Dead Battery

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like there's a deficit in store vs. drain. If you have access to a multimeter and know how to use it, you can check for the amount of current the vehicle uses while sitting around and then start pulling fuses to see which circuit has the heaviest draw. That said, I have a feeling that the deficit is from the usage pattern (infrequent, short trips). The factory recommends that the vehicles in the dealership lots get started and idled for at least 30 minutes once a month to maintain the battery.

I've been using battery minders for years to keep my batteries topped off. The one I use now is a CTEK Multi US 3300 battery charger/maintainer. In fact, the first thing I did soon as I got my Malibu was to purchase an extra CTEK eyelet connector and install it. You may want to consider getting a battery minder (BatteryMINDer, Battery Tender, or CTEK brand). You can expect to get more life out of the battery to boot.

DrivenDaily said:

Hey SS,
Do you think a Red top or Yellow top battery would help as well? I'm not trying to spend their money, but if the battery is drained too low too often it'll shorten the life of an otherwise good battery. The color-tops use a different design and can take deep drains with fewer issues.

Click to expand...

The starter takes quite a chunk of stored charge. And, a lead acid battery will self-discharge some. If the battery is not topped off by driving good distances, the stored charge will keep going down. Then, there's a point of no return once the stored charge gets down to a certain point and capacity is permanently lost. I understand that the deep cycle batteries can be discharged without this memory effect but they can't provide the cranking amperage.

jeepgrady said:

It can't have anything to do with his infrequent usage. I have left my Bu unused for like four months and she started right up. Either something is draining it or the alternator is not charging properly.

Click to expand...

I have a hard time thinking they didn't at least checked out the charging system at the dealership. And, I don't doubt your claim of "four months" but you didn't occasionally crank it and then only run it a few minutes over that period. Still I put it on the CTEK unit whenever I don't drive my vehicle for more than a couple of weeks. Then, I go through pulling fuses and cranking a couple 10 second intervals to prime the engine with oil first.

jeepgrady said:

I didn't start it periodically, because I wasn't home during that period.

Click to expand...

Ah, you misunderstand me. What I meant was, if you crank it and then only run it a few minutes, chances are you won't put back what you drained and you'll actually lose capacity.