Battery drained after a week of not running.

[Notch]

Hi all,

 

I am in the military so there are often times where I don't run my zed for a week or more at a time, when I try to start it up after its been standing for around a week the battery hasn't got enough charge to turn it over. I have a toad alarm, but even when I lock it with the key and don't arm this the battery dies. Is this a standard problem that I'm just missing something? Or does it seem like I need a new battery...

[Diggerman]

I'd change the battery out myself as it sounds like it might be at the end of its life, decent battery should hold enough charge for well over a week!

[Randy_Baton]

When you do drive it how long do you drive it for? have you tried charging the battery, if so long how long did it take to fully charge.

[Notch]

Usually driven for 30+ miles, I try not to do short distances that wouldn't put the engine through a full heat cycle. I only charged it once and it took over 24 hours, at the moment I am making sure I park on a hill to bump start it which can't be good for it! The battery seems like it is fairly new but as it doesn't seem to be a standard problem I guess that the only solution is a new battery.

[KyleR]

If you aren't driving it often, can you attach a trickle charger to the battery?

[Tricky-Ricky]

A decent condition battery should last way longer, unless there is a drain, or its not taking full charge in which case its usually a case of replacing the battery.

[H1979]

No expert, but I'd say a new battery is in order here, should easily last over a week without draining. And not sure if it's just over cautious but I'm sure it says in the manual not to bump start the car.

[Notch]

No chance for a trickle charger really. Looks like a new battery it is! Thanks for the help, was just checking there wasn't a regular problem that I haven't read about before I buy one.

[davey_83]

If the car has a tracker of sort, that could drain the battery also.

[longsh07]

I'd say its your alarm putting more load on the battery

 

I had a Viper alarm on mine for a while and battery would last 7-10 days before it would be a gamble starting. Even after replacing the battery in 2014 with Bosch S4 this didn't really improve much.

 

I've since replaced the alarm and now the battery lasts somewhere between 2-3 weeks before it needs charging or jumping.

Assuming it does start then I have no problems stopping and starting again after a relatively short 10-20 minute journey.

[Jetpilot]

The cold is a killer for batteries, maybe the low temps have finished it off, 50 quid for a new one

[Tricky-Ricky]

Yep battery sales take off during winter, used to help out in a mates car accessory shop.

[StevoD]

its cold right now and the imports have a tiny battery. if i dont use mine for a week it dies, tried 3 different battery's best i have found is the optima one but even then 10-14 days of no use and it dies

[Blocko]

I don't think it's unusual, you'd hope it would start after a week but much longer I'd expect issues. I've not owned my zed long enough to say how good the batteries are but I've had 4 other performance Nissans and they all suffered for this. A trickle charger is the best solution as long as you can get the car close enough to some power.

[Randy_Baton]

To add to my woes I've also got a dash cam. It totaled my last battery in ~9 months. I can't trickle charge very easily, so I've resorted to using 2 batteries, keeping one on trickle charge and then swapping it for the one in the car each month.

 

Changing the battery is a right PITA.

[Notch]

Cheers Stevo, I'll look into that one.

 

I may just have to be more rigid with removing my (new) battery and placing it on trickle when I know it's not going to be run for a while.

[JetSet]

The cold is a killer for batteries, maybe the low temps have finished it off, 50 quid for a new one

 

Yes, I've replaced my battery twice and Caroline's once....all three times in the middle of winter . Lack of use in my case as well.

 

Pete

[Stutopia]

I've replaced one battery after a two week holiday meant I came back to a flat battery, but even with the new one now, if I'm away for more than a week or so, I just disconnect the battery. Only takes two ticks.

[Notch]

Finally got round to replacing the battery after it got to the point of a single day before it died! Works perfectly now, really should do the UK battery conversion but needed a quick fix. Thanks for the help all.

[TT350]

I had a civic with a duff battery. Was a nightmare. It'd lose charge while I was at work then I'd be stranded there. New battery sorted it as you've now found out.

[HEADPHONES]

How about trying one of those solar panel chargers that plug into the obd port?

Then for emergencies you could try one of those usb power bank style jump starters.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B015R50M6E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486841626&sr=8-1π=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=aukey+jump+starter&dpPl=1&dpID=41PUi2HX2TL&ref=plSrch

 

I got this for £15 on an offer.

Worth a punt and if it doesn't work you can send it back to Amazon or just use it as a power bank

 

[Notch]

Thats a really good idea. I had a look at portable jump start kits but a lot of them say they won't work on engines over 2.5l. Why is this? I assume because it takes a bigger spark to ignite?

[H1979]

Thats a really good idea. I had a look at portable jump start kits but a lot of them say they won't work on engines over 2.5l. Why is this? I assume because it takes a bigger spark to ignite?

No expert, but isn't it down to the number of amps required to turn the big 3.5l lump over.

[Randy_Baton]

Obviously a lot more money (£85, inc. forum discount), but I keep this portable jumpstarter in my car. Its saved me numerous times last year and its also good for charging up gadgets etc.

 

Plenty of us seem to have one and no ones reported it not working on a zed

 

http://www.350z-uk.c...-that-start-v8/

Edited February 12, 2017 by Randy_Baton