vette won't start
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
vette won't start
battery is full and wont even turn over. weird thing is that when i hook up a battery charger to the battery and turn the key, i get a noise from the steering column and my gauges move a bit. i replaced the ignition switch a few years back and havent driven the car much over the past few years.....we can't even get a turn at the starter... i'm thinking it's a bad ground..hmmm
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 8
From: COOKEVILLE TN
battery is full and wont even turn over. weird thing is that when i hook up a battery charger to the battery and turn the key, i get a noise from the steering column and my gauges move a bit. i replaced the ignition switch a few years back and havent driven the car much over the past few years.....we can't even get a turn at the starter... i'm thinking it's a bad ground..hmmm
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
auto trans.....
i dont even hear a click at the starter and no gauges come on even when i turn the key. fuses are good also and just checked the main ground and thats good (i replaced that a few years back when it caused some damage to my electrical system.)
its a 350 small block..nothing too fancy. i might jack it up and see if i can see anything under the car, not sure, maybe the main hott wire is toast, not sure
no horn (never fixed that).. haven't checked the lights...
i dont even hear a click at the starter and no gauges come on even when i turn the key. fuses are good also and just checked the main ground and thats good (i replaced that a few years back when it caused some damage to my electrical system.)
its a 350 small block..nothing too fancy. i might jack it up and see if i can see anything under the car, not sure, maybe the main hott wire is toast, not sure
no horn (never fixed that).. haven't checked the lights...
Last edited by onaqwst; May 18, 2011 at 05:58 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Its odd that you don't even have lights and the batt is charged. Bad batt connections can cause this. I've seen batterys that disconnect or short just inside the battery behind the terminal. Be very careful here,arcing inside the battery can cause a blow up,keep your face back or covered while working on the battery terminals.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
well, i swapped the battery and it started right up... the original battery was a red top ultima that i bought 3 years ago and for some reason we put a volt meter on it was bone dead... but the battery charger read it as 100% full.... not sure wth is wrong, so i'll have to buy a new battery i guess....
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
I read in one of the Corvette rags that those Optima batteries won't take a charge if they are really dead. Solution is to hook a regular lead/acid battery in parallel with the Optima, and hook up to a charger this way. This "fools" the charger into putting out a charge, which the Optima will then take. I don't know if this will help your problem, but if you have a spare battery, it might be worth trying.
Pete
Pete
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
New battery chargers with all of that safety crap will not start charging a dead battery. Ain't that a bitch, battery charger wont charge. You have to fool it into thinking you have it hooked up correctly. It needs to see some voltage to work. CRAZY
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
well, i swapped the battery and it started right up... the original battery was a red top ultima that i bought 3 years ago and for some reason we put a volt meter on it was bone dead... but the battery charger read it as 100% full.... not sure wth is wrong, so i'll have to buy a new battery i guess....
Once again the sales gimmick of high tech bites someone in the ***, find an old style charger , use the Opitma as a core for a new cheap battery from Walmart or Autozone. Cheap is better because the cheap batteries sell much faster and therefor are much fresher. Fresh is best and unless you have a built motor you don't need anymore than a factory size recommended battery.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
the reason i have used optima batteries is they are sealed and they don't release gas which may damage the interior carpet etc just a thought
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 528
Likes: 9
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
It will not recharge. They are great for heavy duty applications (marine/diesel/machinery), but not ideal for occasional use vehicles. IMHO not worth the expense. A good lead acid battery (I have an interstate) will last years (I am on year 15).
