Well, if it isn't one thing it's another. I finally got my passenger headlight working. It turns out some of the bolts that mount it to the bracket were loose causing it to move around when turning off the headlights and in turn causing the arms that swing the headlight closed to bind.

So after I finish tightening everything up I test the headlights a few times to make sure they work well and then try to start the Vette. As soon as I turned the key to the "ignition on" position I know something is wrong because I hear a "click click click" coming from inside the dash, behind the gauges. So I try to crank the engine and nothing happens exept for a "clack clack clack" from under the hood. The engine doesn't even try to turn over. So I open the hood and get back in the car and try one more time. Same thing happens only now with the hood open I can see that the alternator is moving in small steps in rythm with the "clack clack clack".

The belt is moving also so I don't know if the movement of the alternator is the result of something else driving the belt or if maybe the alternator is the problem. To be completely honest I don't know were to begin as far as diagnosing the problem.

Ok, I just went back out to the car to check something and here is what else I have observed. The "clank clank clank" is comin from the passenger side of the engine compartment, not the alternator. I am almost sure that it is the starter. I don't think that the starter is the main problem though because I had it replaced just last year and I haven't been having any starting issues lately. When my starter did go out last year is gave me problems for about a month. Also, the "click click click" went away whenever I put my foot on the brake. I also noticed that the ASR ON, ABS, and SERVICE ASR lights were pulsating to the same rythm as the "click" noise. I suck my head into the back compartment while I cranked the ignition and a slight clicking could be heard from where the ABS stuff is located behind the drivers seat. I also got the SYS light flashing. Also i'm reading 9.4 volts on the gauge, although with these problems appearing to be electrical I don't know if I can trust that number.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing all of this? I hope it's something relatively easy but if not then I guess i'll have to arrange to have it towed away to a shop. Looks like i'll be broke for another year. :sad:

 

You have a dead battery. Your hood lights and other acc lights were probably on while working on it. 9.4 volts will not start your car.
:nono:
I'm sure that nothing else is wrong. :skep:
I have a 94 also and mine won't start as I type this....waiting for battery to charge. It's been awhile since I started it last...bad weather. I have all the same symptoms as yours. :thumbs:


[Modified by sumoboy, 8:45 PM 3/9/2003]

 

Yup! Simple as a low battery!! :thumbs:

 

Luis, do you have a charger, or can you get it jumped? Let me know and I'll throw my charger into my truck and head over. :cheers:

Edit: or, I can throw it into my Vette (which runs just fine) :jester

I know I'm an azzwhole, I just couldn't resist :lolg:


[Modified by Caboboy, 12:57 PM 3/9/2003]

 

Thanks guys. My dad happened to call me and had me go out to the car and try to start it. He said, "it's a dead battery dummy, it just doesn't have enough juice to turn the starter over." I tried jumpstarting it with my roommates car but it would start. I figured the cell was completely dead. I went through this exact same thing about 2 weeks ago with my VW. So i took the battery out. Boy was that a pain. I have that stupid body kit so I had to remove the ground effects before I could swing the rocker panel out of the way enough to take out the battery. When i tried to unhook the positive terminal the whole damn thing just ripped out of the side of the battery! So now I have to figure a way to get the stud and that other crap off of the positive wire. :rolleyes It's gonna be a pain because there is nothing to grab onto on the other side of the stud. I'll take some pics. To top it off all my friend are at a christening and my VW is in the shop so i'm stuck at home with no way to get to Pep Boys to buy another battery! :rolleyes

Cabo, if you don't have anything else going on i'd be happy to take you out to lunch if you give me a ride to the local Pep Boys. I'll try calling your cell phone number right now.

 

Thanks Caboboy for giving me a ride to Pep Boys. :seeya

I picked up a red top optima which fits almost perfectly in the battery tray. The only minor problem is that the positive post on top is making contact with a metal brace that holds up the ECM and I believe the horn.

My other problem is that the whole side terminal came apart when trying to remove the positive wire from the old Die Hard. So I have to figure out a way to get a grip on the terminal side so that I can unscrew the stud.

I'm hoping my friend will get home before dark so I can use his dremel. I'll use that to cut a notch in the brace and grind off all of the plastic from the piece of terminal that came off the battery. Hopefully that will allow me to get enough grip to take the stud out. I tried holding the wire with my hand while turning the wrench but it wasn't working.

 

Dude take that battery back & get one with out terminals on the top.Side mount terminals only.
You should be able to hold the terminal side of the battery with vise grips & unscrew the bolt.If its major corroded you might have to clean it with a wire brush & or some baking soda.

 

I had the same exact battery problem you had. The whole terminal on the positive side of the battery came out !!! Get yourself some VISEGRIPS!!! Be careful with the top post on the optima!!! NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THAT OPTIMA BATTERY ON A C4. If those 2 TOP posts make contact I pray your electrical system doesn't burn up.

 

Thanks for your replies guys. I tried grabbing on to the terminal with some chennel locks but there is still some plastic on the terminal side and it would just chip off whenever I tried to turn the wrench. I'm either going to get a dremel and take it down to the bare metal so I can get a better grip or i'm going to just cut the positive wire and splice on a new end piece. Here are some pictures of what I'm dealing with:




The optima only comes with both top posts and side terminals. And the one I bought is a smaller 75 series battery. It's not as big as the normal optima that people usually buy. The only place I see a problem is on the positive post and it being so close to the edge of the bracket that holds the ECM. I would think that if I take off enough of the bracket and maybe even grind down the post a little I should be fine. But if you guys really think that this won't work or is too big a risk I don't have any problem taking it back and exchanging it for a different battery.

 

Luis, I think you'll be just fine trimming that bracket........the + post only just barely touched when you slid the battery in the other day :yesnod:

I have an idea on the broken terminal.......... what if you held the nut side with visegrips and used a 1/8 +/- drill on the terminal side to weaken the lead (I think it's lead?) then try to pry it off or then use the dremel on it. I wouldn't splice a new connector unless it was absolutely the last resort. Let me know if you need anything, OK?

 

That's a very good idea, thanks! I don't want to cut the wires unless I absolutely have to. I should be picking up my VW any day now and since I'll be taking the whole day off for that i'll give that a shot also. :cheers:

 

Just let me know...........I'm still hobbling around and taking some time off work once in awhile this week. :cheers: