Dead Battery Question

[mxbmx930]

I was having my inverter fixed at camping world and the RV had been sitting there for about 6 weeks and I went to check on it and start it up and all my couch batteries and my engine batteries were completely dead. They could have been dead for a week or maybe even a month.

I was wondering if they sit for that long completely dead, if they will go bad. and I have ultra power on my rv, if they batteries are dead for to long will it affect that or cause any problems to the ecm. thanks.

[Luv2go]

Leaving the batteries completely dead for any length of time will hurt them. They will sulfate which causes them to lose capacity and life. There are chargers out there that desulfate, I have a Vector model that has a "Recondition" function that I have had some success with. Other times I have just had to bite the bullet and replace the batteries.

The ecm will have to "Relearn" which it should do in the first 100 miles or so, regardless of whether it has UP or not. Nothing to be concerned about, the UP programming will not be lost and the ecm will not be harmed.

Good luck!
Stewart

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mxbmx930 ... will it affect that or cause any problems to the ECM. thanks.

mxbmx930, Luv2Go is accurate in his response. The ECM will not be impacted by the loss of voltage. The ECM is an EEPROM. Once the code is written to the computer it remains as a permananet record. Your ECM will re-learn your driving habits once you get back on the road.

[CoastieSCPO]

ECM's are so smart; no senior moments!

How's everything going at the Workhorse booth at Perry, Mike? Hope the storms didn't effect ya'll too much.

Bob

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoastieSCPO How's everything going at the Workhorse booth at Perry, Mike? Hope the storms didn't effect ya'll too much.

Bob, It went very well. I hope that some of the Georgia WIT members chime in and share the moment. I was scheduled for a hour but I spent more like 2 hours just talking about anything they wanted to talk about. Dick Dodge from Winnebago Industries was seated in the audience and afterward I got a good review from him.

One thing that needs mentioning is that a lot of these folks are only hearing rumors because they are not computer literate not do they want to get on a computer. Now just the fact that someone spoke to them person to person went a long way to build confidence in what is about to unfold with the brake recall.

I believe that I made a lot of new friends here in Perry, GA and I'm looking forward to coming here gain next year.

[Gotta_P]

GA State Rally in Perry was great! I especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk one on one with Mike! Weather was a bit dicy on Saturday, but other than that, it was perfect weather and an awesome Rally!

[wa8yxm]

Six weeks w/o charging is a long time.. Or so I'm told.

There are loads like the ECM and Propane Detector and radios and such that are "Full time" don't matter if the batteries are in "USE" or "STORE" mode (connected or disconnected at the switch) Ignition on or off, these loads are always there unless you physically remove the leads from the battery terminal (usually negative)

ANd in six weeks they can indeed flatten a battery

Solar charger or battery minder (or tender) help to preserve charge

or if you have a good converter... Shore power

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm Solar charger or battery minder (or tender) help to preserve charge or if you have a good converter... Shore power

wa8yxm, My automotive Battery is always on a Battery Minder and the coach batteries are on a Iota Smart Charger.

[mxbmx930]

thanks guys for the help. Love this forum. Everything seems to be good now. I did replace the engine battery, it was starting but had a slight lag everytime and was bulging a little bit. It is the original. The coach batteries i took to the go cart dealer i bought them from(trojans) and he put them on a slow charge for a day or so and they seem to be back up to par.

Other than that, looks good. Been lovin my ultrapower done by the guys at redlands rv last year and getting ready to make a 7 day road trip back home to florida from california.