C5 Antenna Bypass?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
That is just so odd though because the car was running so strong. I took it out for most of yesterday before I attempted the install at around 5 pm.
Didn't touch it for the rest of the night, but went to wash the car this morning to find out it wouldn't turn on.
It is just odd because it didn't seem weak until this install
Didn't touch it for the rest of the night, but went to wash the car this morning to find out it wouldn't turn on.
It is just odd because it didn't seem weak until this install
I always hook mine up to a bettery tender when its not in use now its not a DD
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
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From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Well I fully charged the battery with the antenna bypass switch disconnected and the car started up fine, back to normal.
Now I have to find out if the bypass switch is draining the current or if it is that my battery is just very weak on top of it?
Any ideas on how I could prove this?
Now I have to find out if the bypass switch is draining the current or if it is that my battery is just very weak on top of it?
Any ideas on how I could prove this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,426
Likes: 285
From: West Barnstable MA
I am really on thin ice on this one, but if you have a CD Amp meter, preferably digital, you can disconnect the negative battery cable, and connect the leads to the Amp meter to the battery cable and the battery post.
This should provide the battery draw at "steady state". Then reconnect your Antenna switch and remeasure. If there is a significant draw, then your switch is your problem.
Before you do this, I suggest you get another forum member to confirm this procedure.
This should provide the battery draw at "steady state". Then reconnect your Antenna switch and remeasure. If there is a significant draw, then your switch is your problem.
Before you do this, I suggest you get another forum member to confirm this procedure.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
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From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
I think I am going to leave it out for now and get a load test done at AutoZone when I am free next because my dad thinks I have a weak battery too. I mean if we let it sit a week and 1/2 without starting it and without the battery charging hooked up, it pretty much won't start.
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
My C5 uses an immense amount of electrical energy and I often see the "charging fault" message in the hot summer months when parking with the A/C and the flashers on (my car is a DD and I use it for work), long story short, I am no expert but I did take automotive electricity at the local community college recently (got a B) and I have a pretty good understanding of electricity - my money is on the probability that you ran the battery down doing the install. By the way, NEVER work on an electical circuit while it is "on", not that you will injure yourself in an automotive application, although it is possible to shock yourself under the hood, but you can damage the vehicle computer and/or other delicate components. Even static electricity can damage a car computer and they are very expensive.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
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From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
My C5 uses an immense amount of electrical energy and I often see the "charging fault" message in the hot summer months when parking with the A/C and the flashers on (my car is a DD and I use it for work), long story short, I am no expert but I did take automotive electricity at the local community college recently (got a B) and I have a pretty good understanding of electricity - my money is on the probability that you ran the battery down doing the install. By the way, NEVER work on an electical circuit while it is "on", not that you will injure yourself in an automotive application, although it is possible to shock yourself under the hood, but you can damage the vehicle computer and/or other delicate components. Even static electricity can damage a car computer and they are very expensive.
But I am going to get a load test done, and if all is good I am going to reinstall the wires with the car OFF this time, with the battery charger connected and see what happens.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,190
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
Remember while you had the trunk up, your courtesy lamps were on and if it was dimly lit, your dash lights were on, too. If the battery was a little weak, that might be enough to drain it, but usually not as much as you've seen. It would be really hard to short a wire to a ground in a Corvette, they're hard to come by.
