I had a thread of this on the old forum but forgot what everyones answers were. I know need for sure a new battery. I have to jump it all the time and when I have it charge it gets to 14 but letting it sit for a day its drains out. That would be the battery right? Not the alternator?

But I'm wondering is there a better battery then normal? I'm on the hunt for one and was going check out Sears on prices, I think there Diehards, are they any good?

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

makes me think there is something draining it..

Oh great.. I do have a stearo system hooked up to it but its been there for a year now and I haven't had any problems with it.

To give a idea, I believe I jumped it yesterday morning or maybe friday, I let it run for a little bit took it for a little drive and came back home. About 10mins ago I went out there, I could only unlock one door (you know how if you turn the key twice to the right it unlocks it all, did that and it unlock on my drivers cause thats were key was) I put the key in turn it and looked at the battery gauge nd it was completly dead.

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

anyone else with suggestions?

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

Yes, a bad battery could cause the behavior that you describe.
Also, check the connections to the battery cables; they could be corroded.
I'm sure others have their battery preferences, but I personally prefer Delco over DieHard. Most of today's batteries are probably pretty good overall, though. If you have access to Consumer Reports (they're also available at many public libraries) you can check their most recent battery ratings too.

Too bad you are so far away -I just picked up a fairly fresh GM battery for under the back seat with the vent tube. Good and strong- been disconnected for supposedly 3+ weeks and I've had it for 4 days it still shows 12.8-12.9 volts on the battery tester.

Bad thing is I don't have a car this will work in and the 97+ Park Avenue's my relatives have all have the battery under the hood -not enough room for the gigantic battery.

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DHP Powrtuner & Tech 2
1998 GTP Coupe
1999 SSEi 70k miles
2000 Silverado 2500 Ext Cab 4x4/6.0L/4L80E
2000 Trans Am WS6 LQ3 (LQ4 w/LS3 top end) 4L60E
2001 SLE
2002 Monte Carlo SS Top-swapped FSIC Gen V TOG's, Mezeire.....
2002 GTP 40th Anniv Ed Coupe
2004 GTP Comp G 'Bottom-swapped'

*dang* ya had to mention that olblueeyesbonne lol jk


If the battery cables are corroded can I replace them?

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

Here's an idea: Have your battery tested.
I take mine to Sears. This is useful since I buy my DieHard Gold batteries at Sears. If they test it and it's bad and it's still under warranty, I get a new battery prorated. If it tests good, then I troubleshoot the rest of the system.

Batteries drain because either: (1) They are bad and internally shorting with a buildup of scale shed from the lead plates, or (2) Something in the electrical system is presenting a load which is draining the perfectly good battery. Things that have always worked (such as your stereo) aren't necessarily free from suspicion, as it is possible for things that used to work to fail. A good example is the rectifier diodes in the alternator. These can fail by short circuiting, and can be cause for a draining battery.

Therefore: Have your battery tested. You should probably charge it first. Pull it from the vehicle (either before or after charging) and drive it to Sears or some other auto place that has a battery tester, and have it tested. If it tests good, then put it back in the car and have the charging system tested.

Also, as often repeated by me and others: Check your battery cables, they are prone to internal corrosion. You have to slit the insulation back to see if they are corroded along their length. The positive cable tends to corrode more than the negative cable, but both can potentially corrode.

If both your battery and charging system test okay, then you'll need to hunt for a load in your electrical system.

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PontiacDad at WCBF `08: "By any chance, was his name. . .Radomir?"

R.I.P. 10/31/15: 1997 SE: "Silver Shadow"
`05 Mercedes S500

Wouldn't me charging the battery have it test that its good then?


Also say that the wires are corroded, what do I do?

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

When they charge the better, they aren't testing whether it has current, they are testing the load it can handle. The battery has to be fully charged to test it.

I have never seen the battery cables on a 2000+ corroded. I highly doubt yours are.

Have the battery tested, you will probably be buying a new one.

FYI, I have 2 spares that you could have also ;)

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Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

So I should fully charge it before I go? Is that going to drain the battery from the other car I will be jumping it from?

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

They will probably charge it there.

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

Generally, you charge the battery with a battery charger. Jump starting isn't really a battery charger, it gets you started, then if you drive and everything is working, your car's charging system will charge your battery. It sounds like you don't have a battery charger, is that correct? And Haro is right, charging a battery does not tell you that it's good. You're looking for whether the battery can source current at the rated voltage under its expected load. Sears and places that test your battery test it on a load tester.

The positive battery cable in my wife's 2001 Grand Prix was BADLY corroded by 2005, causing a no-start condition. I realize the 2000+ Bonnies have their battery under the back seat and all, which is a markedly different design, but I wouldn't say it's completely impossible to have a corroded cable. I don't know if this group has ever seen a 2000+ Bonnie have that condition though, so it might not be a problem. I'd still keep it on the list of possible things to check.

As for what to do if the cable is corroded: You go to a GM dealer and buy a new cable and replace your old one with the new one.

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PontiacDad at WCBF `08: "By any chance, was his name. . .Radomir?"

R.I.P. 10/31/15: 1997 SE: "Silver Shadow"
`05 Mercedes S500

Yea I don't have a battery charger.

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

anyone?

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

Before the DB backup didnt you saw you had gotten a new battery already?

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

Don't get what ya mean andrew

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

You said something like you went to Sears and they told you to go to the parts store across the street. You went there and had the battery tested, it failed, and you bought a new one.

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

Yea I bought the new one, and I hooked it all up. When I turned on the car I looked at the battery gauge on my dash and it showed it at a little past 14. Is that suppose to be were it is? Or should it be all the way to 18 to show its full

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

18v full -fully overload!
But yeah, 14v is good and up to 14.4v is even better.

_________________
DHP Powrtuner & Tech 2
1998 GTP Coupe
1999 SSEi 70k miles
2000 Silverado 2500 Ext Cab 4x4/6.0L/4L80E
2000 Trans Am WS6 LQ3 (LQ4 w/LS3 top end) 4L60E
2001 SLE
2002 Monte Carlo SS Top-swapped FSIC Gen V TOG's, Mezeire.....
2002 GTP 40th Anniv Ed Coupe
2004 GTP Comp G 'Bottom-swapped'