Total Electrical Failure

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Jun 29, 2007 | 10:54 PM

pjbracing

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Joined: Jan 2005

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From: Davisburg MI

Total Electrical Failure

Went to the parking lot after dinner to drive home. Unlocked the car, the radio came on and I put the top down. I then sat down and put the key in. My steering wheel was tilted up so I couldn't see the DIC. I turned the key and everything went dead, absolutely everything! No radio, no horn, no lights, no lock/unlock. Yesterday, I got the remove key and wait 10 seconds message. The car was driven at highway speeds a couple of times today and I am confident that the battery was charged.

I managed to put the top back up but can't raise the windows. It is now sitting on a flatbed with a tarp over it, waiting to be delivered to the dealer in the morning. Of course the steering column is locked as well.

I had the recall for Column Lock performed about 3 months ago.

It is a 2003 convertible with a 6 speed.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

Jul 1, 2007 | 06:55 PM

bluvette79

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Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 552

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From: Alton Illinois

i'm still thinking battery. highway time does not necessarily mean it will hold a charge. pull key and wait may be related to battery as well since we often see strange codes with weak batteries. i would at least check the battery connections and also hope that you aren't suffering from acid leak. good luck but you are on your way to the stealership anyway so i hope it is under some sort of warranty or you are flush with funds!

keep us posted!

Jul 1, 2007 | 10:49 PM

Bill Curlee

Tech Contributor

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 32,910

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From: Anthony TX

CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet

St. Jude Donor '08

YEP!!

Sounds like you battery went **** up. If it isnt the battery its self, the connections ( POS & NEG ) are probably loose/dirty.

Remove the battery, have it checked out. Clean the connections while it out and when reinstalling it torque the battery bolts to 11 ft/lbs.

BC

Jul 2, 2007 | 01:54 AM

Bill Dearborn

Tech Contributor

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 41,030

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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)

Just had that happen to me last week. The battery shorted internally and that was it. My wife and I were stranded. Tried jumping the battery and got the car started but as soon as I started to move the car it stalled. Sort of a weird failure. The underhood light would glow bright, then dim, then go out all the while there were strange buzzing noises coming from under the dash. The ground side battery terminal was hot to the touch but the positive side was cool. Tow truck to the dealer and a new battery solved the problem.

Bill

Jul 2, 2007 | 08:19 AM

KGoodwin

Instructor

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 193

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From: Houston TX

Odds are that it is the battery. I had a similar problem, car totally dead yet the no-load terminal voltage at the battery checked out fine with a voltmeter. Happended twice after the car had been driven (engine warm in other words). It would come back to life after a period (~ 20 minutes) and would act as if nothing had happened (car started immediately so no indication that the battery was the cause). I suspect an internal short in one of the battery cells but in addition to having the battery replaced, I also replaced the cables since two years prior I had a positive terminal leak on another battery and although I am sure I cleaned everything, I went ahead and replaced the cables this time just to be sure - after all my wife drives the C5 and the first time it went dead, she had the car. I then put a voltmeter in the car and sure enough a week later it happened to me while on an errand.

Jul 2, 2007 | 09:11 AM

pjbracing

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From: Davisburg MI

THANKS TO ALL - Got it home on a flatbed thanks to Chevrolet Motor Club. Checked both keys, nothing, then pulled out a meter and the battery showed about 1.4 volts! Jumped the battery and car fired right up. Alternator was putting out about 14.5 volts. Pulled into garage, shut it off and then nothing.

New Duralast Yellow Top battery and all seems fine.

After I posted, I thought back to how the car acted after sitting in the garage for about 4 weeks without being started this past winter and got the same reaction, so it became easy.

Thanks again, Pete

Jul 2, 2007 | 10:43 AM

JCrouse

Intermediate

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 26

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From: Houston Texas

Same issue just happened to me too...

This just happened to me this past weekend. I went to start my car after work, and opened the door, the overhead light came on, then when i went to turn the key, nothing happened, absolutely nothing. All lights, horn, etc. was then dead. At first i thought it may be a dead fuse, but they all were fine. Maybe it's as simple as a dead battery? I was going to take it to the dealership, but if it's as simple as a battery, i may try myself. Any other thoughts?

Jul 2, 2007 | 11:56 AM

bluvette79

Pro

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 552

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From: Alton Illinois

make sure battery connections are tight and clean. if they are, have the battery checked out. take it out and take it somewhere to be tested under a load in addition to static. put a charger on it before you take it to be tested because they will have to charge it before they test it which delays the process. if it won't hold a charge then you will know that too.