[FieroVin]

I have a 2008 GXP with about 48K on the clock. It wouldn't start this morning. :cryin: Yesterday morning I noticed it turned over a little slowly, but it seemed okay the rest of the day. Today... click, click, click... but the lights were still bright, I could hear the fuel pump whir. I have the GMPP upgrade tune, other than that not too much has been done to the electrical system, I replaced the horn and added foot well lighting.

I put a meter on the battery terminals while still in the car and it read 11.95V DC so I think the battery is still good. My next thought would be bad connection/ground problem. It is my daily driver, but gets garaged at both ends of my commute. I try to keep it clean and I don't think corrosion should be an issue at this point. Any thoughts? TIA -Vin

 

[rob the elder]

Change the battery. There is plenty of evidence that the battery needs to be in very good condition for the car to be happy. I had to change out the battery in the wife's 08 a couple of months ago for this very reason.

 

[Sly Bob]

^^^^^ What he said.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[MidniteBlues]

What He^^^^ He^^^ said..

 

[The_Ghost]

What they ^^^^^^^ said!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^

My experience with a "good" battery is it usually puts out around 12.4-12.8V. This is from observing them in the dealer. Acutally they would be from 12.8-13.8 depending on the type and car... Change your battery.....it's dead. Even though you are still seeing 11.98V, you might not have the amps needed. Volts means nothing without amps and amps means nothing without volts....

 

[FieroVin]

Thanks guys, I guess I'll start shopping batteries. I'll let you know how I make out.

 

[TomatoSoup]

Dang. I wanted to type: What He^^^^^^He^^^^^^He^^^^^^He^^^^^^ said!

 

[The_Ghost]

I would assume your car has the original OE battery.... If so, it's at least 5 years old...maybe older. Anything usually after 4 years and your on borrowed time with a battery. Although I have seen batteries last 9+ years, I know from experience with my Mustang (driven 2500 miles a year) I was replacing batteries every 2-3 years... And with today's "maintanence free" batteries, the chances of them getting an exposed cell is greater because you can no longer add fluid to them to keep the cells covered unless you pry off the covers....

 

[FieroVin]

Yes, it's the original.

Any recommendations? I found an Optima Red Top locally for $159. I saw the same one on Amazon for $144...

 

[rob the elder]

I put a red top in my car (Punisher) mostly because it was . . . RED.


I put a 6 year battery in the wife's Sky. Cost less and will probably last just as long. Hers is not as pretty.:thumbs: She does not care.

 

[rob the elder]

Dang. I wanted to type: What He^^^^^^He^^^^^^He^^^^^^He^^^^^^ said!

Welcome back! :agree::agree::agree::agree::agree:

 

[kwtoxman]

If you have a battery meter, then you should know a good battery measures between 13.8 - 14.2 volts, not 11.95.

 

[Sting Ya]

I also replaced mine with an Optima one bit of advise I got from some friends of mine who race you are better off going to someone like Summit Auto Parts as opposed to the local auto parts stores .The reason is these batteries are not cheap and a lot of times the ones in the parts stores may have been sitting on the self for a few years with the turnover in a place like Summit or Jegs( these are the big stores in my area )you get a fresh battery.I don't know if you store your car at all but if you do invest in a battery tender to keep it fully charged when it's parked.

 

[drgronk]

If you have a battery meter, then you should know a good battery measures between 13.8 - 14.2 volts, not 11.95.

Not sure if you see an untended 12v battery that high, but here's a good table I use often to measure the capacity of the deep cycle for my popup trailer. Anything below 12v and you are looking at 50% or below capacity (temps depending of course).

 

[LatinVenom]

Buy the same Delco battery it will last as long as the original and it wall cost less.

 

[kwtoxman]

Not sure if you see an untended 12v battery that high, but here's a good table I use often to measure the capacity of the deep cycle for my popup trailer. Anything below 12v and you are looking at 50% or below capacity (temps depending of course).

ya, thx for catching that. I accidently used some incorrect search parameters carried over from another search. My #'s ended up being from testing during in car idling to check alternator charging.

 

[Robssol]

:agree:What he said:thumbs:

 

[FieroVin]

The new one I just picked up reads 12.63v

 

[MidniteBlues]

Buy the same Delco battery it will last as long as the original and it wall cost less.

Sup LV!! That is what I did, however, the only places 'round here selling that delco batt was the dealer...:willy: (that I could find right away).

 

[FieroVin]

Sup LV!! That is what I did, however, the only places 'round here selling that delco batt was the dealer...:willy: (that I could find right away).

Same here... I looked for Delco but couldn't find one and Advance had the correct Optima in stock and I did check the date code and it was made last month.

I did find a little corrosion on the under side of the negative terminal cable clamp but the part that contacts the post was pretty clean.

The new battery went in last night, it started right up. At idle I was getting 14.3 so the alternator is working. It started fine this morning too, so far, so good.

Thanks for all the help. :thumbs: