help 02 vert will not start
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Paulina La
help 02 vert will not start
car has been sitting for 3-4 weeks with a battery tender installed. Attempted to take it out tonight, the green light on the battery tender was red, the battery appeared to be discharged. Hooked up a 10 amp battery charger, after 3 hours on the charger, the car will not start. Turn the key and it made a clicking sound. Attempted to jump start with another vehicle, same response. What's wrong?
Thanks
Glenn
Thanks
Glenn
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
You dont say what battery you have fitted
Assuming its the original AC Delco, it's an AGM battery. Did you let it discharge at any time in the past? If so, they don't take kindly to that and it may be dead now. Sulphates build up on the plates and its hard to coax it back to life at that stage. The clicking of the relays is certainly classic dead battery symptoms.
You could get a load check at Autozone if you can be bothered. I'd say 6 years is a good innings for a battery and I'd do a pre-emptive change anyway. Its not worth risking getting stranded once they start to play up IMHO
If its any consolation, the AC Delco in my 02 Vert died after only 8k miles.
You now need to decide whether you go with another AGM or switch to conventional. Most of the latest batteries seem to perform well and the Exide gets a good press. I stuck with AGM (leak free) but went for an Optima Yellow Top despite the extra $$.
Assuming its the original AC Delco, it's an AGM battery. Did you let it discharge at any time in the past? If so, they don't take kindly to that and it may be dead now. Sulphates build up on the plates and its hard to coax it back to life at that stage. The clicking of the relays is certainly classic dead battery symptoms.
You could get a load check at Autozone if you can be bothered. I'd say 6 years is a good innings for a battery and I'd do a pre-emptive change anyway. Its not worth risking getting stranded once they start to play up IMHO
If its any consolation, the AC Delco in my 02 Vert died after only 8k miles.
You now need to decide whether you go with another AGM or switch to conventional. Most of the latest batteries seem to perform well and the Exide gets a good press. I stuck with AGM (leak free) but went for an Optima Yellow Top despite the extra $$.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 592
Likes: 55
From: Loxahatchee Florida
I would test the battery, if your alternator is tired out you might not be keeping it charged properly. Also you might have a bad starter. I have recently replaced all 3 and everything is back to perfect..
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
car has been sitting for 3-4 weeks with a battery tender installed. Attempted to take it out tonight, the green light on the battery tender was red, the battery appeared to be discharged. Hooked up a 10 amp battery charger, after 3 hours on the charger, the car will not start. Turn the key and it made a clicking sound. Attempted to jump start with another vehicle, same response. What's wrong?
Thanks
Glenn
Thanks
Glenn
Did you try a jump start while bypassing the battery to see if there is an internal short.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 529
Likes: 1
From: Princeton Texas
Some batterys with a bad cell won't jump start or charge. Take a battery from another car and put it in the Corvette and see if it will start. Most likely you have a bad battery but don't buy a new one until that one is proven to be the problem. Also check for a good ground at both ends of the neg. cable.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 7
From: Bucks County Pa
Battery Problem
The proper way to proceed is to follow Dee Gees advice,
1, make sure you have a good battery by getting it load tested. even a 6 month old battery can fail, it's rare, but it happens, if so AC Delco will replace it free.
2, check the cables for cleanliness and tightness,(shouldn't be able to wiggle them at all), at the battery, ground, starter post,(very important because many vette owners have found this location to loosen up over time), and the underhood fuse block
3, it's possible that the tender is not functioning, (some reports have verified bad tenders), even if the lights seem to be correct. You can test it with a meter, it has to be hooked up to a battery to be tested.
One of these actions should get you up and running again.
Good Luck
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Paulina La
thanks to all for your help
The battery was shorted internally. It was a 6 month old Delco Professional. The battery tender is good. For some unknown reason while sitting in my garage for about a month, the battery shorted. Replaced the battery, everything is back to normal. 
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 7
From: Bucks County Pa
Good Luck