1993 C4
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
1993 C4
Howdy:
Last fall I ourchased a fairly mint LT1...23,000 miles, and the interior and body are perfect. I drove it a couple times last fall then garaged it for the winter. Last weekend, I installed a NEW battery, and 6 days later it won't even turn over..like the battery is dead. Everything was off. Anyone have this happen? Is is an electrical drain?
Thanks
Last fall I ourchased a fairly mint LT1...23,000 miles, and the interior and body are perfect. I drove it a couple times last fall then garaged it for the winter. Last weekend, I installed a NEW battery, and 6 days later it won't even turn over..like the battery is dead. Everything was off. Anyone have this happen? Is is an electrical drain?
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
must happen to alot of these ....I couldn't find where the electrical problem was ....so....I intalled a permanent trickle charger on the bottom of the battery box. now when I'm not using it I just plug er in.....works for me...
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4
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I decides to take it into a Chevy dealer to troubleshoot. The owners have several Corvettes between them. I was really upset when this happened. I do have a trickle charger..I'll just keep that plugged in. Thanks
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 446
Likes: 13
From: Nine Mile Falls WA
New battery dead
Did you charge the new battery fully before installing it? If so there is definitely something drawing power that shouldn't be when you're shut down. Six days of sitting idle should be fine for any but the weakest older batteries. I have (accidentally) gone several weeks with no problems in the past - but have also seen four weeks draw an old one down too low to start. I always use a trickle charger now when I think it may be a week or so before I drive it again (winter, for instance).
New batteries frequently need to be charged when you first get them. I'd certainly charge it fully and try again - checking each day for a while - before investing any more money. You may not have a problem at all. Good luck,
New batteries frequently need to be charged when you first get them. I'd certainly charge it fully and try again - checking each day for a while - before investing any more money. You may not have a problem at all. Good luck,
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
A bit off topic but. . .
Sorry to go off on a rant here but what is with the folks who are proud to have 10+ year old cars with ridiculously low mileage that are almost never driven??? Is it that you all are in areas where weather dictates not driving the car or is it some misguided anticipation that this relatively mainstream car of which there are 1000s of produced models will somehow be a great collector item one day (but not in our lifetime). What good is owning something (especially a fun-to-drive car) if you never use it?
Doug
Doug
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 108
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From: Indianapolis Indiana
Doug,
I wasn't bragging about my low miles, just stated the miles so that he knew I had a car with similar miles and had no problems with my battery. It's my car and I can do what I want with it, I don't tell you how to drive yours do I??????? Get up on the wrong side of the bed today??
Jim
I wasn't bragging about my low miles, just stated the miles so that he knew I had a car with similar miles and had no problems with my battery. It's my car and I can do what I want with it, I don't tell you how to drive yours do I??????? Get up on the wrong side of the bed today??
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Many of us have more than one vehicle at our disposal.
This means one or two of them don't get driven every day or even every week.
My Vette sits for a month between drives, frequently. My truck may sit for three months....
Busy people with too many possessions don't always excercise those possessions as often as they should.
Ask 99% of the boat owners in America.
(While I wouldn't be bragging about keeping my Vette's miles low, I sure would brag about BUYING one with almost no miles on it!!)
Larry
code5coupe
__________
I ain't easily impressed....
This means one or two of them don't get driven every day or even every week.
My Vette sits for a month between drives, frequently. My truck may sit for three months....
Busy people with too many possessions don't always excercise those possessions as often as they should.
Ask 99% of the boat owners in America.
(While I wouldn't be bragging about keeping my Vette's miles low, I sure would brag about BUYING one with almost no miles on it!!)
Larry
code5coupe
__________
I ain't easily impressed....
Last edited by rocco16; Apr 30, 2007 at 10:44 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Doug,
I wasn't bragging about my low miles, just stated the miles so that he knew I had a car with similar miles and had no problems with my battery. It's my car and I can do what I want with it, I don't tell you how to drive yours do I??????? Get up on the wrong side of the bed today??
Jim
I wasn't bragging about my low miles, just stated the miles so that he knew I had a car with similar miles and had no problems with my battery. It's my car and I can do what I want with it, I don't tell you how to drive yours do I??????? Get up on the wrong side of the bed today??
Jim
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 3
From: Maine
I think he's looking for a solution to his electrical problem not to be judged about his mileage. There are merits to driving a corvette daily or keeping the miles low. As they say, to each his own. I think the daily driver vs. garage queen debate, a worthy discussion, should be in its own seperate thread.
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There is a shelf life to new batteries. Some "new" batteries have sat on the counter for many months or more. I always buy my batteries from a shop that I know and the batteries really are new. At any rate, you have to charge the battery before you install it. If you just put it in without charging it and let it sit for a week you will most likely have a dead battery.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
I think he's looking for a solution to his electrical problem not to be judged about his mileage. There are merits to driving a corvette daily or keeping the miles low. As they say, to each his own. I think the daily driver vs. garage queen debate, a worthy discussion, should be in its own seperate thread.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Littlefork MN
battery drain
Just a question; convertible or coupe? I've had the vanity lights on the visors turn on when putting the convertible top up and draining the battery in fairly short order. If not that, look for lights staying on in the console, glovebox or under the hood. Garage with lights off at night works well to see if any lights are staying on. good luck.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
93 C4
Doug, Jim and all, For clarification:
The car only had 22900 miles on it when I bought, but since I'm in Minnesota, I didn't drive it Nov thru most of April. I DO want to get out and enjoy it as much as can..it certainly won't be a garage queen. I did find out an interesting thing over the weekend. The AC was on even tho the switch appeared to be off. I reset the switch, and this SEEMS to have fixed the battery dying. I have wanted a Corvette for about 35 years, and I'm going to spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Thanks for all of the information!
The car only had 22900 miles on it when I bought, but since I'm in Minnesota, I didn't drive it Nov thru most of April. I DO want to get out and enjoy it as much as can..it certainly won't be a garage queen. I did find out an interesting thing over the weekend. The AC was on even tho the switch appeared to be off. I reset the switch, and this SEEMS to have fixed the battery dying. I have wanted a Corvette for about 35 years, and I'm going to spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Thanks for all of the information!
