: Brad, If you like, I'll go over to your house & take it for "A Spin" :burnout: :burnout: every day so the Battery doesn't give you any trouble. :lmao::lmao::lmao:" What are friends for" :rolaugh: Ha Ha. :drive:All good advise ! :headbang:
Hahaha, thanks for the offer!!
Not too sure though. I have a '71 Mach 1 Mustang also, and I gave my keys to a trust worthy friend while I was gone. He drove it one time and shortly after, the tranny pan got a leak and ALL of the tranny fluid leaked out. I called him and asked him what he did, an he swears up and down he didnt rag it out. I believe him but it still ***** it happened! Lol
 

scottmarston

Viper Owner
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Posts
183
Reaction score
0
Location
Meridian, Idaho
Thanks! I let my Viper sit for two weeks because it has been raining and it sounded pretty tired when I turned it over. I'll add this to the Christmas List!
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
153,143
Posts
1,681,575
Members
17,643
Latest member
thiagets
Top