Starting problems 2003
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Starting problems 2003
Thanks for anyone helping in advance. Here's my problem. 2003 coupe, 30,000 miles been starting fine, no problems. Started it the other day, drove to golf course, played for 4 hours and when trying to leave, battery is completely dead, can't even lock the doors. Came back and jumped it with my truck (4 cylinders) and appears everything has power but now I only get clicking noise (assuming the solenoid) but no starter sounds.
So, doesn't make sense. Why would battery go dead in 4 hours with no activity but then couldn't be jumped?
Again, thanks for any help.
Ben.
So, doesn't make sense. Why would battery go dead in 4 hours with no activity but then couldn't be jumped?
Again, thanks for any help.
Ben.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Bad Battery or something shorted or draining it
I had a NEW battery go in just 9 months. New isn't GOOD. But it sounds like something is draining the battery really fast. If you have an ammeter you can recharge the battery then put the ammeter in series with one of the terminals. I think the GM Manual says 50 milliamps or so is NORMAL with nothing on and the key off. If it is drawing a lot of current look for the component by pulling fuses. But FIRST take the battery to some place where they will test it for FREE. I used advanced auto. My 9 month old battery took oven an hour to test but it was defective. 
BIGAHNK
BIGAHNK
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Thanks.
No ampmeter and besides, no way to charge battery because car is still in an open parking lot with no access to electricity.
What still doesn't make sense is that it won't jump...with dead battery, shouldn't I be able to jump it? If it is a dead cell, why would I get power for other things but not enough power to start the car. Does trying to jump from a 4 cylinder truck battery make any difference?
I'm confused.
No ampmeter and besides, no way to charge battery because car is still in an open parking lot with no access to electricity.
What still doesn't make sense is that it won't jump...with dead battery, shouldn't I be able to jump it? If it is a dead cell, why would I get power for other things but not enough power to start the car. Does trying to jump from a 4 cylinder truck battery make any difference?
I'm confused.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
If the battery is completely dead, you can't jump the car. Hook up the jumper cables and let the jump car idle for a few minutes to put surface charge on the bad battery before you try to start the vette.
Then get a new battery.
Then get a new battery.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,086
Likes: 4,120
From: Kannapolis NC
Sounds like at least one cell went out in the battery. A dead battery is hard to jump, because the current is going into the dead battery instead of to the starter. I doubt anything ran your battery down that fast, but something could have shorted and done that. I'd bet a pretty good amount that your battery just died. I was driving a Camry, pulled into a market, came back out in 5 minutes and it was totally dead, wouldn't even operate the headlights. It happens.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
You definately need to check the voltage available from the battery. My first question is what does the DIC say about voltage?
I agree with the bad cell theory, but also wonder if you have a bad connection somewhere. Maybe even a really bad contact at the battery where the terminal is.....and then there is always the issue of a bad side-post plate on the battery.
Anyway..........Good Luck !
I agree with the bad cell theory, but also wonder if you have a bad connection somewhere. Maybe even a really bad contact at the battery where the terminal is.....and then there is always the issue of a bad side-post plate on the battery.
Anyway..........Good Luck !
Last edited by ALLEGRO; Feb 21, 2007 at 09:19 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
dead battery
I usually connect a set of jumper cables and RUN the OTHER CAR for maybe 5 minutes to allow the DEAD battery to come up somewhat in charge. If you just use jumper cables removed the real cables from the old battery IT MIGHT NOT START. My 12 foot heavy duty (I think 0 guage cables) had enough resistance that they would SOMETIMES crank the car SOMETIMES not. Does the soleniod click when you jump the battery? Might have soleniod problems like I developed after 5 years then its replace the starter time. A few hard whacks on the side of the starter did a quick fix but I had to replace the starter anyway. BIGHANK
BIGHANK
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BTDT
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,396
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Sounds like your battery cables are NOT tight on the battery!
If you can move the terminals by hand, thats the issue! Remove the cables, clean them with a wire brush and then Tighten the terminals to 11 ft/lbs.
If you have a meter see if there is any voltage at the terminals. If you don't have a meter, you can pick up one real inexpensively at wall mart, radiosack, auto-zone, advance etc... If you own a C5, your going to need one. They don't need to be expensive.
BC
If you can move the terminals by hand, thats the issue! Remove the cables, clean them with a wire brush and then Tighten the terminals to 11 ft/lbs.
If you have a meter see if there is any voltage at the terminals. If you don't have a meter, you can pick up one real inexpensively at wall mart, radiosack, auto-zone, advance etc... If you own a C5, your going to need one. They don't need to be expensive.
BC
