Batteries keep getting fried - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

MG · 02-07-2015, 04:48 PM

In the 4.5 yrs since I got the car new (now @ ~53k miles), I've had to replace the battery 3 times! Each time it happens, the battery tests defective and I end up getting a new one. The last time this happened, the folks at Autozone told me my voltage regulator was defective, and my batteries were being fried over time, so I replaced the alternator altogether. It's been about a month since the last time (new battery and alternator), and my car's been sitting out these snow storms. Again today, the car wouldn't start, not even a wiggle at the crank with a jump

If anyone could share some guidance as to what might be happening here I would be eternally grateful

MG · 02-07-2015, 04:48 PM

BTW it's an '11 SS L99

Rick's Camaro · 02-09-2015, 02:46 PM

I'd take the alternator back to Autozone and get it tested.

Russell James · 02-09-2015, 02:51 PM

Go to a shop that can do a complete Battery/Starter/Alternator test. Those three things need to be checked with a tool, like the old VAT 40 testor. And check key off parasitic drain.

I would use a good repair shop and not an auto parts store to do the basic tests for Battery, cranking amps, parasitic draw... A parts store is probably not going to really be doing those things right with just a counter person.

MG · 02-10-2015, 05:32 PM

Thanks guys. I'll be visiting an auto electrician this weekend

Spartan01 · 02-11-2015, 08:33 AM

get a float charger...
This does seem to be a common problem.

MLL67RSSS · 02-11-2015, 09:54 AM

Don't have a 5th but been seeing things about these cars having the ECM/BCM control the battery charging/maintaining. So it may be a ECM/BCM/sensor/etc. issue and not a problem with what they refer to as the "generator."
The days of a just a simple voltage regulator mounted in the "alternator" are now gone, and in a BIG way. There's a whole lot of components/sensors/connections that can go bad...

Post #7 in thread below with FULL system explanation (Thank you NFERNOSS):
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245282

Or check out posts #46/47 in this thread:
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...t=246521page=2

EDIT: Seems the system is pretty smart and it's is odd that you've not gotten any problem messages displayed.
One thing of note: A lead-acid car battery, even a new one, left in a discharged state for too long will never take or hold a full charge again (due to sulfides forming on the plates IIRC). So if it has been sitting dead too long even if you get it to charge some, it wont hold it and will gradually discharge itself. So make sure that's not the issue.

MG · 02-24-2015, 09:11 AM

Thanks folks for your insights.

So I took the car to an auto electrician who told me that basally the battery was being drained at 0.25 amps, which was normal and did not indicate a short. So we chalked it up to the car being parked for a while in the bitter cold we've been having. I replaced the battery for a new one (still AGM) under warranty. The plan is not to let the car sit for more than a few days, and hopefully this will take care of the dead battery issues. If it comes up again I might opt for a conventional type battery.

hrpiii · 02-24-2015, 09:43 AM

have you purchased a battery tender for it?

MG · 02-24-2015, 02:20 PM

No, I think I'll just run the car now and then. It's my daily except when there's fresh snow on the ground

MLL67RSSS · 02-25-2015, 05:41 AM

Kind of ironic that this car is so "smart" with all these battery saving modes yet these cars seem to drain batteries when they've been sitting at times. About the worst thing you can do and shortens battery life AND capacity( how many amps it can put out). Normal car batteries are meant to have their charge maintained and not drained significantly, otherwise you'd need the special "Deep Cycle" batteries which are made for that.

02-07-2015, 04:48 PM	#1
MG Drives: 2011 Camaro Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 627	Batteries keep getting fried In the 4.5 yrs since I got the car new (now @ ~53k miles), I've had to replace the battery 3 times! Each time it happens, the battery tests defective and I end up getting a new one. The last time this happened, the folks at Autozone told me my voltage regulator was defective, and my batteries were being fried over time, so I replaced the alternator altogether. It's been about a month since the last time (new battery and alternator), and my car's been sitting out these snow storms. Again today, the car wouldn't start, not even a wiggle at the crank with a jump If anyone could share some guidance as to what might be happening here I would be eternally grateful

02-11-2015, 08:33 AM	#6
Spartan01 Drives: Evil Eva, 2010 2SS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Falls Church, Virginia Posts: 3,600	get a float charger... This does seem to be a common problem. __________________ "You simply cannot trust quotes found on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln

02-24-2015, 09:11 AM	#8
MG Drives: 2011 Camaro Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 627	Thanks folks for your insights. So I took the car to an auto electrician who told me that basally the battery was being drained at 0.25 amps, which was normal and did not indicate a short. So we chalked it up to the car being parked for a while in the bitter cold we've been having. I replaced the battery for a new one (still AGM) under warranty. The plan is not to let the car sit for more than a few days, and hopefully this will take care of the dead battery issues. If it comes up again I might opt for a conventional type battery. Last edited by MG; 02-24-2015 at 02:18 PM.

02-09-2015, 02:46 PM	#3
Rick's Camaro Drives: 1967-2014 Camaro's Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Athens, GA and Titusville, FLA Posts: 341	I'd take the alternator back to Autozone and get it tested.

02-09-2015, 02:51 PM	#4
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	Go to a shop that can do a complete Battery/Starter/Alternator test. Those three things need to be checked with a tool, like the old VAT 40 testor. And check key off parasitic drain. I would use a good repair shop and not an auto parts store to do the basic tests for Battery, cranking amps, parasitic draw... A parts store is probably not going to really be doing those things right with just a counter person.

02-10-2015, 05:32 PM	#5
MG Drives: 2011 Camaro Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 627	Thanks guys. I'll be visiting an auto electrician this weekend

02-11-2015, 09:54 AM	#7
MLL67RSSS Account Suspended Drives: car Join Date: May 2008 Location: location Posts: 1,574	Don't have a 5th but been seeing things about these cars having the ECM/BCM control the battery charging/maintaining. So it may be a ECM/BCM/sensor/etc. issue and not a problem with what they refer to as the "generator." The days of a just a simple voltage regulator mounted in the "alternator" are now gone, and in a BIG way. There's a whole lot of components/sensors/connections that can go bad... Post #7 in thread below with FULL system explanation (Thank you NFERNOSS): http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245282 Or check out posts #46/47 in this thread: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...t=246521page=2 EDIT: Seems the system is pretty smart and it's is odd that you've not gotten any problem messages displayed. One thing of note: A lead-acid car battery, even a new one, left in a discharged state for too long will never take or hold a full charge again (due to sulfides forming on the plates IIRC). So if it has been sitting dead too long even if you get it to charge some, it wont hold it and will gradually discharge itself. So make sure that's not the issue. Last edited by MLL67RSSS; 02-11-2015 at 10:40 AM.

02-24-2015, 09:43 AM	#9
hrpiii AKA "Beefcake" Drives: 2023 ZL1 Sharkskin Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Indy Posts: 8,529	have you purchased a battery tender for it?

02-24-2015, 02:20 PM	#10
MG Drives: 2011 Camaro Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 627	No, I think I'll just run the car now and then. It's my daily except when there's fresh snow on the ground

02-25-2015, 05:41 AM	#11
MLL67RSSS Account Suspended Drives: car Join Date: May 2008 Location: location Posts: 1,574	Kind of ironic that this car is so "smart" with all these battery saving modes yet these cars seem to drain batteries when they've been sitting at times. About the worst thing you can do and shortens battery life AND capacity( how many amps it can put out). Normal car batteries are meant to have their charge maintained and not drained significantly, otherwise you'd need the special "Deep Cycle" batteries which are made for that.