It's the battery, and they do take a dump on you without any warning signs! More importantly, I would pull it out just to check for possible leakage.

 

The battery in my 2003 Z06 just did this about an hour ago. Started car from office (no problem), made a quick stop at the post office, jumped in, turned key, bzzzz clkkkk...winkydink...nothing.

Got a jump, got the headlights to go up by powering down everything else, and made it home, but every time I hit the brakes the dash lights flickered and the Valentine reset itself. Yep, it's the battery. Car was running on ONLY the alternator at that point, for sure, which is why it acted so strange. In fact, as I got in view of my shack, I killed the motor and tried to clutch start it....barely did, and I got "reduced power" and all the other alarms and warnings. And, damnit, my radio went into theft lock mode. I hope I wrote the code in my shop manual.

Batteries are funny things. Batteries from the "old days" were more robust and thus rarely failed suddenly from "starting surge". Instead, they tended to get weak over time as the plates erroded and gave you hard starting. I'll bet we can all recall this from 20 years ago...batteries getting weak. But a modern, lightweight battery tends to work great right up until the time it totaly fails. This failure is kinda like a light bulb...which never burns out while it's on, only when you flip the switch. So when your battery suddenly fails on you, it's now due to internal shorts or an open circuit from the sudden rush of current. (like that light bulb) In fact, I'm beginning to think that it's actually the very LAST time you started the car that the battery failed on you...that final start pretty much did it in! It will power the lights and everything, and the car will act normal, because this stuff is nothing to a battery. But, the next time you hit the key and send lots of juice to the starter, you fry any remaining internal connection and it's time to call Mister Optima.

So....checking your voltage or your specific gravity won't tell you much. That acid in your batt is probably perfect...just full of chemical power. However, it can't get out due to a failed plate, string connector, etc. Batteries for critical diesel engine generator starting and for large compter center backup power are "load tested" to see if they'll stand up to heavy current demands when needed. Go to liebert.com or cdtechno.com....these outfits are in the business of backup power. Some C&D batteries weigh 390 lbs, have two cells for an output of about 4.1 volts, cost $1250, and pack a big wallop that lasts for hours. String 120 of these together and you have a nice steady source of about 480 volts to power your data center until you can get the diesel started or power down your mainframe with every Visa card number in the world on it.....or whatever.

 

I'm very curious as to why the alternator would be prone to failure when the battery is replaced. Would you please explain the reason for the likelyhood of this occuring. Never heard of this before.

 

sounds like your batt is shot

 

I got my 2000 coupe (new car) in Oct. 1999.

This is my sixth winter on the original Delco battery.

No problems so far. The car is stored in a garage in the winter and started about every two weeks.

The advice from my Corvette shop is to keep the original battery as long as it keeps working - I tried to buy a new battery from them.

Thanks for all the good information.

 

Get the optima!

 

Optima is your answer

 

Welcome to the Dead Battery Club

Same happened to mine a while ago. Same symptoms.

One Optima Red Top later ($99 Costco) and all is sweeetness and light.

8 years from an AC Delco must be a record! Mine lasted 2 years.

 

Happened to me today, went straight for the Optima like everyone suggested. The previous battery, which I though was the stock delco, on closer inspection was some cheap knock off called "delka". Anybody seen this? Just got the car a few months ago, and didn't think i needed to look that closely. BTW, it was dated Oct 03, already dead.

 

Happened to me today, went straight for the Optima like everyone suggested. The previous battery, which I though was the stock delco, on closer inspection was some cheap knock off called "delka". Anybody seen this? Just got the car a few months ago, and didn't think i needed to look that closely. BTW, it was dated Oct 03, already dead.