SO it like 30 degrees outside and i turn the key and the radio and lights turn on but the car doesnt turn over just a faint little whine but not really any effort. Is it just need a battery replaced(99 vette with 45000 miles) or is it something else. Im sure you guys will figure this stupid question out in record time.

 

Jump start

 

If it's a '99 and has the original batery, you've done very well. Yes get a new battery.

If not, how old is the battery? A jump start will get you on the road but... How long has it been since you last drove it? Are you charging it now? Sounds like a classic dead battery but again, we need to know more...

 

I'm with Vrrooom2.

Both low and high temperatures are hard on a battery so 30 degrees will give it a real hard time.

The battery is nearly dead but not quite. In my experience, the problem starts with a slow crank, then the symptoms you describe plus maybe chattering relays and eventually nothing at all. No lights and just dead.

If you jump it, it will get you going but you'd need a long steady drive to get anything like enough charge to top it up to a point where you could trust it. that may be tricky in CO in winter.

You could trickle charge it overnight or better still, if it's OEM, change the battery now. the older AC Delcos leak so its just not worth the risk as the computer's under the battery tray.

You might want to consider investing in a battery tender if your car's off the road for extended periods in the bad weather.

Best of luck

 

Your battery is discharged....

What caused it to discharge...multitude of possibilities including lights on, bad starter (ground) bad alternator not charging and a bad battery of course.............

If you are going to charge the battery with a charger and not be in attendance... remove the battery.

If you are gonna boost it go ahead aand remove the battery connection when it's running, it will continue to run (if it does not your alternator is probably the failure ) and you can see the voltage...reconnect..... If you know how to run an ampmeter you can connect in series with the positive cable while the cable is disconnected from the terminal and see current going into the battery.
thru the meter be a tad carefull here as the current altho will not harm you............. could harm the meter..discharged battery means highest current charging .........

All this blathering.............. it is not a bad idea to replace a battery every 10 years LOL as this un has served you well. Too many choices of battery and many opinions BUT remember the main wiring harness and computer are directly under the battery if that makes your choice easier BUT in any case buy a decent battery.
Ian

 

Best advice right here.................and do what DeeGee says, get a battery tender.

 

Been there and done that with my brother's Corvette. You battery is history. My brother's Corvette did the same things as you have described.....used my HD charger for 1 1/2 hours charging the battery, still would not start, tried to jump it, wouldn't jump (HD professional cables, not the cheap junk ones) a no go. My brother was like flipping out. I told him, put the new battery in and all your problems will be gone. We went to the Delco store and got a new Delco battery and all his problems disappeared. He now uses a Battery tender when storing the car in the winter. Don't waste any more time, get a new battery. Good Luck. Save the Wave.>George

 

if there are signs of life in the battery I.E. lights radio that type of thing then i would say to look at the theft deterrent relay. over the summer mine would only start by popping th clutch, it was the relay
just my thousand bucks