Dead, Dead, Dead
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburg CA
Dead, Dead, Dead
Just discovered the forum, so excuse the newbie question (though I have checked the FAQs and ALL threads relating to my problem!)
My 2001 Z06 (purchased 2 yrs ago, 12k miles) is dead. Completely dead. I drove and came home -- all was fine; four hours later, she was dead -- no security, no lights, no start, nothing. I have a newish battery (Delco less than a year old), which doesn't seem to want to take a charge. If I connect negative to negative, I get a horrible pulsing, deep "throbbing" sound from in front of the fuse relay box. (I think -- I quickly cut the power!) If I connect negative to ground, I get nothing -- including no charge or start (both options on my charger.) I've fiddled with this for two days. I REALLY don't want to have her trucked to the stealership. Any thoughts?
My 2001 Z06 (purchased 2 yrs ago, 12k miles) is dead. Completely dead. I drove and came home -- all was fine; four hours later, she was dead -- no security, no lights, no start, nothing. I have a newish battery (Delco less than a year old), which doesn't seem to want to take a charge. If I connect negative to negative, I get a horrible pulsing, deep "throbbing" sound from in front of the fuse relay box. (I think -- I quickly cut the power!) If I connect negative to ground, I get nothing -- including no charge or start (both options on my charger.) I've fiddled with this for two days. I REALLY don't want to have her trucked to the stealership. Any thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
From: Spring Tx
Pull the battery and measure the voltage across the terminals.Anything below 12.5 volts is suspect although the dozens of dead cell batteries I have experienced in my life time usually will be in the 10 volt range.At the same time check the cables for corrosion.A bad ground will also act like a dead battery, these cars are famous for their electric gremlims.And they also seem to have an appetite for using up batteries, I am on my third in a bit over three years.the amount you spend on a battery doesn't seem to matter either. My second a Delco jell type lasted only six months. The Walmart $59 special has been good for more than two years with no hiccups.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Classic symtom of a cell going bad in your battery. I was at a friends house and 20 mins later left to go get something to eat and the car just went dead. Like everyone said, get a new batter and you are good to go.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Messiah
Classic symtom of a cell going bad in your battery. I was at a friends house and 20 mins later left to go get something to eat and the car just went dead. Like everyone said, get a new batter and you are good to go.
But I knew what it was. I have done it three times, figure I would learn.
Did you happen to leave your dome lights on? You know that dimmer ****, sometimes I turn it all the way over till it clicks and that turns the dome lights on. Guess what, even though the car turns a lot of things off, if left on, like the radio, etc. It won't turn it off.
I sometimes drive up and have too look around for my garage opener, so I turn it on, forget that I did, park it, and it is dead the next day.
I just hooked it up to a charger.
Ok, sometimes it is the obvious we don't think of.
Check the **** I am talking about out... I would be curious to know if you did the same thing I did.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
If there's no obvious source of drain (like the dome light), take the battery to where you bought it and have it checked. If it's the battery, you walk away with a brand new one, free of charge. That'd be the FIRST thing I'd do if I couldn't charge the battery.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,605
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by Dave68
If there's no obvious source of drain (like the dome light), take the battery to where you bought it and have it checked. If it's the battery, you walk away with a brand new one, free of charge. That'd be the FIRST thing I'd do if I couldn't charge the battery.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
My AGM is now more than 4.7 years old and starting like the day it was new. Delcos are generally very good, long-lasting batteries. Some, like those from Optima, Sears, Motorcraft, etc, die an early death, but then again, there are lemon Hondas and Toyotas out there as well. This doesn't mean that you should never buy one.
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Corvette1221
Same symptoms on my car. Even with a recently replaced battery. Makes all these weird sounds of relays clicking and stuff.
But I knew what it was. I have done it three times, figure I would learn.
Did you happen to leave your dome lights on? You know that dimmer ****, sometimes I turn it all the way over till it clicks and that turns the dome lights on. Guess what, even though the car turns a lot of things off, if left on, like the radio, etc. It won't turn it off.
I sometimes drive up and have too look around for my garage opener, so I turn it on, forget that I did, park it, and it is dead the next day.
I just hooked it up to a charger.
Ok, sometimes it is the obvious we don't think of.
Check the **** I am talking about out... I would be curious to know if you did the same thing I did.
But I knew what it was. I have done it three times, figure I would learn.
Did you happen to leave your dome lights on? You know that dimmer ****, sometimes I turn it all the way over till it clicks and that turns the dome lights on. Guess what, even though the car turns a lot of things off, if left on, like the radio, etc. It won't turn it off.
I sometimes drive up and have too look around for my garage opener, so I turn it on, forget that I did, park it, and it is dead the next day.
I just hooked it up to a charger.
Ok, sometimes it is the obvious we don't think of.
Check the **** I am talking about out... I would be curious to know if you did the same thing I did.
Last edited by o2redzo6; Jan 25, 2006 at 10:37 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville va
I have also had the same problem. I first changed the battery and it worked. The next time it did not. Sometimes water will leak down in to the passenger side floor board and get all the computer parts wet. Sometimes this will cause temporary shorts. I get it a lot when I run the ac or if it rains. When I kept the car outside, the rain would run down and get the floor board wet. Other than that, I would definitely make sure that everything is off like the others said. The car will pull the charge out if anything is on. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by o2redzo6
Aren't these cars equipped with the so called GM smart system that will automaticly turn off the dome lights if left on for over 10 minutes. If not you all have saved me alot of time from going to the shop because this happens to me about once a week.
I also found out, having run some tests with the ignition on, and leaving the key in it will drain the battery if the ignition is left on as well.
So it is not really as good a safety net as one would think. I am embarressed to admit that I have actually drained my battery at least two times by leaving the dome light on.
It happens like this, I drive up to the garage and look around and wonder where I put the opener. I have to turn on the dome light so I can look. Then I drive in, and here is the problem, as you know, when you open the door to the car the dome lights go on anyways and it is easy to forget that they will never turn off cause you left them on.
I think they stay on a few minutes after the door is closed, so even if you look back there is no way to tell if you left them on by looking at what is on in the car.
I have never drained the battery by doing this in any other car, but in the vette, for some crazy reason, I have done it more then once.
Hope that helps