Battery Dead again!

[Pastor J]

Okay,

I've had my Stage 3 since January 3rd of 2007. I've got a total of 3100 miles on it and that includes two trips of over 300 miles each. Needless to say it sites for around 2 weeks at a time between me driving it.

So a while back I tried to start it and it cranked but wasn't enough to start it. I jumped it off from my truck and drove it all day. I stopped a few times in town and it restarted no problem. Let it sit for 2 weeks and then tried to start and it was dead.....I mean not even the radio worked or the interior lights. I bought a trickle charge and left it on all day. Then it started, ran all day, etc.

Today I got in to drive it (1 1/2 weeks later) and it cranked but wouldn't start.

Does anyone else have this bad an issue with the battery or should I go get it checked at the dealership?

I will add that I have added a push button start, boost gauge, and oil pressure gauge to the car, but that's it.

[STU]

Pastor try giving it a good charge. I have read up on the issue and many think the shaker radio has a lot to do with draining the battery. Seems the amp or something may stay energized when just turning off the key and opening the door. One cure many suggest is to turn off the radio before shutting off the car. That seems to power down the radio.

[spindlecone]

It's your new Hood, that large Void is creating a vacuum and sucking the electrons out of the batt J/K.
Your under warrenty, take the batt to the dealer and have them load test it.
I say just take the batt as you have modded the start circuit, that may be an issue with an electrical warranty claim.
Just tell the dealer the car will not start, pls ck my batt.

[1Bad06Roush]

We had talked about leaving the trickle charger on it all the time. Are you doing that? We've had luck on my fathers car, cranks everytime and it sits for longer periods.

[RSH427R]

Originally Posted by 1Bad06Roush

We had talked about leaving the trickle charger on it all the time. Are you doing that? We've had luck on my fathers car, cranks everytime and it sits for longer periods.

Pretty much what I do. Battery tender and I have no issues.

[Pastor J]

Well, I'm trying to leave the trickle charge on it but the last time I drove it I parked it and didn't feel like pulling the hood pins, poping the hood, hooking up the charger, etc.

The reason why it's frustrating me is that Roushelle's Roadster has sat longer than my car before and she's never had an issue with it dying.

[spindlecone]

The hood pins can be a pain, you have other issues, my car can sit for 3 weeks, never a starting problem.
I think your start button is wired wrong and putting a constant drain on the batt JMO

[1Bad06Roush]

Originally Posted by spindlecone

The hood pins can be a pain, you have other issues, my car can sit for 3 weeks, never a starting problem.
I think your start button is wired wrong and putting a constant drain on the batt JMO

Might be something to look into. My car can sit for upwards to 2 months and I've never had this problem. I can understand if it sat for 4 or more months, but for this to happen in 2 weeks just doesn't sound right.

[roushstage2]

My sits for a while in between as well, no problems here. I was thinking maybe a ground/12v issue with something you've added.

[STU]

Read and draw your own conclusions....
http://mustangforums.com/m_857518/tm.htm


.

[06Roush_st_3]

My S3 had sat for over a month and it was good. Lately it's been the 1 week - 2 week time frame and it seems fine.

It is possible to see the amp draw with the key off. Or just check the Battery with a voltmeter and you can see if there is much of a draw. To kill the battery that fast you should have a fairly strong draw. Maybe as much as 3- 4 amps.

I had the same type of drain issue with the 98 GT, in fact it still does it, but now the GF drives it as a DD so the issue comes up much less. It did die when we were gone for Chrismas for a week. I never tried to see what the issue is, but I figured it might be the alarm and/ or stereo system it has.

I bought a Battery maintainer for the 98 that charges at 1a or 2a. You don't want to leave a charger on the car, even a trickle if it's more amps then that. It will end up boiling the battery. (depending on the discharge load though as well). The battery in the 98 is an Optima to and is pretty new.

[Pastor J]

I'm going to check my start button. Since it is hooked up to the cigarette lighter and it has been said that the cigarette lighter is a constant charge, I may have to put a kill switch on that line.

I bought a battery tender that actually claims to shut off when the battery is full. It's an automatic tender. I wonder if it will boil the battery though after a while?

[RSH427R]

No problems with my tender so far. I check it once a week or so to see if anything is heating up.

[65AND05]

I have the Battery Tender but have not needed to hook it up. Mine cranked right up yesterday after sitting for about 8 weeks. 2005 Sport. 3700 Miles.

[07_427R]

I'm puzzled at all the different issues with batteries/charging on these cars. I haven't had any problems except about 3 months after I bought the car the factory battery starting leaking. I was glad I caught it before and major damage occurred. Anyway I decided to replace it with an Optima Red Top and now I have a weekly practice and put it on a battery Tender over night(usually Saturday night) and thats been going on for about 6 months now. No issues and it starts just fine every time. It has set without charging for 3 weeks before with no signs of battery drain. I know this won't help but so far this has worked for me.

[07PONY]

No problems with mine, but I usually get it out at least every other weekend. I don't use a battery tender or or charger.....

[Pastor J]

The only thing I can think might be pulling it down is my push button start. I'm thinking about putting in a kill switch that actually blocks that button from getting power until I flip the switch.

Anybody know if I can easily install the push buttons that go on the left side of the center cigarette lighter and use it for this? I wonder what that set will cost me?

[06Roush_st_3]

I pulled my car out to wash it yesturday and it barely wanted to start. I left it in the driveway running while I got the bucket and everything, about 10 minutes. After I was done (like 4 hours later) the car really didn't want to start and barely cranked over. So my car had some troubles with the battery as well. Last time I drove it was just before new years, so around two weeks.

[dlamib]

Hey Pastor J

I had the same problem with my GT. I wouldnt drive it for a couple of weeks and the battery would be dead. My GT was stock w/ no mods. The battery was a ford battery that came with the car. When the battery was checked at the dealership it was determined that the battery water was low and due to the low water heat build up in the battery during operation warped the lead plates inside basically ruining the battery. The battery was replaced for free with no further problems. It was a manufacturing glitch.

[07roushgt]

pastor, maybe just pull the fuse for it when you park it??!?! just a thought, but before you go and put a switch on it, i would think that pulling the fuse would stop the drain, thus letting you start the car. if the car starts right up after replacing that fuse, then you know that it probably is that start button. if the car still does not start, i would think that it is something else>!>!

just a thought.