I came home from work and parked my car in my driveway for about 30 mins. I walked up to the car and unlocked the doors/windows down with the remote (valet). I pushed the clutch in and turned the key as usual. I heard a sort of light clicking sound followed by a fan noise comin from under the passenger side dash board. It wasn't a fan... sort of like a buzzing sound. Immediately after everything went dead. Nothing works. No radio. The remote. No DIC. My windows are still open. I have never had this happen before. I haven't checked anything yet because I don't know where to begin. If it were the battery... wouldn't the engine at least have cranked? Can I try to jump start it like any other car? I did have 2 new keys made yesterday. They worked perfectly til now. Any immediate help/tips would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you.

Update:

I went back to the car... and nothing worked. Not even the interior lights. I tried to jump start it and it barely started on the 3rd try. Thats after letting it charge for 5 mins or so. Then when it did start I d/c the cables. The only thing that worked was the engine (sort of). The speedometer maxed out a few times along with the chiming. Like when you 1st put the key in... this happenned about every 2 mins. But the engine continued to run. The headlights did not turn on. I parked it in my garage for now. The battery is the original AC delco since 97. I have about 60,000kms on the car. I am happy that this happenned in my driveway rather than out and about somewhere. At least thats the only positive thing for now. I will check the battery voltage. I guess the best replacement is the optima?

Any other cars I have had give you a warning at the least. Slow crank or you can jump start it a few times. Even push start.

Once again thank you.

 

It very well could be your battery. Even if the lights and all worked and the car wouldn't start it can be the battery. Check the obvious: First, read the voltage. At rest it should be around 12 volts. See if the cables to the battery are tight and clean. Try another key, etc..

 

Same thing happened to me last summer. It was a bad battery (the Delco) that just up and quit with NO warning whatsoever. My car made all the noises you described.

Got a jump start and went straight to Sears and bought an Optime Red Top. Started like new ever since.

Good luck.

 

Probably a dead battery. Probably a broken plate in battery. Clicking is starter trying to work...

 

How old is your battery and what type is it? More then likely it is a battery problem. It is very possible to show no sign of trouble then just die. You can jump start it but I would first check the battery then replace if needed. My personal recommendation is the Optima ( I run the Yellow Top as I leave my car parked for weeks at a time).

Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

 

Go get the optima!

 

Yep, It is the Battery. Mine did the same thing, I'm glad it did though because the Delco was starting to leak. I went to Sears and got A Red Top installed. The guy cleaned everything and now I am starting just fine and don't have to worry about acid leaking on my computer.

 

 

Update:

I went back to the car... and nothing worked. Not even the interior lights. I tried to jump start it and it barely started on the 3rd try. Thats after letting it charge for 5 mins or so. Then when it did start I d/c the cables. The only thing that worked was the engine (sort of). The speedometer maxed out a few times along with the chiming. Like when you 1st put the key in... this happenned about every 2 mins. But the engine continued to run. The headlights did not turn on. I parked it in my garage for now. The battery is the original AC delco since 97. I have about 60,000kms on the car. I am happy that this happenned in my driveway rather than out and about somewhere. At least thats the only positive thing for now. I will check the battery voltage. I guess the best replacement is the optima?

Any other cars I have had give you a warning at the least. Slow crank or you can jump start it a few times. Even push start.

Once again thank you.

 

You have just joined the dead battery club it funny how they just die with know warning.. ...went to the golf course played and came back to nothing..... Get a optima and you will not be stuck again.....

 

Optima is the way to go!

 

Please see update in original post. I am going to get a voltmeter and check the voltage/amp draw.

 

That is pretty amazing that your original battery lasted 7-8 years.

 

Battery - I went with the Optima. Two types (as you may know) Red and Yellow Top. Yellow is the "Industrial Strenght" model. I went with yellow, only because I store my C5 late fall to early spring. I have a battery tender, but figured the Yellow Top might stand up a bit better to the long periods of storeage....even with the tender.

 

If it's the original battery I wouldn't be checking anything but my wallet for the price of a new battery. And count my lucky stars I didn't have to buy two batteries by now. But don't be surprised if your alternator goes south very quickly once you get a new battery in there. Keep us posted. My .02

 

Just do it!

 

I did some searching for OPTIMA batteries on the forum. Many posts seem to be against it. I think I'm leaning towards an AC DELCO again. Good choice?

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1030033

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026859

 

If you don't get an OPTIMA I would go with an Interstate.

 

"Original Delco since '99"

If there was a betting pool on the forum, I would wager that this is your problem

 

Um... actually '97