[mihaipme]

Hey guys!

Just had the weirdest thing happen today, the car decided not to start. The battery was completely dead (even if it was closed, locked and everything was off, sitting in the garage for just 2 days and the car is 1 year old).

Anyway, after jump starting it (it took 30 minutes), the battery voltage indicator (the right most gauge indicator) disappeared and it was replaced with the boost power indicator. More than this, in the Performance Display Menu I had an indicator for the battery which now is gone too

Any ideas how you can switch this back? I would like to monitor my battery for a couple of days before deciding to change it.

[PNYKLR2]

Well, the voltage indicator doesn't reflect battery very well. If the car is running it's going to show charge state. It will list voltage running in the system. Which means it's going off of the alternator. The only way to test the battery is to drain it completely. Then give it a full charge. Then you do a load test.This draws a huge chunk of amperage off the battery and determines how much output it has and the rate at which the battery drains. You can take the car to a shop and have them do one of those little battery tests. Most likely you have a bad cell in the battery. You should be able to buy a new one at the dealership pro-rated or covered 100% depending on purchase date and mileage.

[PNYKLR2]

As far as changing the gauges, you might be in performance mode instead of info. Use the buttons on the left side of the steering wheel and find the correct menu.

[glenB]

Last 5 or 6 years, if you have a battery problem it will do weird electrical stuff.

Replace the battery, either under warranty or buy, then check your gauges again.

Basically, fix what you know is bad, then deal, then check out the electrical issues

[Whitespeed]

Originally Posted by PNYKLR2

The only way to test the battery is to drain it completely. Then give it a full charge. Then you do a load test.

There is no need to completely drain the battery first to test it, unless you're deliberately trying to damage the battery? All you need to do is ensure it's fully charged fist.


Nigel

[17rsvert]

Originally Posted by PNYKLR2

.... The only way to test the battery is to drain it completely. Then give it a full charge. Then you do a load test.

Unless I am missing something here, this goes against anything I have ever learned about battery care. As far as I know, the quickest way to shorten the life or destroy a battery is to fully discharge it.

[17rsvert]

Originally Posted by mihaipme

Hey guys!

... I would like to monitor my battery for a couple of days before deciding to change it.

Jump starting and running the engine may be good enough to get you going, but I think you may need to drive cross-country (maybe an exaggeration) to get enough juice out of the charging system to fully charge the battery. Do yourself and your battery a favor and charge it at least overnight ASAP, or you may continue to have problems. These AGM batteries behave differently than what you may be used to with the wet cell types. My battery was completely dead after a week of sitting, I charged it, drove it to the dealer, got it tested, and everything was normal. Battery good, charging system good, sleep mode parasitic draw at 0.2 milliamps. Then I read that a long (24 to 48 hour) charge period may be needed to get the AGM battery to perform properly again. I have mine on the charger now.

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by 17rsvert

Unless I am missing something here, this goes against anything I have ever learned about battery care. As far as I know, the quickest way to shorten the life or destroy a battery is to fully discharge it.

Yes and no. It's certainly not good to discharge your battery fully. However the problem comes when a battery that is totally discharged and then sits, that's when the insides of the battery sulfate, and cause problems. If you want to take a battery down to completely zero and start re-charging right away with the proper charger, I think you could stave off the damage.

But there's no need to totally discharge your battery. All new multi stage battery chargers will enter into a float stage , that'll get it to 100%.

[17rsvert]

Originally Posted by Glen e

... the problem comes when a battery that is totally discharged and then sits, that's when the insides of the battery sulfate, and cause problems. If you want to take a battery down to completely zero and start re-charging right away with the proper charger, I think you could stave off the damage.

I agree, but how soon is 'right away'? Why chance ANY damage when it is unnecessary?

[Glen e]

It was a theoretical discussion. A battery should never be discharged 100%. The best thing you can do is never let your batt go below 90% and top it off right away after you use it. That's essentially what your alternator does. And if you really want to see what your battery is doing, independent of the goofy gauges by Chevrolet, just put one of these on your battery. Reads the voltage on your phone. I've used this for about 18 months now, it works perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1