bugo

I have a 2010 HHR. 2.2/automatic. When I shut the engine off and listen to the radio for 30 or 45 minutes, the battery goes dead. Is this normal? I had the battery tested and it tested good. What could it be?

RJ_RS_SS_350

What kind of test was done? It needs to be load tested. Sounds like just before my battery went bad. Check both ends of the battery cables, make sure they are clean and tight.

donbrew

Yes, it is normal.

Oldblue

Best way to avoid killing the battery is listen to a different device and turn off the car radio.
Seems to me a dying or dead cell in the battery, the alternator will not generate enough current to recharge the battery.

celblazer

Operating as designed. The battery is to start your car only, it's not there to run accessories for any period of time. The battery puts out high current for a short time to start you car and then the alternator takes over running everything.

RJ_RS_SS_350

C'mon, a good battery should certainly be able to run the radio for a short time like that. This is probably the original battery on it's last legs.

donbrew

My brand new battery could only stand about 30 minutes of radio, about 10-15 minutes of headlights.

firemangeorge

Still trying to figure why you would sit in the car, without it running, and listen to the radio for 45 minutes.
Last time I did that was about 40 years ago when I was chasing the teenage girls.

donbrew

Rotating the tires.

tiapetra

I was working on the car just after I had bought it on Saturdays and Sundays for several weekends with the doors open and interior lites on and the new radio on after it was installed for hours at a time with not even a faint hint of the battery being discharged.
The previous owner did say he had replaced the battery, but I have no idea when.

And you can bet my 18 year old daughter now listens to the radio for extended periods.