Help needed - is this a dead battery problem?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
Help needed - is this a dead battery problem?
Came out of Walmart today and the car was dead, wouldn't make a sound. My buddy came and we jumped it and it started, the battery was reading 14 all the way home. I shut it off at home and it's dead again, tried to jump it with my wife's vehicle and all it would do is make a loud clicking sound but wouldn't start. The computer on the passenger side floor was making a humming sound, but that stopped when I closed the driver's side door. I put the charger on it for awhile but it's still dead. My car is an 03 Z06 with the original battery. Does this just sound like I need a new battery? I'm hoping that's all it is. If so, what's everyone using?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,137
Likes: 4,156
From: Kannapolis NC
Probably battery, but check the connections to the battery and the large red wire to the starter. Sometimes that starter nut is loose or the solenoid post loose in the starter. Don't put a wrench down there with the battery connected. Have Advance or Autozone check your battery.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If you can grab the battery cables and move them by hand, their NOT tight enough or the bolt is too long and its not letting the cable get clamped tight enough to the battery terminal.
BC
BC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,561
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From: Oakland Ca
St. Jude Donor '09
I would check the battery cables first and make sure the terminals are clean. Unbolt them and run a wire brush to the cable bolts and battery terminals. Sometimes there's a film of corrosion that makes for bad contact. Next I'd check to see if both ends of each cable are tight. Even a "dead" battery should have enough power to light up your dash. You could have a dead cell in your battery in which case you'd need a new battery. 5 years on your battery could be time for a new one. Vettes have a lot of electronic parts to them. I'd get a good battery like a Optima battery.
Good Luck,
NorCal-KiD
Good Luck,
NorCal-KiD
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
Thanks for the responses, guys. The connections to my battery are very tight and clean, no corrosion of any kind, no loose connections. I'm leaning towards the 5+ year old OEM battery finally biting the dust! I have mixed feelings on the Optimas. Seems like for everyone that loves theirs there are an equal amount of guys that have had real bad luck with them. What others are out there that have good records? Is there a particular size/model that fits in our cars?
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,137
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From: Kannapolis NC
I would check the battery cables first and make sure the terminals are clean. Unbolt them and run a wire brush to the cable bolts and battery terminals. Sometimes there's a film of corrosion that makes for bad contact. Next I'd check to see if both ends of each cable are tight. Even a "dead" battery should have enough power to light up your dash. You could have a dead cell in your battery in which case you'd need a new battery. 5 years on your battery could be time for a new one. Vettes have a lot of electronic parts to them. I'd get a good battery like a Optima battery.
Good Luck,
NorCal-KiD
Good Luck,
NorCal-KiD
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Bucks County Pa
Battery Problems
Good Luck
Last edited by bestvettever; Sep 22, 2008 at 02:44 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,561
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From: Oakland Ca
St. Jude Donor '09
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Battery Drain
If your battery is draining on your 1999 and up Corvette - try this test: With the car off at night or in the garage check and see if there is dim lighting on the switch pods on either side of the cluster. If you see some illumination there is a problem with the instrument cluster. We can repair these - call Tom @ 1 888 803 8523 for more details.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Also, your battery could be as old as 6.5 (if your 03 was built in 02). My OEM AC Delco was 7 when I replaced it and it was still starting my engine. I fould out that although my local Pep Boys sold AC Delcos, they typically did not sell the Professional version, which is the best (50-month free replacement warranty and 7-YR total warranty). However, the guy at Pep Boys asked the distributor to sell me one directly and I now have that 7YR battery. It fits perfectly (something you just can't say about every non-AC Delco battery and will almost certainly last me another 7 years.
