I've got a problem here and before I send the car to the dealer, I'm hoping this may be a simple problem someone can help me with.

Right now I can't start the car. I got in, and started to turn the key. All the dash lights came on normally, but as soon as I turned the key to actually start the engine, I heard a noise that can I'd describe kind of as a "moan", and everything went dead.

When I got out of the car, I noticed a rapid ticking (2-3 tics / sec) coming from under the passenger dash. After some fiddling with the key and door, I noticed it was related to the accessories/courtesy: When I opened the door, the clicking began. When I closed the door and turned the key, the ticking stopped. I removed the accessory/courtesy fuse and no more ticking.

I've hooked up a battery charger, but it says the battery is fully charged. With the charger hooked up, when I turn the key, I get some faint dash lights. When the charger is disconnected, nothing. The "SECURITY" light does seem to be working with or without the charger hooked up (I didn't notice whether it was working when the car first went dead).

Thanks!
Kevin.

 

First thing is to remove (pull the bolts out of the wires) and clean the battery terminal connections and bolts. The bolts will push right out and right back into the wire ends.

Check for acid leaks from the positive battery terminal.

 

OK. I checked the terminals.

The positive terminal and the cable both had a small amount of corrosion on the bottom portion, but no visible leaking. I used a tooth brush to get rid of most of it. Then I used a fine grit sandpaper to clean them a bit more. The negative side was clean.

I also tried to check the water level in the cells. The three I could get to were OK, but I topped them off a little bit to make sure. I can't check the other three because the computer(?) is in the way.

EDIT: I realized I misunderstood your instructions. I pulled out the positive bolt from the cable and there was a good amount of corrosion on the area of the bolt that was covered by the cable. I've cleaned it off and gotten rid of as much of the corrosion from the cable as I could and reattached them. Car still won't start though, and the charger still indicates the battery is charged.



[Modified by knp, 11:33 AM 8/6/2002]

 

If your battery cables (both of them) are bright and the battery terminals also, and the battery volts drop significantly when you hit the start position, then you have a battery at the end of its life and it has one or more cells with very high internal resistance. This is why your battery charger won't show much charging current and also why the voltage goes bye bye when you put a significant load (starter) on it. The moaning is the starter solenoid oscillating. It oscillates because the starter solenoid has a large wire winding and a small wire winding and the large coil draws a large current to supply a large force on the pinion gear and after it engages the pinion gear it switches to the smaller wire coil (and less current) to hold in the solenoid while cranking. Your solenoid is rapidly switching between the large coil and the small coil due to the limited current source from the defective battery. You need a new battery!!!!!!!!

 

It sounds like a dead battery to me. Can you throw a meter on the battery and get a voltage reading for us?

 

I don't have a meter. I've been meaning to get one. I guess when my wife gets home, I'll run out and get one.

(You know what really sucks? I have a Camaro to use as an occasional driver / backup car, and its in the shop right now, getting the convertible top repaired. So here I am, both my primary and backup vehicles unavailable. At least we're having some georgeous weather here in Maryland. When I called in to work, my coworker jokingly accused me of making this up to take the day off!!!)

 

:lol: When it rains, it pours! Do your headlights work at all?

 

I had the same exactly problem, the ticking and all. It turned out to be my positive terminal. If you checked that out, then its a good chance it could be your battery. But just double check the positive battery connection, that solved my problem.

 

I disconnected the charger and gave it a try. No headlights. I tried the windows, they started moving up, but stopped after about two inches.

I've already pulled and cleaned the positive terminal twice, so I don't think that's it. I think you guys are right and the battery has failed. So now I'm going to attempt my first battery replacement myself.

I understand the left front fender has to be removed. I do have the service manual and am looking at Section 10-5-2 & 10-5-3, the instructions for removing and installing the fender.

UPDATE: I've removed the battery. WHAT A PAIN IN THE butt!!! I did a search in the forum and found a link to a Corvette Magazine article about replacing the battery. I removed the first two top and first two bottom bolts on the rocker panel (?). Then I moved onto the wheel-well. Guess what, I didn't have the right size torx bit for the larger screws. I did however, have a selection of hex drivers, and was able to get them out anyway using them (I know, :nono: that was bad).

I did have the right size bit for the rocker panel screws in the wheel well, but they're in there so tight I was only able to get one of the two off, and I almost stripped it in the process. Leaving the other torx screw in, I was able to push the panel down a bit to get at the lower fender bolt and get it out.
Yay!!! The fender is now off!

But the battery tray bolt is a problem, the fender brace(?) was preventing me from being able to move the wrench enough to get the bolt out. So now I have to remove the brace, which takes forever because there are four screws holding it on and I can only move the wrench 1/4 turn at a time. Finally, I get the brace off. Then I easily get the battery tray bolt off and finally pull the battery.

There was a tuning-fork shaped shim behind the brace. Does anyone know what this is for?

The battery is an Interstate Megatron. According to the date code, it was installed in late '97 or early '98. Looking closely, it looks like the sides are bowing out a little bit. :eek:

Two questions: The battery was inside of a black foam liner. The liner is pretty ratty. Am I supposed to keep using the liner, or can I toss it? (Did the liner come with the car, or did it come with the battery?)

I know I need to get a battery with side terminals. Is there a way to specify the physical size and storage capacity to make sure I get a suitable replacement?

Thanks!
Kevin



[Modified by knp, 3:33 PM 8/6/2002]

 

YES!! I stopped by Sears and picked up a battery. I put it in and the car fired right up!!! :smash: :smash: I just got back from taking a test drive and everything is great. I just have to redo all of my stereo presets.

I didn't hear from anyone about the battery liner, so I left it out. Also, I had a bit of trouble with one of the bottom bolts on the rocker panel(?). I couldn't find the point in the body to connect the panel to with the bolt. I eventually found something, and the bolt got semi-tight, but wouldn't fully tighten.

Thanks everyone for your help! I know this doesn't seem like anything to most of you, but to someone as inexperienced as myself, its a major accomplishment.

Thanks again! :cheers: :cheers: