HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time.
Ok, I left for a trip to L.A. 5 days ago, so the car had been sitting since then.
I got back and the car was dead, so I thought it was just the battery and we jumped it.
Ok, everything is going fine, its up and running. I drive away and then it just dies on me while driving down the street. :mad
I end up stopping in the turn lane at an intersection(you'd be suprised how many people pull up behind you and start to honk, even with the hood open and me standing next to it. Like, OK I'm just going to get back in my car that isn't working and move just for you because you honk at me instead of going around like everyone else :mad )
Anyway,
I get my roommate up again and he and another random kind person push my vette into a parking lot.
We jump it again. I start to drive it and all the insturments start to fliker and REALLY go all out of wack for short times then go back to normal.
I get back to my place and let it idle in my garage.
The insturment lights are flikering a little still.
Then when I turn off my engine(won't start up again, no power) a loud ticking is coming from under the passenger side dash(computer).
Why is this ticking?
Any ideas(please dont tell me the opticrap is going)??
It was working perfect before I left.
I got back and the car was dead, so I thought it was just the battery and we jumped it.
Ok, everything is going fine, its up and running. I drive away and then it just dies on me while driving down the street. :mad
I end up stopping in the turn lane at an intersection(you'd be suprised how many people pull up behind you and start to honk, even with the hood open and me standing next to it. Like, OK I'm just going to get back in my car that isn't working and move just for you because you honk at me instead of going around like everyone else :mad )
Anyway,
I get my roommate up again and he and another random kind person push my vette into a parking lot.
We jump it again. I start to drive it and all the insturments start to fliker and REALLY go all out of wack for short times then go back to normal.
I get back to my place and let it idle in my garage.
The insturment lights are flikering a little still.
Then when I turn off my engine(won't start up again, no power) a loud ticking is coming from under the passenger side dash(computer).
Why is this ticking?
Any ideas(please dont tell me the opticrap is going)??
It was working perfect before I left.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (enhance)
Sounds like you have a battery drain that killed the battery. Replace the battery and check to make sure the alt is working fine as well. Then I would begin to see what may be causing the drain.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (VetteNoob)
Good news, I was hoping it would just be the battery.
I have no idea how old the battery is, probably REALLY old.
I'll try replacing that as soon as I get off work tonight.
Thanks
I LOVE this place, help in a matter of minutes :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
[Modified by enhance, 9:26 AM 8/19/2002]
I have no idea how old the battery is, probably REALLY old.
I'll try replacing that as soon as I get off work tonight.
Thanks
I LOVE this place, help in a matter of minutes :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
[Modified by enhance, 9:26 AM 8/19/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,420
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster County PA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (enhance)
Logical question but, is one of your battery cables loose? It's been known to happen.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (Hardcorvette)
hmmm...thats a possibility, I have been disconnecting the ground a bunch to clear some codes and such.
Will check that tonight too.
Thanks.
Any ideas on why the computer would be ticking??
[Modified by enhance, 10:00 AM 8/19/2002]
Will check that tonight too.
Thanks.
Any ideas on why the computer would be ticking??
[Modified by enhance, 10:00 AM 8/19/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 2
From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (enhance)
Also, check alt. output. Mine had the same symptoms (funny how the fuel pump won't work with no electrcity!).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,786
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (Steel Blue 91)
I had similar symptoms in my '89. It was the battery - it was dead and wouldn't hold any charge, despite jumping, and the alternator was dead. Go replace the battery and drive down to an auto parts store and they'll check the alternator for you for free. If it needs to be replaced (vettes eat alternators) then get one with a lifetime warranty.
Good luck :cheers:
Good luck :cheers:
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (marthpodi)
Is there an easy way for me to check the alternator to see if its bad? How do I do it?
Thanks for all the help :cheers:
Also how can I tell if the alternator needs replacing after I replace the battery? Will it be pretty obvious?
[Modified by enhance, 1:50 PM 8/19/2002]
Thanks for all the help :cheers:
Also how can I tell if the alternator needs replacing after I replace the battery? Will it be pretty obvious?
[Modified by enhance, 1:50 PM 8/19/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,786
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (enhance)
Most auto parts stores (AutoZone, Discount Auto Parts, etc.) Will check your alternator for free if you ask them. Otherwise keep an eye on the voltage reading on the console, and if it is steadily dropping, go have the alternator checked and replace it. Replacing the alternator is a five minute job
marthpodi
marthpodi
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: HELP....Car left me stranded for the first time. (enhance)
Well all is good now :D
Score another point for the forum.
It was a bad battery. I replaced the battery and the alternater check out fine. All is good again.
Replacing the battery even fixed my fx3 problem. I guess there was a shot in the dark that a bad battery caused the code to stay. Well the code is always gone now and ALL is good for now.......I hope.
Thanks to all. :cheers:
[Modified by enhance, 8:48 PM 8/19/2002]
Score another point for the forum.
It was a bad battery. I replaced the battery and the alternater check out fine. All is good again.
Replacing the battery even fixed my fx3 problem. I guess there was a shot in the dark that a bad battery caused the code to stay. Well the code is always gone now and ALL is good for now.......I hope.
Thanks to all. :cheers:
[Modified by enhance, 8:48 PM 8/19/2002]