Dying Battery

[Kelsey]

My 04 XLV has a slow battery drain. Each weekend when I put it on the water, the battery has juice, but not enough to fire up the engine. I keep a portable battery pack on the boat as a precaution.

Once I jump it and run it for a while, it is fine for the rest of the weekend, but then again the next Friday, the same issue.

What are the usual suspects? I have an aftermarket stereo installed by circuit city....which doesn't help because my warranties are now as good as toilet paper.

I think I heard the speakers "pop" a few times yesterday....but the stereo switch on the dashboard was off...

Battery was replaced last summer....Suggestions?

[mmandley]

Sounds like a constant drain on the battery

Take a Test light, unhook the Negative terminal and connect the test light between the cable and battery.

If the test light lights up you have a residual drain on the battery. Now its a matter of unhooking each things till that light goes out.

Once it does then you found the problem.

If you think you herd the speakers pop then id start by checking to see if the Amps are on all the time.

Most amy have a switch on there side that says

12VDC - 12 Sig - RMT..

Meaning they come on at a 12V DC signal. Or any batter signal or only from a remote signal from the deck.

[Trashy]

How old are your batteries? It sounds like you might need to change them out and buy a new set. I don't know where you live but where I live it's very hot in the summer and a boat battery last only about two years.

[Kelsey]

The battery is only 1 year old....and I'm in the midwest....I don't think it's a heat issue...our hottest day so far this year has been mid 80's

[Kelsey]

Sounds like a constant drain on the battery

Take a Test light, unhook the Negative terminal and connect the test light between the cable and battery.

If the test light lights up you have a residual drain on the battery. Now its a matter of unhooking each things till that light goes out.

Once it does then you found the problem.

If you think you herd the speakers pop then id start by checking to see if the Amps are on all the time.

Most amy have a switch on there side that says

12VDC - 12 Sig - RMT..

Meaning they come on at a 12V DC signal. Or any batter signal or only from a remote signal from the deck.

thanks for the help...I will try that. On the amps, it sounds like there will be three potential settings for each one? And that possibly one got bumped and is staying on? What setting should it be on?

[Kelsey]

I currently have 1 speaker that is unplugged, it went bad over the winter....I am waiting on my replacement (circuit city again).

Could this be it? Even though the stereo switch is in an off setting?

[Razzman]

Trashy that sounds a bit odd as where i live the average summer ranges 95-105 and on my last boat i got four years. A buddy is on year four on his and my brother-in-law is starting year five! Do you keep them on a trickle charger all winter and when not in use?

[Razzman]

Kelsey if those batts are the originals then it's probably time to replace. I highly recommend Costco's Kirkland brand as one they are Interstate batts and real good and two if something happens you can just take it back! Some recommend Optimas or other exotic batts but for the money imo they just aren't worth it, but then again like i said it's just my opinion.

[ToddXLV]

One thing so you can do to make sure nothing draws power when you're not using the boat. There is a main breaker switch (at least on my 06 XLV) that should be installed right below the battery switch. I always press that button and open the breaker when I am done boating. So no power can be drawn from any accessory no matter what. I started doing that when my bilge pump started automatically turning on because it became unmounted somehow.

[kaneboats]

I wasn't able to fire up the other day in the driveway. I put the battery on charge for a couple days and it wouldn't turn the motor over. Guess I'm in for a new one too. Of course I'd much rather find out in the driveway.