Originally Posted by OptimaJim

DRG35R, I’m sorry to hear about the trouble you’ve been having and I’d like to help. My name is Jim McIlvaine and I’m the eCare Manager for Optima batteries. From what you’ve described, it sounds like your battery may indeed have a high “key-off” load.

A vehicle can be tested for a high key-off load with an ammeter or DMM on the DC amps setting. With the ignition off, disconnect one of the battery cables. Connect one ammeter lead to the battery and the other to the cable. It may be necessary to wait several minutes after first starting your measurement for some items to “go to sleep”. The normal current drain on most vehicles is about 25 milliamps or less. If your key-off load exceeds 100 milliamps, you can isolate the problem by pulling one fuse at a time from the fuse panel until the ammeter reading drops.

It’s always a good idea to fully charge a jumped battery with a battery charger as soon as possible. I realize that isn’t always practical, but if a jumped vehicle isn’t driven under ideal conditions, an alternator may not fully charge a deeply-discharged battery. This can lead to a cycle of dead batteries and jumps until either the battery or alternator fail.

Many modern vehicles do have computer systems and other accessories that will drain a car battery, if a vehicle sits for an extended period of time. Perhaps the best option for you might be a battery tender/maintainer, which will help extend the life of any battery, regardless of brand.

If you do not use a battery maintainer, storing your vehicle with a fully-charged and disconnected battery is a good practice. The battery should also be checked periodically while in storage, to make sure it maintains at least 12.4 volts. If it needs charging, that should be done with a battery charger, before the vehicle is driven.

In some instances, a battery may have enough of a charge to start a car once, but if the car isn’t driven long enough for the alternator to recharge the battery, you could find yourself stranded a few miles from home. Please keep us posted on your situation. Thanks!

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

Originally Posted by DRG35R

like I said before, the car does not usually sit this long and I try to exercise it once a week. had I known we were going to get slammed with snow this year I would have disconnected the battery. this is very unusual for us to get as much snow as we have had this year. it is a record!

I do have one of those solar battery chargers plugged into my OBD II. it came from my VW Passat, but it does not work in winter as I have unfortunately found out.

just need to get some good weather so I can put the charger on the battery for a day or two and then get her started and over to the shop to find the bug. she will not be happy at start up after sitting for about a month now.

thanks for all the help.