Mack1919

Hello forum,

Had a strange case of a dead battery recently. Car is a 2013 GS Coupe manual (battery in back) with about 6500 mi on the clock.

Drove to the local club picnic recently. Car started right up as always and off we went. 2 1/2 hours later we left the picnic. Got in the car (door electrics still worked) only to find that the engine would not crank due to an dead battery. Starter solenoid clicked repeatedly at one point.

Got a jump start and drove the 5 miles home without incident. Battery was initially charging at 13.0 volts as shown on the DIC but was up to 14.0 volts by the time we got home. Shut the engine "OFF" and then restarted without problem. Just in case I disconnected the battery until I could look at the car later.

The next day I reconnected the battery and the engine started normally when I pushed the start button so I left the the battery connected for the day to see what would happen. Sure enough, that afternoon I saw that the dash was lit like a Christmas tree and the DIC was flashing a message indicating that the car was in some sort of "Battery Save" mode. It appeared as if the ignition had been turned "ON" but that the engine was not started. Nevertheless, there was enough battery left to start the engine at that point.

Has anyone run into this kind of behavior? I'm not ready to take it to the dealer for fear of how he might shotgun this intermittent problem.

Thanks and best regards,
Mack

boony1968

That's common with a failing battery. 90% chance its the battery, 8% chance alternator, 2% something else.

EVRose

5 miles is not a long enough drive to recharge a dead battery and that short time start you did the next day didn't help either. You should put it on a real charger for several hours.

Dcasole

Alternators are not meant to charge a dead battery , that's how they burn up . I agree with others , replace or charge the battery before you have problems with the alternator

Dave

bmfvette

Battery...take it to AutoZone and let them test the battery.

Mack1919

OK. Will do. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Thanks and regards,
Mack

cclive

100 %...do a real charge on the battery and then re-connect it to the car. Low voltage makes all kinds of strange things happen.

Mack1919

Had the battery tested at my local Chevy dealer with a Corvette service dept. and the the Battery tested GOOD. Details from Chevy report follow:I'm guessing that this last item about "Monitor" test means "no codes thrown. I didn't find any myself when I plugged in to the ODBII connector.

Don't know where this leaves things now. Any ideas?

Mack

EVRose

Did they let it sit all day after you dropped it off before doing the test?

Mack1919

No. Did it while I waited.

boony1968

A failing battery can test as "good". You have really low mileage for a 3 year old car and that is much tougher on the battery than daily use.. If you were not REALLY good about using a tender, I'd replace the battery. If there is something else going on, it's probably towards end of life anyway.

EVRose

So, your test you reconnected the battery in the morning and it started. Then you left it for the day and it didn't start at the end of the day. That's what they need to do at the dealer. Your drive over there charged it up enough for it to test good right away but apparently it can't hold the charge for a full day.

Mack1919

Actually, I just drove it to the store for a few things. It had been sitting there for 24+ hours since yesterday morning. Started without missing a beat. Same on the trip home.

cclive

So what is it doing wrong now? I need an update...

Mack1919

Nothing that I can report. Cause of original dead battery - unknown.