C-4 Electrical Gremlins!!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 6
From: Napa CA
C-4 Electrical Gremlins!!
Good morning fellow forum members- I have a 1990 C-4 with 31,785 Miles on it- Just bought it 2 months ago- I quickly took it to a local Corvette Specialist here in the North Bay- I asked them to comb through it with a prioritized list and estimate breakdown- I then took it in for new tires and had that done first- They created a very detailed list of what they'd like to do- It was over $7K- I authorized a Full Tune up- Fluid changes (Everywhere) - Replace front brake pads- and some of the rubber suspension parts that were dried out- new spindles etc- Also things like wiper blades- Headlight lamp newer version etc- I was leaving for Greece on vacation in 10 days and asked for it back before departing- After a week they called and said some of the items were completed including the full tune up and some other minor things- I went to pick it up and paid the current bill as well as leaving another $2K for future parts to be ordered- I went out to leave and the battery was totally dead- I went back in and they sent out a tech with an industrial charger- After 20 minutes it finally started- Like a fool, I accepted the work and drove it home- I parked it overnight and the next morning absolutely no power.. Completely DEAD battery (Expensive Interstate Battery) only 5 months old - I called the repair shop ands they said it was probably a faulty battery- OK.. I reluctantly agreed and went down and purchased a new 850 Crank Amps Battery- Brought it home and installed it- Drove around for 30 minutes and parked it overnight- Next morning... NOTHING- Totally dead- So dead my Charger wouldn't recognize and battery and wouldn't charge it- Called the shop back and explained that something they did (In tune up) has created a short that drains the battery in 6 hours (Maybe the new Ignition Module) - Unfortunately I left for Greece the next morning- It would need to sit for two weeks- I placed a Battery Tender on it for fun, knowing it would do no good- I returned from Vacation on Saturday and dove into it again- I found the negative Battery Terminal bolt was not making good contact (Partially stripped) so I ran down to Chev parts and bough new bolts and installed- I was able to have my neighbor bring over his F-250 truck and after 10 minutes it jump started- Drove it around for 3 minutes than parked with a charger on it- Then Sunday, Totally dead again- Reached out to repair shop and they said "Yeah bring it"- Really?? How am I gonna get it there ?? "Not our problem"-
Anyone have any idea what could be draining this system so quickly?? The tune up portion of the invoice was about $1800- (Everything including wires - caps- rotor- ignition module etc) I am a bit P*****.Off- Looking for any advice- BW
Anyone have any idea what could be draining this system so quickly?? The tune up portion of the invoice was about $1800- (Everything including wires - caps- rotor- ignition module etc) I am a bit P*****.Off- Looking for any advice- BW
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 365
From: Central Florida
Most local mechanics will not know how to fix a C4. Any electrical circuit in your car could be draining the battery. You will probably have to learn how to troubleshoot it. Are you willing to learn how to work on your car and buy the tools for it ?? Yes, some things are easy and the forum specifically has the answer but one such as current draw can be anything.
Last edited by Vets-Vet; Nov 4, 2024 at 03:10 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 212
From: Charlestown IN
Cruise-In V Veteran
Call your insurance rep. Most policies have an auto towing rider. I would make them make it right after spending that much on it. In the meantime, look around for someone else. It ran when they got it, it should at least be the same when you pick it up. Oh, and get your $2k back for future work.
