I have a car sitting , and the battery was completely dead after 3 weeks of it not being started. Is that typical ... or does it sound like I have an electrical short somewhere?

I now plan on unhooking the battery so it wont happen again. How long will batteries hold a charge just sitting there?

Thanks for the advice ---

 

How old is the battery? The older it is, the less time it will hold the charge.

3 weeks sounds like its on the short side. You need to put an amp meter in the positive wire, and see if there is an excessive current draw when the key is in the "off" position.

Sitting unused for an extended period of time seems to be more of a problem with something like the Optima batteries. Mine only lasted 6 months with long periods between starts. I bought a Battery Tender and never had a problem again with extended "no start" storage. But that was with an AC/Delco Professional, that lasted more than 7 years. Currently running a Braille light weight battery and the Battery Tender keeps it ready to go at all times.

Unhooking the wires doesn't necessarily prevent discharge. In high humidity, when you get condensation on the battery, it will "leak" current. A dirty battery will provide a path for current leakage.

 

Very good advice. I fell for the "optima hype" and it has done nothing but disappoint me. I would only recommend someone one of them if they need to mount it upside down , lol.

Thanks ---

 

hmmm, my optima is now 10yrs old and still starts the z and it only gets driven less then 1k miles a yr. I guess the older ones were the better ones. The original Delco 'eye' lasted 3yrs.

 

My Optima was an "older one". I bought my Optima in 1999. It died in 2000. The shop that built my engine piled it in their "battery graveyard" behind the shop. Most of the batteries there were Optimas. They just shook their heads "no" when I asked if I should get it replaced under warranty.

 

I had a friend go to AutoZone to get a red top the other day ... and the last one they had on the shelf was dead ; unchargeable , lol and it was NEW!!! ---

 

My battery kept dying after I put a battery tender on it, I noticed it was always charging. I started checking around and found my seat motor was running. I just unpluged it and its not died since. Now I need to replace the seat motor one day..