Got gas, Car wouldnt start

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jul 24, 2006 | 07:21 PM

Markm10431

Thread Starter

Parrothead

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 48,231

Likes: 289

From: Margaritaville Embassy

St. Jude Donor '08-'09,'13, '14

Got gas, Car wouldnt start

so I pushed it out of the gas lane, seriously pissed. it would click and thats it. voltages on the battery were 11.5, bith on the DIC and on the gage. I called a friend who came and jumped the car, fired after cranking about 15 seconds. after work it fired no problems. it was very warm and my C-3 does the same thing.. could the starter be getting too hot?

Jul 24, 2006 | 08:21 PM

vettenuts

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 1999

Posts: 22,025

Likes: 192

From: At the beach in little Rhody

What year and which battery? My AGM died suddenly on Sunday, thankfully it was in the garage when it happened.

Jul 25, 2006 | 12:24 AM

JC in XTC5

Drifting

Joined: May 2000

Posts: 1,917

Likes: 3

From: Southern NH

if the starter clicks several times when you turn the key, the problem is likely the battery doesn't have enough juice. 11.5V on the DIC translates to about 12.1V on the battery, which is low (less then 50% charge) but enough to start a hot engine.

If the starter just clicked once, then I would start by checking the battery cables to the starter. That could be a loose connection that open-circuits when juice tried to flow through it.

Jul 25, 2006 | 07:03 AM

Markm10431

Thread Starter

Parrothead

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 48,231

Likes: 289

From: Margaritaville Embassy

St. Jude Donor '08-'09,'13, '14

it's an '01 and presumably the originl 7 year Delco battery. my firsth thought was battery but I was fooled by the voltages.. time for an optima I think

Jul 26, 2006 | 05:53 PM

Markm10431

Thread Starter

Parrothead

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 48,231

Likes: 289

From: Margaritaville Embassy

St. Jude Donor '08-'09,'13, '14

an update. wouldnt turn over so I jumped it with the '82. got to work and called around fortunately there is an Advanced auto not far from work that carries Optima batteries. so i go durning lunch buy the batery borrow a couple tools to install it. I go to pull the positive terminal and the whole post comes off!

took me a few minutes to get the post loose and finish the swap. I'm simply amazed that the thing was so rotted out like that. Saturday I'm pulling the new battery and the stand to do a damage inspection.
By the way.. whats the difference with the red top vs yellow top Optimas?

Jul 26, 2006 | 06:01 PM

slolane

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 8,506

Likes: 5

From: West Michigan crew Mich

CI 7-8-9 Veteran

St. Jude Donor '07-'08 & '12

I had the samething happen to me once. The positive cable worked lose, I tightened when I got home its been fine for a year now. I hope thats all it is

Jul 26, 2006 | 11:10 PM

Sick Z06

Racer

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 447

Likes: 0

From: San Jose Ca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markm10431

+1 - This was VERY common with over tightened Delco batteries!

RedTop = General Spefication Replacement
YellowTop= Extreme Performance -
BlueTop = Marine grade.

The redtop's are more of your I want a good quality OEM replacement.

The yellow top is more of an upgrade of a redtop, that is LESS sensetive to power drain, high charge, deep cycle, and temperature. Many even consider it for "commercial" use. Any hi-performance shop worth a hill of beans will have these!

The bluetop is more of a marine grade redtop, with GREAT qualities for deep cycle usage.

Last edited by Sick Z06; Jul 26, 2006 at 11:13 PM.