C6 Dead Batteries - A GM Response
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO.
C6 Dead Batteries - A GM Response
[I published this in the General Section near the end of a very long thread on the DBS issue. Thought it would be of benefit to post it here as well]
Sometime ago Jeff and I asked for information regarding your DBS problem, that we would forward it to the GM team working on the solution. As a result, several C6 owners were put in direct contact with our source and have been working with GM to identify the root cause. A number of you have suggested that GM is wearing blinders, which is not the case.
I received the following letter from our "Friend in High Places" which provides an update as to GM's efforts in trying to determine the cause and provide a fix. It is addressed to those of us who have been in direct contact. You are NOT being left out in the cold by GM!
Our source asks a question of us at the bottom of his letter. Please reply to me with any input and I'll see that he gets all responses: c5bruce@adelphia.net
Hello Everyone: I'm sure most of you do not know each other but you are all Corvette enthusiast that I have been communicating with regarding your dead battery syndrome. I just wanted to give everyone an update so you know where we stand. I was off on vacation in November and December but rest assured the project is moving forward.
There is a complete team working the issue and a specialist in root cause analysis has also been assigned. We have been successful in identifying
some issues that are not causing the condition and we also believe that it can not all be associated with customers not putting the car in reverse. Especially with this group I trust you all fully understand and practice the proper shut down procedures.
As you know for 2006 the shift to reverse feature was eliminated. GM was successful in convincing the Federal Government that this feature was not
essential in preventing car theft. While the Fed ruled GM could discontinue it on future models it did not approve a retrofit that would eliminate the requirement for 2005 models. So 2005 cars are stuck with it.
Also for 2006 the column lock feature has been removed. We are not sure how much, if any, this influences DBS but it is a difference we are investigating.
We understand there are two switches that are used to tell the BCM the shifter is placed in reverse. If these switches are not activated the BCM does not actually shut down the electrical system. The car could believe it is not in reverse and stays live, even when the shifter is in reverse.
We are developing a couple of testers that can easily be installed in a customer car and monitor these circuit and switches. We will be installing it in one customer car next week. We have had two test
computers built that are currently on customer cars that actually monitor battery voltage, amp draw and ignition cycles every 30 seconds. The computer is not invasive and the customer can drive the car while it stays connected and monitors the data. We are looking to our engineering group for more improvements that can determine if a module is not going to sleep as it is intended and identify the naughty module.
We are also looking at stray radio waves that could be waking up the BCM once it is asleep much like doing an key fob button press. In one case we identified a customer's car that lived close to the security gate for their neighborhood. Every time someone hit the button to open their security gate their car would wake up and go through the 20 minute shut down
procedure.
Each of you have been supplying information and data particular to your car and some of your friends. I thank you for your continued support and patience. We are making progress but since I have no idea how long the road is, I can only tell you when we can finish the race. Rest assured we will not quit until we identify the issue and correct it. As more information becomes available I will pass it to you.
If you are still driving your cars and don't happen to be hampered by Michigan's winter and bad roads, you could try something for me. As you drive and park the car and shift to reverse, once the car is in reverse do you ever get the message to shift to reverse even though it is there? Just curious. If you do experience this event please let me know.
Have a great January, enjoy the Detroit Auto Show if you are coming this way.
Sometime ago Jeff and I asked for information regarding your DBS problem, that we would forward it to the GM team working on the solution. As a result, several C6 owners were put in direct contact with our source and have been working with GM to identify the root cause. A number of you have suggested that GM is wearing blinders, which is not the case.
I received the following letter from our "Friend in High Places" which provides an update as to GM's efforts in trying to determine the cause and provide a fix. It is addressed to those of us who have been in direct contact. You are NOT being left out in the cold by GM!
Our source asks a question of us at the bottom of his letter. Please reply to me with any input and I'll see that he gets all responses: c5bruce@adelphia.net
Hello Everyone: I'm sure most of you do not know each other but you are all Corvette enthusiast that I have been communicating with regarding your dead battery syndrome. I just wanted to give everyone an update so you know where we stand. I was off on vacation in November and December but rest assured the project is moving forward.
