intermittant shut off while driving
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Juliet Tn
intermittant shut off while driving
I have had my 2001 C5 for a month, and when I'm driving usually around 70mph with the cruise set, ( I have noticed it without the cruise, but it's very noticeable with it set). Driving along and it takes a "hit" and for a millisecond it quits running. The lights dim, the cruise shuts off, and I can feel a difference in the steering. It's only happened a few times, usually 2 or 3 "hits" within a 1 minute span. I ran the codes and nothing showed up on the engine/electrical systems.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Check all of the Battery elecrical cables and connections. Look on the starter, alternator, fuse box B+ connections and MAKE SURE that the battery cables are tight!!!! 11 ft/lbs
Also make sure that your ignition switch isnt causing it to shut off!!
Also make sure that your ignition switch isnt causing it to shut off!!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,080
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From: Dardenne Prairie Mo.
I dont mean to highjack your post but Bill knows more about these cars elecrical systems than anyone else on the forum so i though he might help me as well as you in this one post.
I have been having a simler problem but mine is on decelleration when you are running down the road at 70 and just lay your foot on the gas pedal to where the car is coasting it starts bucking and missing and acts like it is trying to smother out and sometime when you pull up to a stop sign it wants to try to die and you have to feather the throttle to keep it running maybe a second are 2 and it clears right up could this be a grounding problem.
I have a red top on the car for a year now and just took it out last night to see if there was any leaks are other problems with the battery and everything still looks like new as far as the battery goes.
any help would be great.
I have been having a simler problem but mine is on decelleration when you are running down the road at 70 and just lay your foot on the gas pedal to where the car is coasting it starts bucking and missing and acts like it is trying to smother out and sometime when you pull up to a stop sign it wants to try to die and you have to feather the throttle to keep it running maybe a second are 2 and it clears right up could this be a grounding problem.
I have a red top on the car for a year now and just took it out last night to see if there was any leaks are other problems with the battery and everything still looks like new as far as the battery goes.
any help would be great.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Juliet Tn
I also have a question about the electrical system. I don't know if this problem is normal "Corvette stuff". When I'm driving at night and hit the brakes, the headlights dim a little. The volt meter doesn't show a drop in volts, it stays a little above the 14v mark. I've also had an ongoing thing with a "chirp" from under the hood, mostly when the the A/C compressor is on. I found on this forum that the usual cause is the belt tentioner. I replaced the tentioner and the belt, and the chirp went away, for the most part, but the other night I turned on the defroster, and the chirp came back. It's a bit more intermittent, but it does come back a little. I have a warranty, and one of the local dealers is doing the work, but I'm not sure they are very knowledgeable about the vette. Any help would be appreciated.
David
David
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Juliet Tn
Can anybdy shed some light on any of this for me? I'm really new to the Vette. I have noticed that when I look at the DIC the volts vary from 14.1 down to 13.0 when I first step on the brakes, for just a second, but there is no set pattern, sometimes it does and other times it doesn't. Not sure what the normal is.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,202
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
I'm not sure either, but I've had two C5's and both dipped like that when you turn on lights, step on brake, turn on fan. I think it's pretty normal. It's only for a second during the initial current surge.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 181
From: NE OH
Originally Posted by 65GGvert
I'm not sure either, but I've had two C5's and both dipped like that when you turn on lights, step on brake, turn on fan. I think it's pretty normal. It's only for a second during the initial current surge.
As for the intermittent shutting off....check the ground wires on the back of the driver's side head. Those grounds are for your coil packs. If they aren't grounded or not grounded well your plugs won't fire. Ask me how I know
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The dimming is pretty much mormal. Nothing to worry about. The belt noise is most likley coming from your AC Compresser Drive belt. (bet ya didnt know you had one)
Its down low on the passengers side of the engine.
BC
Its down low on the passengers side of the engine.
BC
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Juliet Tn
Thanks Bill, I'm trying to get the car fixed in the "free" warranty period, and so far they have replaced the tentioner, belt, and even the blower motor. I told thm it was the compressor, but they haven't figured it out yet. The dealer has spent about $800.00 on this car, and they still haven't fixed the chirping. however I am getting a bunch of new parts. The intermittant shut off thing is still happening, but it seems to be less frequent in the colder weather. Could this be as simple as the ground connections. Maybe I'm making this too hard.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Start with the battery and battery cables. Remove the cables, clean the terminals and cable ends. Reinstall and TORQUE the cables on the battery to 11 ft/lbs. Next, check the starter connections. Make sure the cables are all tight. There is a main negative cable on the passengers side of the engine and a single wire that attachés to the frame (just follow the small black wire off the battery cable terminal down to the frame.
Check all that and let me know if you find anything or not.
Bill
Check all that and let me know if you find anything or not.
Bill
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Juliet Tn
Hey Bill, I checked to battery terminals and they were a little loose. I reinstalled them, but my torque wrench won't fit to tighten the terminals, but I did get them tight. I also checked and tightened the ground posts #101-104. They were all a little loose and took about a third turn to get tight. Haven't driven the car since I did all this, but hopefully it will take care of something. I could not get the multi plug apart at those ground points, is there a trick to getting them apart?
Thanks
David
Thanks
David
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Juliet Tn
OK so the result of tightening all those connections is, the digital voly meter doesn not vary as much. Have not had the shut off problem show up yet. The lights don't dim as much as they did before.
Thanks Bill
Thanks Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
C5 ground terminal for the most part resolves most of the intermittant electrical issues that most of us have. There are other things that cause electrical issues but ground maintenance is the first place to start. (ITS FREE!!)
Glat that your seeing some improvement. Let us know if you see any other problems.
bc
Bill
Glat that your seeing some improvement. Let us know if you see any other problems.
bc
Bill
