So, I try and drive the '74 at least every weekend - but here lately it has rained so much in south west Florida that I haven't even attempted it. Any amount of driving can catch you in a freak rainstorm and although the car is two years finished from a nut and bolt restoration - I still haven't been able to bring myself to actually drive it in the rain.
Today I woke up early and with blue skies I jumped at the chance to put some miles on the 454 only to be let down with a dead battery. Now, I have the best battery Sears sells in it - a Die Hard Platinum - but for whatever reason all I got was a "click click" when I turned the key.

Ok, no biggie - pull the truck up, open the rear deck lid, pull the seat up and hook up the cables - had it running in no time.

The last time I had battery trouble from a Sears battery - I had to pay close to $40.00 when I exchanged the old for a new one because I took the battery and installed it in the car myself...so this time, I decided to actually drive my car to Sears and let them take a look at it and if need be - install a new battery.

So I pull my car into the Sears garage amongst every kind of condo car imaginable (lots of old people in Naples) and you'd think I was in a UFO from the stares I got - not only from the waiting room - but also from the "mechanics".

After about a ten minute conversation from the lady at the counter about her cousin that had a 76 Stingray and blah blah blah I watched the young kid who was to test my battery fumble with the door for about 10 minutes not having any clue how to open the door....then he finally reached over and opened it from the inside of the car since the top was down...then after about 5 minutes he got the hood open -

Here is the funny part - Sears had every mechanic available standing around my car for about 15 minutes looking in and out of the engine bay until finally the "manager" came over and asked me where I was "hiding the battery in that thing"!

I thought I'd fall over laughing! Were they really that dumb? or have they really never worked on a C3?

 

they most likely never worked on a c3 and are dumb to boot.

 

Had a similar experience. Friend of mines daughter got married two summers ago and as a wedding present the grooms father gave them his '69 coupe. Now understand, both of these kids are in their early twenties so I'll cut them some slack. Any way, one morning they were at the local Subway eating breakfast and left the lights on. Car had sat all winter and spring so the battery must have had a pretty weak charge. Needless to say, car would not start. When I pulled in to gas up my truck (the Subway is in a BP station) I see both of them and her father with the hood up scurrying every which way looking really confused. I walk over and ask him what is up. He looks at me and say "Man, I'm glad your here. I know you have one of these things. Where in the Hell is the battery?' You should have seen the looks on their faces when I showed them. He told me that they had been looking under the hood for half an hour.

 

Along this same line. When I picked up my 1973 in July of 73, I drove home and when I parked I couldn't get the key out. I drove back to the dealership in Hyattsville, Md. where I had purchased the car and asked the sales man about the key. He spent about 20 minutes trying before calling one of the mechanics. Well he also had no idea. Finally, this older mechanic walked up and shifted the four speed into reverse and the key came out as easy as can be. As I'm sure you C3 owners know; the four speed has to be in reverse to remove the key.

 

Don't expect everyone to be as smart as you, especially at Sears. An explanation can go a long ways. I hope they replaced the battery.

 

HaaaHaaa ! Oh man thats too funny !

You watched a kid fumble with a door for 10 minutes
Look for a hood latch for 5 minutes
and then look for a battery for another 15 mins.

A total of 30 minutes of hilarity !

Me - I probably would have opened the door - opened the battery
hatch and asked the kid "Can you test this battery?". In and out
in 2 mins so I don't waste his time (probably on minimum wage) and everybody elses time - including mine. But thats just me. I guess you just have a better sense of humor.

 

We have 3 cars - a Toyota with the battery under the hood, a C3 with the battery behind the seat, and a Volvo with the battery in the trunk. They're everywhere!

 

I can remember looking for the battery when I first bought my 'vette. When I finally found it I said, "Oh, great, Bubba strikes again!!!" I didn't know the battery was supposed to be there!! LOL!!!

I don't even wanna talk about trying to find the jack.........

Scott

 

Chrysler wins hands down for the dumbest batt location. My wifes Sebring has the battery located in the drivers side wheel well(stock location) you have to crawl on the ground and remove the inner fender well to change it.

 

I will say you are dumb by not having a battery tender on a car that you don't drive everyday

 

Is this not the location for C4s?

I had a similar experience at Autozone. The man insisted on installing the new battery... have at it buddy!

 

they are simple to change out

 

Considering that most of the mechanics (and maybe even the Manager too) weren't even born when this C3 was brand new (1974), why would anyone be surprised?

Still, it's a funny story!

 

Thats Great, Gotta Love the Little Things That Seperate a Vette From the Rest of the Pack...

 

Since installing the TKO600, I'd almost forgotten. Thanks for the memories. LOL.