Vipers require "trickle charger" for battery?

[MuscleJunkie]

Went out to take a drive in my 06 and found it just about dead as a doornail. Called roadside assistance and they sent out some kid in a Dodge Magnum who looks like he just got out of school to come and jump my car.... WTH???

Anyway - I know right before I took delivery of the car back in November 07, they had replaced the battery and also saw in the service history it had been replaced twice while in dealer inventory.

Could there be some sort of issue here that needs to be addressed other than a battery? I hadn't driven the car in over two weeks but never have had a similar issue on other vehicles.

Thanks

 

[2snakes]

Battery Tender is the way to go.. I hard wired it in my car its easy.. Take out the trunk mat, Take off the battery cover, Hard wire to the battery. Drop the wire down. When you want to charge just plug in from the back..

 

[JonB]

]....Anyway - I know right before I took delivery of the car back in November 07, they had replaced the battery and also saw in the service history it had been replaced twice while in dealer inventory.......Could there be some sort of issue here that needs to be addressed other than a battery? I hadn't driven the car in over two weeks but never have had a similar issue on other vehicles..Thanks[/color]

Some years are the WORST. And 2006 Coupe is one of em. I will explain if you call me...

DONT BUY A "TRICKLE CHARGER" By definition, these are always ON. You want a "FULLY AUTOMATIC" or "Fully Floating" Like a Battery Tender Plus. No need to hard wire.....it comes with 3 options, including E-Z clip alligator clips. I have 5 cars on em right now.

Online Shopping PartsRack please ? We Will ship PRIO MAIL for $9 youll have it in 2-3 days. Your Viper will ALWAYS start and NEVER boil or stress the battery. Be sure to say year-model-color of car for a free doo-dad.....Thanks

 

[Steve-Indy]

If I understand your post correctly, your Viper is on its THIRD battery...which is a little odd. I would bet that many low-Viper-volume dealers MIGHT replace a Viper battery long before they did much in the way of electrical system diagnostics.

I would check your Viper for excessive draw with the Ignition Off Draw-down test as described in the Service Manual.

Agree with JonB...go with a Battery Tender Plus...our 6 are on them as I type.

I would bet that many low-Viper-volume dealers

 

[slysnake]

This has been my main complaint about my viper as well. I have posted about it before and most replies were that it is a common problem. There have also been the replies that there is something wrong with the car. The mannual says the battery should be good for about 30 days with out charging. Mine lasts about 5 days. It's ingnition off draw is well within the specifications listed in the manual. I have done the test where you pull out the fuses one at a time to find the excessive draw, but have found nothing. At this point I have resigned myself that it is something I will have to live with.

Car is an '05 Copperhead btw.

 

[Steve-Indy]

slysnake...have you replaced the original battery ?

"Mine lasts about 5 days"...using the alarm ??

Have you looked at your switches and actuators with a DRB III ?

 

[jpa99acr]

I got my battery tender + from Jon @partsrack, no more dead batteries, and resetting my clock etc... would highly recommend it.

 

[Sellshomesdrivesviper]

I got my battery tender + from Jon @partsrack, no more dead batteries, and resetting my clock etc... would highly recommend it.

Battery Tender Plus for me as well.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Thanks - I think I will order one. Appreciate the advice. Also will have the VT here at Dodge take a look at it on my next service visit. Thanks again everyone

 

[Limit]

I too found out the hard way, get a battery tender.. and save TONS of money in the long run!

 

[SuperBird4404BBL]

The Battery Tender is the way to go. It always has my '06 coupe ready to go.

 

[Sellshomesdrivesviper]

I hooked mine up and have a wire in the back of the car, and just plug her in when I get back into the garage and no you can't see the wire.

 

[Paul Hawker]

Be sure to put a little yellow stickey note on your dashboard to remind yourself that you are plugged in. Don't want to forget and drive away still hooked up.

 

[Burntrubber]

i found out the hard way also.
you NEED a battery tender, even if you aren't going to drive it for 2-3 days.
JonB sent me mine, ordered it tuesday got it friday.

 

[voi9]

Battery Tender works great for my 06'!! Car was having trouble turning over after only 4 days of sitting in cold weather. Now it starts up with no problems every time. I just reach through the rear bumper and plug and unplug when needed.

 

[SweetRed04]

i found out the hard way also.
you NEED a battery tender, even if you aren't going to drive it for 2-3 days.
JonB sent me mine, ordered it tuesday got it friday.

I use a battery tender occationally during the winter months as insurance against the battery being run down. However mine will hold a charge just fine over a dormant 2 month or longer time period.

I don't think you NEED battery tender unless you plan to leave the car sit for more than a month at a time or drive it too infrequently to charge up the battery between starts.

My Viper enjoyment exceeds 10,000 miles a year so I avoid the latter problem.

 

[Smog Dog]

Apparently , I've been lucky, too. Never any starting issues with the 03, 06 or the 08. I don't lock it and engage the alarm when it's parked in the oarage. I do start and run the engine every few weeks in the winter when I can't drive the car.

 

[past ohio]

wHENEVER I PLUG IN ANYTHING INTO THE CAR, I PUT THE EXTENSION CORD ACROSS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE, CAN'T MISS IT

 

[Hayabusa]

First saw this product endorsed by the Dream Car Garage guys several years ago. Have been using them on 2 cars and 4 bikes since then and they are great. Charges and desulfates. Sounds like they operate like the Trickle Charger Plus.

Motorcycle batteries are small and fickle, no issues since using Ctek. Viper has started with no fuss after sleeping through long NJ winters. My 2004 is running with the original battery (knock on wood).

Extremely high quality product. I use the 3300 (have 6 of them so I don't have to jockey them around all winter between cars and bikes and can attach the harness to the battery for a quick plug in vs using the clips).


CTEK battery charger - US 800, MULTI US 3300, MULTI US 7000

 

[Jim Wilson]

$40.50 and free shipping.......

eBay Motors: DELTRAN 12 VOLT BATTERY TENDER PLUS BRAND NEW IN BOX (item 170204385381 end time Apr-03-08 06:27:55 PDT)

 

[Kenneth Krieger]

Had a battery tender on my 94, and the battery was 7 years old and going strong when the car was totaled. That' a miracle in itself when you live in the desert and have 115 degree heat in the summer for about 4 to 6 weeks, and most batteries DIE after 18 months. The battery companies don't want people to use a battery tender! The batteries will last MUCH longer. On my 05 have the battery tender on it after EVERY use, and didn't hard wire, just alligator clip to the + post in the engine compartment, and the neg to one of the valve cover bolts. Works perfect, only takes a couple seconds, as I open the hood after every drive to allow the engine heat to dissipate quickly. Piece of cake!

 

[RTTTTed]

I bought a battery tender, but haven't bother to use it yet. Both my Stealth and my Viper are good for at least 6 weeks without draining the batteries with alarms on. My other cars don't have an alarm and have no problems.

My daughter's Turbo Daytona has an aftermarket alarm (Scorpion)and the battery only last for a little over a week.

Ted

 

[adamlotus]

battery tender plus for me for both my cars,its a must to have

 

[NukedGTS]

$40.50 and free shipping.......

eBay Motors: DELTRAN 12 VOLT BATTERY TENDER PLUS BRAND NEW IN BOX (item 170204385381 end time Apr-03-08 06:27:55 PDT)

Better hurry, they have one less in stock than they had 2 minutes ago!

 

[twinturbo3150]

Ive gone 2 month's and my 06 started, but you could tell the battery was week. But it did start,

 

[Flash1034]

I use the Cteck unit too. Very nice piece of equipment.

Flash