Dead Battery
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles County MO
Dead Battery
I tried to start my 90 this evening after being on vacation for a week. The battery would not turn the engine over, but I could hear a ticking noise coming from the center of the dash area. I pulled different fuses until the noise quit. The fuse I pulled for the courtesy lights stopped the noise.
I have connected the battery charger to the battery.
I have no idea what is causing the noise. It is a steady ticking (clicking) noise. I would appreciate any suggestions as what to check.
Thank you
I have connected the battery charger to the battery.
I have no idea what is causing the noise. It is a steady ticking (clicking) noise. I would appreciate any suggestions as what to check.
Thank you
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
How old is the battery? When I bought my car, I couldn't even keep the doors open for a couple hours and start the car. After it died completely a couple times I broke down and got a new battery and everything works fine now!
Speaking of which, I accidentally left the door open all night, and it started up perfectly this morning!
Speaking of which, I accidentally left the door open all night, and it started up perfectly this morning!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles County MO
I replaced the battery in January.
Prior to this the car has been running excellent.
I took the charger off and it started. It seems to run good. I will replace the fuse in the morning and keep an eye on it for the next couple of days.
Prior to this the car has been running excellent.
I took the charger off and it started. It seems to run good. I will replace the fuse in the morning and keep an eye on it for the next couple of days.
Last edited by Putter; Aug 16, 2008 at 11:14 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The ticking you heard was the theft deterrent relay cycling. When the battery voltage drops to a certain level, the theft circuit no longer works properly and causes its relay to click on and off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club
Putter: It is not "normal" for a battery to drain down when left sitting for a week. Did you accidently leave some electrical device on in the car while it was sitting for a week? If not, you have some problem working in the elecrical system and it may haunt you in the future! FYI only.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Check the little **** in the back of each door (for the interior lights), they can get stuck. You can pull out the little **** in the **** in the door (quarter inch wide, looks like head of a nail), it´s an "adjuster". Use a putty knife to pry it out a little bit. Can be the cause of your problem. I had it once, few weeks later it happened again. Then I found the metal contact inside the **** had corroded and had to buy a new one. Mine was not repairable. 13 USD at Eckler´s. Good luck with what you find.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,030
Likes: 10
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Jim
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles County MO
Guess what? After only 7 months, the battery was no good!
I took the battery to the dealer and had it tested - bad. New battery was installed, courtesy light fuse replaced and a 60 mile cruise around the area. No more ticking (clicking) noise and everything works!
Thank you for the input.
I took the battery to the dealer and had it tested - bad. New battery was installed, courtesy light fuse replaced and a 60 mile cruise around the area. No more ticking (clicking) noise and everything works!
Thank you for the input.
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Guess what? After only 7 months, the battery was no good!
I took the battery to the dealer and had it tested - bad. New battery was installed, courtesy light fuse replaced and a 60 mile cruise around the area. No more ticking (clicking) noise and everything works!
Thank you for the input.
I took the battery to the dealer and had it tested - bad. New battery was installed, courtesy light fuse replaced and a 60 mile cruise around the area. No more ticking (clicking) noise and everything works!
Thank you for the input.
http://batterytender.com/product_inf...722d04a0bbd62b
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
My battery tender did not work right with the battery still connected to the car. It was showing an 80% plus charge, but the battery was still dead. I disconnected the battery, only then would it take a charge.
and yes, these cars act very weird with a weak battery. clicking sounds, horns beeping lowly. flickering lights. sys messages. weird stuff.....
and yes, these cars act very weird with a weak battery. clicking sounds, horns beeping lowly. flickering lights. sys messages. weird stuff.....
Pro
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Oslo, Norway
Hi.
I have an 85 but this problem smells as the one I had. It is known that the courtesy lamps module sometimes are bad and then they drain the battery and it normally takes 1-2 weeks. Think Corvette Central has those or may be Ecklers. They are dscontinued by GM.
An experiment to see if it is the module is to pull the fuse and let it stand and see if it drains the battery or measure the current drain when everything else are shut off Ignition switch off. Then see if there is a drain and then pull the safety and see if the drain dissappear
I have an 85 but this problem smells as the one I had. It is known that the courtesy lamps module sometimes are bad and then they drain the battery and it normally takes 1-2 weeks. Think Corvette Central has those or may be Ecklers. They are dscontinued by GM.
An experiment to see if it is the module is to pull the fuse and let it stand and see if it drains the battery or measure the current drain when everything else are shut off Ignition switch off. Then see if there is a drain and then pull the safety and see if the drain dissappear
