1996 Battery Question
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
1996 Battery Question
I replaced my 6 year old battery in my 96 CE with a new exide battery. Once the new battery was installed I wanted to check to see if the car would start before replacing the lower panel. I have no power not even a dome light or dash light. I have checked my fuses in the event I had one pop during the change. The battery has juice. The cables are correct. Has anyone experience this?
Just a note, my old battery would lose it's charge and would not start the car if it sat for 3 or 4 days. However I always had dash lights, dome lights, radio etc when it would not start.... I would then recharge the battery or jump start with a portable battery jumper. It always jump started easy. I contributed this process to a old battery. Was I right here??
thanks for any ideas or help.
Just a note, my old battery would lose it's charge and would not start the car if it sat for 3 or 4 days. However I always had dash lights, dome lights, radio etc when it would not start.... I would then recharge the battery or jump start with a portable battery jumper. It always jump started easy. I contributed this process to a old battery. Was I right here??
thanks for any ideas or help.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Measure the battery terminal voltage during cranking, it must not fall below 9.0 volts or the battery is discharged, cable connections need cleaning, or the battery is at the end of its life. You can tell the state of charge by measuring the battery terminal voltage with no electrical load. 12.0 volts and below, discharged. 12.9 volts and above, fully charged and linear in between.
I understand that the later C4's have a fuse block near the battery, you might want to check those fuses with an ohmeter after you pull them. It sounds like the fuse or fusible link for the wire going to the ignition switch has no power. If ok, then check the batt ground cable connection on the frame and the wire from the frame to the left head.
I understand that the later C4's have a fuse block near the battery, you might want to check those fuses with an ohmeter after you pull them. It sounds like the fuse or fusible link for the wire going to the ignition switch has no power. If ok, then check the batt ground cable connection on the frame and the wire from the frame to the left head.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 6
From: Red Sox Nation! RI
I wouldn't be surprised if you just got a dead batery off the shelf or have a bad connection. Test the battery if you have a voltmeter or try cleaning the cables then putting them back on.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by C4boy
I wouldn't be surprised if you just got a dead batery off the shelf or have a bad connection. Test the battery if you have a voltmeter or try cleaning the cables then putting them back on.
I bought many a new battery only to find them dead when I got home.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8,991
Likes: 2
From: Hanger 18 Taxachusetts
I bought my Exide at BJ's and within a week it died on me. Took it back and they told me they get a lot of them back 
Wont buy Exide again !
Sorry this doesn't help you much now !
Like others have said, check what the voltage is, should be at least 12v just sitting there. Try measuring the voltage someplace like the cigarette lighter and that might tell you if you have a bad connection or not.
Wont buy Exide again !Sorry this doesn't help you much now !
Like others have said, check what the voltage is, should be at least 12v just sitting there. Try measuring the voltage someplace like the cigarette lighter and that might tell you if you have a bad connection or not.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 6
From: Red Sox Nation! RI
Originally Posted by rzornes
I found I did not have a good ground on the negative terminal. Fired right up after correcting the problem. Thanks for all the responses.
