Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 327
From: Nogales, Arizona
Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
I was wondering if you have a bad battery that about to die, will it take performace away? I recently raced a friend in a gtp and my car had been diyinng on me, and right before we raced i tried turning it on and nothing. I had to get a friend to started with jump cables. Race was preaty close wich i didnt expect since i use to beat him preaty bad and now i even had my cutout open, but i beleive he did something else to the car cause he would just say he put in a papar filter and laugh. 2-3 later the battery is completely gone so i buy new one and it feels stronger now.
QUestion is will a drain batter cause you to lose performace, and will a cutout slow you down in some ocassions?
QUestion is will a drain batter cause you to lose performace, and will a cutout slow you down in some ocassions?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 329
From: California (san fernando valley)
Re: Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
YUP!...I have read several posts where if your battery is too low you will not get as much performance as you would normally get.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,253
From: Birmingham, Al
Re: Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
My cutout messes with the o2 sensors, so I actually get better performance if they are closed. Not near as much fun though. Also the PCM "learns" so if I leave them open more than they are closed, the PCM will "learn" incorrectly. Guessing I'm probably going to ditch my O2's then.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 676
From: Calgary
Re: Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
I swear once you have the car started you can disconnect your battery and drive it since the altenator is powering everything.
Not sure how a low battery would hurt anything other than trying to start a vehicle. Now if you altenator is on its way out...thats another story....
Not sure how a low battery would hurt anything other than trying to start a vehicle. Now if you altenator is on its way out...thats another story....
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 703
From: Austin, TX
Re: Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
A dead battery can cause performance issues, even if the alternator is functioning fine. If the battery has failed, the alternator will still attempt to recharge it, and this can cause issues with the rest of the system.
If the coil is not receiving full voltage, I believe it can cause a weak spark in the cylinder resulting in decreased performance. I had a battery with dead cells in my '84 Blazer (carbed 350) and the performance loss was very apparent.
Thomas.
If the coil is not receiving full voltage, I believe it can cause a weak spark in the cylinder resulting in decreased performance. I had a battery with dead cells in my '84 Blazer (carbed 350) and the performance loss was very apparent.
Thomas.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,188
From: Western New York
Re: Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
ehh im going to have to disagree again. All current comes from the alternator when the engine is running, along with the charging of the battery. check out this explanation.
http://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm
http://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 703
From: Austin, TX
Re: Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
That's a great site! But it doesn't tell you the effects on the system when the resistance of the battery goes way up.
A clip from the site:
What happens when the internal resistance of the battery is high enough where the alternator cannot meet the demand?
Thomas.
A clip from the site:
Current demand and flow:
If you have an alternator that can produce 120 amps of current (max) and the the total current demand from the electrical accessories (including the battery) is only 20 amps, the alternator will only produce the necessary current (20 amps) to maintain the target voltage (which is determined by the alternator's internal voltage regulator). Remember that the alternator monitors the electrical system's voltage. If the voltage starts to fall below the target voltage (approximately 13.8 volts depending on the alternator's design), the alternator produces more current to keep the voltage up. When the demand for current is low, the full current capacity of the alternator is not used/produced (a 120 amp alternator does not continuously produce 120 amps unless there is a sufficient current draw).
If you have an alternator that can produce 120 amps of current (max) and the the total current demand from the electrical accessories (including the battery) is only 20 amps, the alternator will only produce the necessary current (20 amps) to maintain the target voltage (which is determined by the alternator's internal voltage regulator). Remember that the alternator monitors the electrical system's voltage. If the voltage starts to fall below the target voltage (approximately 13.8 volts depending on the alternator's design), the alternator produces more current to keep the voltage up. When the demand for current is low, the full current capacity of the alternator is not used/produced (a 120 amp alternator does not continuously produce 120 amps unless there is a sufficient current draw).
Thomas.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 41
From: Tigard, Oregon
Re: Does a drained battery cause performace loss?
IIRC the battery is used as a ground as well, if you take away a ground then portions of the electrical system will be effected, and in a very computer controlled system like the LT1 it is even more prevelant