Dead battery...
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Dead battery...
Hello-
I picked up a 1992 convertible six-speed a few weeks back. It has 77K on it and appears to be pretty clean and unmolested.
I have driven it many times since picking it up and have not had any issues with it, until today.
I went out to start it, and the car was dead. I put a known-good test light on the battery and it did not illuminate. I did not brake out the multi-meter, but instead, tried to hook up the battery charger, and as soon as I put power to the battery via the charger, the alarm started screaming. The previous owner stated that it did not have an aftermarket alarm system in it.
I tried putting the key in the door and turning it with the alarm going and that did not shut it off like it had in the past when I had accidentally set the alarm off.
I tried putting the key in the ignition, and the alarm continued to make noise.
Do the original/OEM alarm systems have a loud wailing siren, or do they just use the stock horn and make the lights flash? Is this siren/horn mounted on the left front bumper enclosure, below where the headlamp would sit when the hood is closed?
I did not notice any issues with the charging or electrical system previous to this, and the car did not ever ‘crank slowly’ or give any indication to a poor battery, etc.
I have searched ‘battery’, ‘alarm’, and ‘VATS’ out here and have not come across a similar scenario. Any information helping me with this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
-Steve
I picked up a 1992 convertible six-speed a few weeks back. It has 77K on it and appears to be pretty clean and unmolested.
I have driven it many times since picking it up and have not had any issues with it, until today.
I went out to start it, and the car was dead. I put a known-good test light on the battery and it did not illuminate. I did not brake out the multi-meter, but instead, tried to hook up the battery charger, and as soon as I put power to the battery via the charger, the alarm started screaming. The previous owner stated that it did not have an aftermarket alarm system in it.
I tried putting the key in the door and turning it with the alarm going and that did not shut it off like it had in the past when I had accidentally set the alarm off.
I tried putting the key in the ignition, and the alarm continued to make noise.
Do the original/OEM alarm systems have a loud wailing siren, or do they just use the stock horn and make the lights flash? Is this siren/horn mounted on the left front bumper enclosure, below where the headlamp would sit when the hood is closed?
I did not notice any issues with the charging or electrical system previous to this, and the car did not ever ‘crank slowly’ or give any indication to a poor battery, etc.
I have searched ‘battery’, ‘alarm’, and ‘VATS’ out here and have not come across a similar scenario. Any information helping me with this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
-Steve
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
MNPoser,
sometimes even thought the battery appears dead, it might be providing some, albeit low, voltage to the car's computers. This can cause all sorts of odd things to happen.
I would suggest disconnecting the batteries negative terminal, charge the battery, then reconnect, this may correct the problem.
Also, if the battery is older than 3 years replace it ASAP, as most likely it will die again (especially given the parasitic drain the C4's have). Once a battery 'dies' , it serverly shortens its life (and most likely it has died in the past, hence why it died this time).
Regarding the alarm, most alarms are designed to rearm and alarm once battery power is restored (they presume they were armed when someone 'cut' the battery power).
It's highly possible the previous owner did not know the car came with an alarm as it was turned off (see your owners manual).
sometimes even thought the battery appears dead, it might be providing some, albeit low, voltage to the car's computers. This can cause all sorts of odd things to happen.
I would suggest disconnecting the batteries negative terminal, charge the battery, then reconnect, this may correct the problem.
Also, if the battery is older than 3 years replace it ASAP, as most likely it will die again (especially given the parasitic drain the C4's have). Once a battery 'dies' , it serverly shortens its life (and most likely it has died in the past, hence why it died this time).
Regarding the alarm, most alarms are designed to rearm and alarm once battery power is restored (they presume they were armed when someone 'cut' the battery power).
It's highly possible the previous owner did not know the car came with an alarm as it was turned off (see your owners manual).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 6
From: Palm Beach
MNPoser,
sometimes even thought the battery appears dead, it might be providing some, albeit low, voltage to the car's computers. This can cause all sorts of odd things to happen.
I would suggest disconnecting the batteries negative terminal, charge the battery, then reconnect, this may correct the problem.
Also, if the battery is older than 3 years replace it ASAP, as most likely it will die again (especially given the parasitic drain the C4's have). Once a battery 'dies' , it serverly shortens its life (and most likely it has died in the past, hence why it died this time).
Regarding the alarm, most alarms are designed to rearm and alarm once battery power is restored (they presume they were armed when someone 'cut' the battery power).
It's highly possible the previous owner did not know the car came with an alarm as it was turned off (see your owners manual).
sometimes even thought the battery appears dead, it might be providing some, albeit low, voltage to the car's computers. This can cause all sorts of odd things to happen.
I would suggest disconnecting the batteries negative terminal, charge the battery, then reconnect, this may correct the problem.
Also, if the battery is older than 3 years replace it ASAP, as most likely it will die again (especially given the parasitic drain the C4's have). Once a battery 'dies' , it serverly shortens its life (and most likely it has died in the past, hence why it died this time).
Regarding the alarm, most alarms are designed to rearm and alarm once battery power is restored (they presume they were armed when someone 'cut' the battery power).
It's highly possible the previous owner did not know the car came with an alarm as it was turned off (see your owners manual).
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
If your battery can't light a test light, it is DOA. Connecting a battery charger to a totally dead battery, you will at first have low battery voltage because the charger has limited charging current and unusually low battery voltage will not allow your alarm and other electrical systems to work properly. Not being able to shut off the alarm is a typical response to low battery voltage. Also, C4's do not have very high leakage current, GM says it should not exceed 50 milliamps, and my 87 measures 27 ma. and I have no trouble, but I drive it every day.
A new battery is not expensive and it won't likely leave you stranded like I am sure your current battery is going to do. My vote is for a new battery, good batteries don't suddenly go dead. When you install the new battery, get your VOM (voltmeter, ohmeter, milliameter) out and measure the leakage current after the courtesy lights time out and with the hood down to turn off the hood lights.
A new battery is not expensive and it won't likely leave you stranded like I am sure your current battery is going to do. My vote is for a new battery, good batteries don't suddenly go dead. When you install the new battery, get your VOM (voltmeter, ohmeter, milliameter) out and measure the leakage current after the courtesy lights time out and with the hood down to turn off the hood lights.
