Check ground connections too
Help-need adivce/suggestions- 87 dead
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 53
From: Philadelphia Pa
Help-need adivce/suggestions- 87 dead
Here's my problem. Took my 87 out today and did a few errands. Car started ok. Drove home and let it sit in the drive way for about 1/2 hour. Got in the car to move it, turned the key, got quick dash lights/starter jolt then nothing. Nada. Dead. No interior lights,no headlights,no radio, no power anywhere. I think it may be a fuse/fusible link somewhere. Need suggestions and locations where to look. The only electrical issue I seem to have is that when the car is cold, the battery indicator on the DIC come on and the dash gauge shows 15.1 to 15.3 volts this lasts about 30 seconds and disappears, and does not return. Again thoughts suggestions are appreciated.
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 53
From: Philadelphia Pa
Thanks guys. I'll give it a quick top side check. At this time of year tough to get under it. I can only work out side. May have to have it towed to the car's best friend---the mechanic.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
15v + on the battery display is not right. A fully charged battery should show between 12.4 to 12.8v measured at the terminals. The other possibility is a dying battery. The alternator would be trying to charge the battery and an internal short in the battery could be the reason for a high voltage reading.
With a good fully charged battery and the engine running above 1000RPM, typical voltage readings should be anywhere between 13.5 and 14.3v depending on what electrical devices are in use.
Also check both battery terminals. It could be as simple as a loose bolt or corrosion where the cable ring meets the lead terminal. A loose bolt can also result in corrosion eating away the end ring material. The lack of sufficient material to transfer current can result in an outage.
With a good fully charged battery and the engine running above 1000RPM, typical voltage readings should be anywhere between 13.5 and 14.3v depending on what electrical devices are in use.
Also check both battery terminals. It could be as simple as a loose bolt or corrosion where the cable ring meets the lead terminal. A loose bolt can also result in corrosion eating away the end ring material. The lack of sufficient material to transfer current can result in an outage.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Remove both battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs, bolts, and the battery posts and replace the cables (neg last). Starter motors require 100+ amps and need a low resistance connection of the battery cables to the battery! If you only get a click, then have someone hold the starter on and you measure the battery voltage at the terminals, it should not fall lower than 9.0 volts or you have a dead battery or a battery at the end of its life (cable connections are next, but you have already cleaned them). You can tell the state of charge by measuring the no load battery voltage, 12.0 volts and below, discharged, charge the battery up. 12.9 volts and above, fully charged and linear in between. If clean tight battery cables, charged battery and the starter pulls the voltage below 9.0 volts, then you have a defective battery.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
. I had a loose battery connection, & when I turned the key I heard a 
& then everything went dark. Of course it was at night in the rain.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 53
From: Philadelphia Pa
Wow, posted this 9 months ago. Anyway, after a $50 tow to the mechanic, turns out that when I put on my quick disconnect, I failed to tighten one of the terminal bolts and it worked its way loose during the drive. Embarrassing and expensive.