[Cantdecide]

I was going to take my Evora to a shop for an oil change today, but it won't start, even though it's been on a battery tender for 3 weeks. It's one of the larger tenders that can charge a battery too.

Right now I have it on a traditional dumb charger, and that seems to be helping (engine turns over now, but still doesn't start).

I have an Interstate battery the dealer installed before I picked up the car (in 2012), does this sound like a failing battery?

I'm wondering if I need to start disconnecting the battery completely when I'm not using the car.

 

[ItsThaMonsta]

Sounds like dead battery. Take it to AutoZone for quick charge and test it.

 

[Doge]

Probably dead battery as he said, and it won't hold a charge.

 

[S4Denver]

FYI, Interstate batteries are 2 year free replacement, 7 year prorated. if you call them they can cross the serial number and tell you where you are on warranty.

 

[JLSELISE]

Were the lights in the boot (trunk) on while the battery was connected to the tender?
(If the trunk was not completely closed or the latch switch turned off, they were.)
If they were, the typical battery tender cannot overcome that drain.

 

[XHILR8N!]

What he said. And it's super easy to manipulate the latch to turn off light with trunk lid open.
I'll be honest. I replaced an original in fine shape with an interstate before i figured this out

 

[Cantdecide]

Hum, the lights probably were on. Thats a good tip, although the batter tender was a 5A one, which is supposed to be powerful enough to slow charge the battery.

The battery was completely shot. After leaving it hooked up to a high-amp basic charger (not a fancy electronic tender) it still wouldn't start. I ended up boosting it with an external pack and it finally started. When I got to the shop after a 40 minute drive, it still wouldn't start. We checked the alternator, and it was fine, replaced the battery, and now its fixed.

I ended up replacing it with an Exide with a 5 year warranty. I forgot to check the warranty on the old one. I probably threw some money away there, oops.

The only weird thing now is the air bag light stays on. I'll probably have to take it to the dealer for that.

 

[chazzer]

Change out those two lights in the boot to LED's and you won't have to worry if the boot is not completely closed or not. I've left my boot lid NOT locked and on a tender and have LED's in the boot lights and they have not drained the battery when left like that for months during the winter. :UK:

 

[Cantdecide]

What's a good source for LED replacement bulbs?

 

[JLSELISE]

Here's one I used:
LED Lights, Bulbs & LED Lighting Accessories - SUPER BRIGHT LEDS | Super Bright LEDs

but there certainly are others

 

[XHILR8N!]

Nice tip about the LEDs

 

[chazzer]

Here is another thread for the LED's you can purchase.: http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f170/dome-light-troubleshooting-182505/ :UK: