Need Help!!! (1984 C4 Corvette)
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
Need Help!!! (1984 C4 Corvette)
Hello my guys I recently got my grandfathers 1984 Corvette and I need help. I'm currently 17 and trying to fix up the car. I've been a car kid all my life. I go to school and work hard to keep the car up in good standards. Some issues I'm having is that the Battery is being drained. I can jump start the car perfectly and it will run but 10-15 min later the battery will drain. In addition, I think it might have to do with my grandfather who installed a after market radio in it but I took it out already. Please help me guys I really need this problem fixed. Is there a temporary fix i can do until i take it in to get checked out? Also does anybody know what the shell of the car is made out of? I feel as if it's fiber glass but i might mot be sure. Thanks again.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 168
Likes: 11
From: Staten Island NY
Battery and or alternator. From what I understand replacing a C4 battery isn't as straight forward as it appears. Be sure to read one of the tutorial reviews before you attempt to remove it yourself. Good luck OP. A corvette of any era is a great first car...even if it is a crossfire.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 313
Likes: 15
From: Modesto Ca
Most young people are not into cars these days.I wish you much luck learning about the car.2 hints for you-remove the battery cables and clean them.Side terminal batteries can hide corrosion.If your car has the Bose sound system the rear speakers have little amplifiers attached to them and there is a relay that powers them.The relay contacts stick and keeps 12v on the amps when the car is shut off.Its behind the carpet by the hatch latch.I would suggest going to a website called Alldata and getting a 1 year subscription for your car.Its the original GM factory service manual for your car online and you can print pages from it.If you drive the car in bad weather make sure you have good tires on it.1984's had stiff springs and the rear of the car slides easy.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
Battery and or alternator. From what I understand replacing a C4 battery isn't as straight forward as it appears. Be sure to read one of the tutorial reviews before you attempt to remove it yourself. Good luck OP. A corvette of any era is a great first car...even if it is a crossfire.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
Most young people are not into cars these days.I wish you much luck learning about the car.2 hints for you-remove the battery cables and clean them.Side terminal batteries can hide corrosion.If your car has the Bose sound system the rear speakers have little amplifiers attached to them and there is a relay that powers them.The relay contacts stick and keeps 12v on the amps when the car is shut off.Its behind the carpet by the hatch latch.I would suggest going to a website called Alldata and getting a 1 year subscription for your car.Its the original GM factory service manual for your car online and you can print pages from it.If you drive the car in bad weather make sure you have good tires on it.1984's had stiff springs and the rear of the car slides easy.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
welcome to the forum...lots of good advice here....sounds like you need a new battery but it's possibly a big battery drain...get your battery tested and replaced if needed....disconnect the positive cable and put a meter between the post and cable to see if there is any drain....my battery just went low due to leaving the key on, alternator amps are over 14 until it charges fully....keep posting your efforts, you'll get lots of assistance.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 125
Likes: 14
From: Southern NE OH
What you're looking to have done is a load test on the battery. Pretty much any auto parts store and Walmart too can do it. You need to make sure you have a good battery before troubleshooting things.
I must be getting old, I just can bring myself to think of a 1984 as a classic.
I must be getting old, I just can bring myself to think of a 1984 as a classic.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
w/everyone who thinks you should start by testing the battery.My guess is that w/your battery, the volts will plummet. The battery will be proven to be bad.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 120
From: AZ
I like a DVM plug-in tool to see the system voltage and use it in my cars to realtime monitor voltage readings, this esp with the "inaccurate" C4 dash readings. It was a savior in a 745 BMW, too (POS German engr)
The body is SMC, or Sheet Molded Compound, a polyester resin based, fiberglass composite.
The body is SMC, or Sheet Molded Compound, a polyester resin based, fiberglass composite.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 85
From: Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer. Wisconsin
I like a DVM plug-in tool to see the system voltage and use it in my cars to realtime monitor voltage readings, this esp with the "inaccurate" C4 dash readings. It was a savior in a 745 BMW, too (POS German engr)
The body is SMC, or Sheet Molded Compound, a polyester resin based, fiberglass composite.
The body is SMC, or Sheet Molded Compound, a polyester resin based, fiberglass composite.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
w/everyone who thinks you should start by testing the battery.Or do your own load test. Charge up the battery by whatever means you like (charger, running the car, jumpers...whatever). Remove the charge, install a DVOM to monitor voltage. Volts should be in the 12v range. Turn on your headlights on high beams, heater blower on high, then watch voltage...it will drop some at first, but should stabilize at maybe ~11.5v or so?
My guess is that w/your battery, the volts will plummet. The battery will be proven to be bad.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
Yea I'm just trying to make the car good enough to be a daily driver. I don't drive the car to hard so I'm trying to preserve the body and parts as much as possible until i have enough money to fix the stress cracks in the body. But thanks for the help man.
