I stored my car this winter as my wheels really suffered with salt damage the previous winter. Well, I just collected it today and they (mechanics at the facility) had to jump start it as it was totally flat.

Firstly I had said when discussing the storage that the car needs some time on a rolling road twice a month, this never happened as it seems I only agreed to the basic storage only package. Anyway, not too concerned with arguing something that can’t be changed I have my car and the 30 or so mile trip home will make everything good again, yes? No. I returned home after 1 hours drive parked up, left it for 10 minutes or so then tried to re-start, nothing, didn’t even try to turn over!! So the indicator on the battery (original just shy of 3 years) shows a good shade of green and no signs of any fluid leakage.

Radio still plays, lights are ok but no life signs whatsoever from the motor other than a few clicks.

Is it likely to be something other than the battery? Maybe the alternator? I’m clueless diagnosing engine faults (never worked on any car before other than really basic stuff).

I do have the car booked in for oil & filters on Wednesday next week but if we can confirm the nature of the problem I can pre-warn the garage so they don’t have to keep my car whilst waiting for parts.

Any help from the Forum experts would be greatly appreciated

Stuart.

Oh, it's a 2002 coupe

 

Most likely just the battery.. it takes a long time for the altenator to charge it up, especially since it was totally dead. You should have used a battery tender while in storage.
It might just need a full charge, or you may have a dead cell which can show a green light but still not give you enough power... Best to get a new battery

 

^^^ I agree, go out get a new battery - I'd go with Optima Red Top!

 

You also might have the glass matt battery which GM used, They caused a lot of problems and don't handle deep cycles very well

 

Thank's for the replies guys. I was leaning towards the battery as It starts with a jump.

How can I tell if it has a glass matt battery, never heard of these?

 

Well, you just identified the problem. Go get the Optima at Price Club.

 

I'm quite sure you have the AGM Battery, and it will say that on the tag of the battery. It's kind of a good news/bad news joke - the good news is that an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) won't leak like the traditional side terminal batteries did and were infamous for doing. The bad news is that GM had such a relatively high rate of failure they discontinued them and went to the top terminal battery in '04.

I realized you are over the pond, so going to Costco is not really a good option. Not knowing G.B. - is there a store that sells AGM batteries over there?

Here's a telephone number for a dealer that sells Optimas in Europe.
Europe/Asia call 011-46-8-622-3200
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/agm_batteries.asp

Failing that - simply purchase a traditional battery - and for the next time that you have to store your Vette for an extended period, get yourself a Battery Tender.
http://www.batterytender.com/

 

Time to spring a few quid and pickup the Redtop Optima!

 

blacksedan87 thank's for the great info. As you noted I'm accross the pond and popping into the local Sams club and Jiffy Lube isn't possible. We do have Costco but probably not "kitted out" as your stores may be.

I'll use your info when I speak to my dealer on Monday as they'll probably try to fob me off with a "none recommended" battery.

Oh, and my existing battery has the side mount terminals which may be on the older cars. But it's been my experience that I can buy a "newly registered" American car here that was built, maybe 18-24 months earlier in the US.

Thanks

 

all C5's have side terminal batteries.

I just replaced mine with another delco battery, the optima batteries (to me) just don't look "right" in the engine compartment.

 

Sorry - but I have to disagree. All C5's prior to '04 had side terminal batteries, yes. But the 04's have top terminal batteries. I have a friend that has two 04's and another with an '04 and all of them have top terminal batteries.

 

Get a Optima Red Top. And Hi from a fellow Brit

EG

 

Re He heal lly...........

I did not know that!

I thought for sure that GM wouldn't change something like that in the last year of C5 production.

THAT'S why I love this place, you ALWAYS learn something new!

 

I managed to get a new Delco from a dearlership in Manchester this morning which is now on and working.

Something else I learned this morning, I hooked up the Vette to my wifes car, run the engine and tried to start the Vette...nothing, so being on my own and not able to rev the doner car and start the Vette at the same time (wife in bed and un-movable at weekend) I turned the headlights on full on the doner car, cranked the Vette and voila started first time as if it were problem free. Dunno what gave me the idea to turn on the lights but it was probably something I'd seen here at sometime.

 

When you store the car next time disconnect the negative batt cable and you wont have thedischarged battery problem{a vette cannot sit for mone than three weeks without the Battery running down}

 

But you could also purchase a Battery Tender, that way the battery is fully charged and ready to go when the car comes out of storage. The battery will discharge slightly from just sitting, too.

 

All good info. Thanks The problem I've had is no garage. We live in a conservation area and it's almost impossible to gain planning permission for any new building. Next week we get the keys to our new home which has a 6 car garage. Problem solved. I'll be able to look after the Vette properly.