There is a complete team working the issue and a specialist in root cause analysis has also been assigned. We have been successful in identifying
some issues that are not causing the condition and we also believe that it can not all be associated with customers not putting the car in reverse. Especially with this group I trust you all fully understand and practice the proper shut down procedures.
As you know for 2006 the shift to reverse feature was eliminated. GM was successful in convincing the Federal Government that this feature was not
essential in preventing car theft. While the Fed ruled GM could discontinue it on future models it did not approve a retrofit that would eliminate the requirement for 2005 models. So 2005 cars are stuck with it.
Also for 2006 the column lock feature has been removed. We are not sure how much, if any, this influences DBS but it is a difference we are investigating.
We understand there are two switches that are used to tell the BCM the shifter is placed in reverse. If these switches are not activated the BCM does not actually shut down the electrical system. The car could believe it is not in reverse and stays live, even when the shifter is in reverse.
We are developing a couple of testers that can easily be installed in a customer car and monitor these circuit and switches. We will be installing it in one customer car next week. We have had two test
computers built that are currently on customer cars that actually monitor battery voltage, amp draw and ignition cycles every 30 seconds. The computer is not invasive and the customer can drive the car while it stays connected and monitors the data. We are looking to our engineering group for more improvements that can determine if a module is not going to sleep as it is intended and identify the naughty module.
We are also looking at stray radio waves that could be waking up the BCM once it is asleep much like doing an key fob button press. In one case we identified a customer's car that lived close to the security gate for their neighborhood. Every time someone hit the button to open their security gate their car would wake up and go through the 20 minute shut down
procedure.
Each of you have been supplying information and data particular to your car and some of your friends. I thank you for your continued support and patience. We are making progress but since I have no idea how long the road is, I can only tell you when we can finish the race. Rest assured we will not quit until we identify the issue and correct it. As more information becomes available I will pass it to you.
If you are still driving your cars and don't happen to be hampered by Michigan's winter and bad roads, you could try something for me. As you drive and park the car and shift to reverse, once the car is in reverse do you ever get the message to shift to reverse even though it is there? Just curious. If you do experience this event please let me know.
Have a great January, enjoy the Detroit Auto Show if you are coming this way.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Originally Posted by C5-BRUCE
Hey Dave - you ever been known as "Balboa Dave"?
You've ever been known as Bruce Almighty ??
The 2005 C6 will take the place in the C6 line that the 1984 C4 took in the C4 line.
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 697
Likes: 50
From: Up North Wisconsin
It is a good read for C5 tech. It shows just how complex cars have become. When we hop into our Vettes or daily drivers we take it for granted when everything works. We get mad as hell when this high tech stuff doesn't work. Rightfully so, for when $50,000 is spent you expect it to work. But I would not want to go back to the days of the automatic choke.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 275
Likes: 21
From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by 00247
It is a good read for C5 tech. It shows just how complex cars have become. When we hop into our Vettes or daily drivers we take it for granted when everything works. We get mad as hell when this high tech stuff doesn't work. Rightfully so, for when $50,000 is spent you expect it to work. But I would not want to go back to the days of the automatic choke.
My 2004 just had a battey change and now the whole dam BCM or computer has the tire sensors screwed up. Enough is enough, GM had better get their act together or at least give up and lets move on to a more reliable car..... I love my Vette when it is working properly but in a year and half of ownership it has been in the shop more than in my garage
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Originally Posted by nmbsun
Damn right I expect my $51,000 car to work right!!! And back in the days when there were no computers in cars and they had auto chokes on the carbs at least you could work on it and fix it.
My 2004 just had a battey change and now the whole dam BCM or computer has the tire sensors screwed up. Enough is enough, GM had better get their act together or at least give up and lets move on to a more reliable car..... I love my Vette when it is working properly but in a year and half of ownership it has been in the shop more than in my garage
My 2004 just had a battey change and now the whole dam BCM or computer has the tire sensors screwed up. Enough is enough, GM had better get their act together or at least give up and lets move on to a more reliable car..... I love my Vette when it is working properly but in a year and half of ownership it has been in the shop more than in my garage
