Won't start after 3 week storage
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Pro
Joined: May 2003
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From: New York NY
Won't start after 3 week storage
Ok, I've had every problem in the book on my 2001 6speed coupe. In fact, I could probably write a book. Here is the latest. I put my car under a cover for the last 3 weeks. It has an optima red top but no trickle charger. I went to take it out for a spin yesterday and it wouldn't start. Turn the key and hear a click in the passenger footwell but thats all. I also noticed that it wouldn't go into reverse. I figured it was the battery given the fact that it was cold and I hadn't driven it for 3 weeks. Today I hooked up the battery tender and left it on for a few hours. No help. So I tried the jumper cables and no luck. I feel fairly confident that the battery is charged or at least the jumper cables should have worked. The volt meter reads 14 in the on position. Last time this happened was a few years ago when the car was still under warrantee. It turned out to be the BCM (normally an expensive fix). As I recall though, there was no click in the passenger foot well that time, just absolute silence. Oh yes, one last thing, no codes were thrown. What do you guys think?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 266
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From: Chelsea MI
I would try another battery. It may show 14 volts, but, it may not have the current capability to turn over the engine. Also try to give it as much load as possible, turn on lights, as well as any power consuming device all at the same time...
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by Mike73
I would try another battery. It may show 14 volts, but, it may not have the current capability to turn over the engine. Also try to give it as much load as possible, turn on lights, as well as any power consuming device all at the same time...
Bob
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From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by phils C5 vette
In the summer, My Y2K might last 3 week without a start. IN the winter, it makes it to 2 weeks and its not happy
Bob
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
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From: Cape Coral FL
It's a bad battery. How old is it? If it's less than 4 yrs. old it might be worth it to try to get it to recover from a deep cycle. I think the red-top can take a few deep cycles, but it might have de-sulpherized. Put the tender on it for a few days, or if you don't want to wait, get a 6 amp charger and put it on for about 8hrs. If the battery takes the current you may be able to use it for a while longer. If you didn't have the battery disconnected, the VATS will drain it in about 2 weeks. Sometimes the batteries will self discharge when left for a while without being hooked up. OR the cables are either bad, loose, or the connection has gone high resistance.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by ArKay99
It's a bad battery. How old is it? If it's less than 4 yrs. old it might be worth it to try to get it to recover from a deep cycle. I think the red-top can take a few deep cycles, but it might have de-sulpherized. Put the tender on it for a few days, or if you don't want to wait, get a 6 amp charger and put it on for about 8hrs. If the battery takes the current you may be able to use it for a while longer. If you didn't have the battery disconnected, the VATS will drain it in about 2 weeks. Sometimes the batteries will self discharge when left for a while without being hooked up. OR the cables are either bad, loose, or the connection has gone high resistance.
Always disconnect the ground cable when in storage.
Bob
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 391
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From: Garland Texas
Just because it has 14 v dose not mean it has cold crank amps to turn the cold motor over. 
too many time people confuse volts for amps you have to have both. 
These cars are pigs when it comes to power. So check the battery good take it to one of the many auto store and they will check it for free. 
Good luck
too many time people confuse volts for amps you have to have both. These cars are pigs when it comes to power. So check the battery good take it to one of the many auto store and they will check it for free. Good luck
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From: Monticello MN
Originally Posted by blkvett01
Just because it has 14 v dose not mean it has cold crank amps to turn the cold motor over. too many time people confuse volts for amps you have to have both. These cars are pigs when it comes to power. So check the battery good take it to one of the many auto store and they will check it for free. Good luck
too many time people confuse volts for amps you have to have both. These cars are pigs when it comes to power. So check the battery good take it to one of the many auto store and they will check it for free. Good luck 
Ed
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by blkvett01
Just because it has 14 v dose not mean it has cold crank amps to turn the cold motor over. too many time people confuse volts for amps you have to have both. These cars are pigs when it comes to power. So check the battery good take it to one of the many auto store and they will check it for free. Good luck
too many time people confuse volts for amps you have to have both. These cars are pigs when it comes to power. So check the battery good take it to one of the many auto store and they will check it for free. Good luck Bob
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Monticello MN
Originally Posted by Korreck
If the battery is low he'll have low voltage. His gage indicates 14V. If that's correct, it should start the car. A volt meter is a required tool if you're going to work on these things.
Bob
Bob
Ed
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by C5XTASY
My battery indicated full voltage and the starter wouldn't turn over. The ignition key anti-theft system wouldn't allow power to the starter. Cleaned the key pellet (I had just eaten a sticky-bun) and then squirted a little alcohol in the ignition switch and inserted and withdrew the key a few times, and, Voila! It started and the problem has never happened again. Of course, I'm more careful handling my keys now.
Ed
Ed
Bob
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Joined: May 2003
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From: New York NY
Thanks for the replies! I actually have a voltmeter. How many amps should the battery have in order to work properly? Or put another way, how can you tell that your battery is bad with the voltmeter?
I'll leave the car on the battery tender for a few days. Actually I have no choice because we are getting a snow storm here tomorrow. The battery is about 2 years old max. The volts do drop like a rock when I turn the key so maybe that is the problem. It would certainly make sense given the fact that this was the longest stretch it has ever gone without use. My vette was my daily driver (since 2001) until the beginning of this year. I had to buy an suv for the snow. I just didn't like driving the vette in the crappy weather, not to mention the pot holes.
I'll leave the car on the battery tender for a few days. Actually I have no choice because we are getting a snow storm here tomorrow. The battery is about 2 years old max. The volts do drop like a rock when I turn the key so maybe that is the problem. It would certainly make sense given the fact that this was the longest stretch it has ever gone without use. My vette was my daily driver (since 2001) until the beginning of this year. I had to buy an suv for the snow. I just didn't like driving the vette in the crappy weather, not to mention the pot holes.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by ajderzie
Thanks for the replies! I actually have a voltmeter. How many amps should the battery have in order to work properly? Or put another way, how can you tell that your battery is bad with the voltmeter?
I'll leave the car on the battery tender for a few days. Actually I have no choice because we are getting a snow storm here tomorrow. The battery is about 2 years old max. The volts do drop like a rock when I turn the key so maybe that is the problem. It would certainly make sense given the fact that this was the longest stretch it has ever gone without use. My vette was my daily driver (since 2001) until the beginning of this year. I had to buy an suv for the snow. I just didn't like driving the vette in the crappy weather, not to mention the pot holes.
I'll leave the car on the battery tender for a few days. Actually I have no choice because we are getting a snow storm here tomorrow. The battery is about 2 years old max. The volts do drop like a rock when I turn the key so maybe that is the problem. It would certainly make sense given the fact that this was the longest stretch it has ever gone without use. My vette was my daily driver (since 2001) until the beginning of this year. I had to buy an suv for the snow. I just didn't like driving the vette in the crappy weather, not to mention the pot holes.
Bob
Last edited by Korreck; Feb 27, 2005 at 11:17 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by blkvett01
Just because it has 14 v dose not mean it has cold crank amps to turn the cold motor over. too many time people confuse volts for amps you have to have both. These cars are pigs when it comes to power. So check the battery good take it to one of the many auto store and they will check it for free. Good luck
too many time people confuse volts for amps you have to have both. These cars are pigs when it comes to power. So check the battery good take it to one of the many auto store and they will check it for free. Good luck 
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: New York
Battery Quick Disconnect
The Corvette Shop in Coldenham, NY is going to install a quick disconnect for my battery. It's just an inline disconnect with a screw wheel to disconnect the battery with, looks really easy to use. He said these cars all need them to prevent these dead battery issues.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 564
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From: New York NY
Guess what, it wasn't the battery. I put a new one in and nada.... So its going to the shop today. When I get it back, it should have a new set of headers on it as well so I'm not that upset.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,640
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From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by ajderzie
Guess what, it wasn't the battery. I put a new one in and nada.... So its going to the shop today. When I get it back, it should have a new set of headers on it as well so I'm not that upset.
Hope it was an older battery and you would have to change it anyway in the coming year.
Headers, man it must be nice to have money.
Bob
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 295
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From: Edgewater Md.
battery disconnect
Originally Posted by iteachflyin
The Corvette Shop in Coldenham, NY is going to install a quick disconnect for my battery. It's just an inline disconnect with a screw wheel to disconnect the battery with, looks really easy to use. He said these cars all need them to prevent these dead battery issues.