C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

SYS: Car won't start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 19, 2006 | 04:41 PM
  #1  
Mike Collins`'s Avatar
Mike Collins`
Thread Starter
8th Gear
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Default SYS: Car won't start

I have a 1993 Corvette, it is usually parked all winter so I unhook the negative batttery terminal. I bought a new sealed battery last fall and put in it, parked it about November and like I said unhooked the battery. This spring tried to start it and battery was completely dead. I charged the battery and it will run down in about 2 days. I started charging it again but couldn't get it to even turn over. I hear a clicking noise near passenger dash when I hook up the batttery charger but I don't know what it is. At this same time I did see a "SYS" errror on the information center that was blinking but wasn't sure what it was. I looked in my owners manual and saw a small paragraph about a "SYS" error but it didn't explain anything about except to take it to a dealer and it has to do with the Central Control Module. Battery shows full charge but the car will not even turn over, does anyone have any ideas what is going on? I would really appreciate it, I hate to take it to a dealer if it is something simple.

Thanks a lot,

Mike
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 05:19 PM
  #2  
RRT vette's Avatar
RRT vette
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Default

Sounds like the battery has a dead cell.

Last edited by RRT vette; May 19, 2006 at 05:25 PM.
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 06:22 PM
  #3  
Mike Collins`'s Avatar
Mike Collins`
Thread Starter
8th Gear
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks RRT, I went out and unhooked the battery and hooked the battery cables up to a jump starter to bypass the battery but it still wouldn't start. Is there a reset for the security system? Or is there anything else I can try?

Thanks,
Mike
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 06:29 PM
  #4  
ittlfly's Avatar
ittlfly
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Default

There may be to much of a volltage drop with the cables. Low battery (voltage) will raise hell with the ECM. I sugest you get a known good battery (13v) across the terminals and install it. That should fix your problem. I agree your present battery probably has a dead cell.
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 06:49 PM
  #5  
Matt O's Avatar
Matt O
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Fremont,CA
Default

Originally Posted by Mike Collins`
I have a 1993 Corvette, it is usually parked all winter so I unhook the negative batttery terminal. I bought a new sealed battery last fall and put in it, parked it about November and like I said unhooked the battery. This spring tried to start it and battery was completely dead. I charged the battery and it will run down in about 2 days. I started charging it again but couldn't get it to even turn over. I hear a clicking noise near passenger dash when I hook up the batttery charger but I don't know what it is. At this same time I did see a "SYS" errror on the information center that was blinking but wasn't sure what it was. I looked in my owners manual and saw a small paragraph about a "SYS" error but it didn't explain anything about except to take it to a dealer and it has to do with the Central Control Module. Battery shows full charge but the car will not even turn over, does anyone have any ideas what is going on? I would really appreciate it, I hate to take it to a dealer if it is something simple.

Thanks a lot,

Mike
That is an indication of a bad battery (dead cell), bad ground connection, dirty or corroded treminals...
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 08:07 PM
  #6  
Mike Collins`'s Avatar
Mike Collins`
Thread Starter
8th Gear
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks to everyone. I am going to go exchange the battery tomorrow morning and hope that works. I bought an expensive sealed battery, I think was about $115. It has a 3 year free replacement warranty. Thanks again. I was just afraid it had something to do with the alarm system and wouldn't let it turn over since the battery charger kept saying battery completely charged.
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 08:17 PM
  #7  
RRT vette's Avatar
RRT vette
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Default

Mike if the new battery doesn't fix it, get back with us with some new info and we will help!
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 10:46 PM
  #8  
jfb's Avatar
jfb
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Default

You must not read C4 tech very much because I post all the time about correct care and feeding of lead acid batteries. It is a serious mistake to let a lead acid battery sit doing nothing because they self discharge even disconnected. During discharge the plates collect lead sulphate and lead sulphate is an insulator. A fully sulphated battery is a door stop. If you aren't going to use the battery for long (4+ wks) periods, buy a battery tender and have it keep the battery charged. Battery tenders measure the battery voltage and only charge the battery when its charge drops about 10% and then turn off. If you already have a battery charger, buy an interval timer (turns your lights on each night when you aren't home) and have your battery charger charge the battery for its minimum interval (usually 15 min, but an hour is ok) each day. It is perfectly save to leave your battery connected while charging it.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old May 19, 2006 | 10:59 PM
  #9  
USCG's Avatar
USCG
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
Likes: 45
From: Houston Texas
Default

I recently had an issue with the "sys" warning. Read this post, but I tend to agree it was caused by the battery problem. Also, if you leave the key in the ignition as I used to, that will run the battery down quicker than without the key.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1384791
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To SYS: Car won't start





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:08 PM.

story-0
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-4
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE