Battery/Electrical Problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 365
Likes: 19
From: Hugo MN
Battery/Electrical Problem
I had an appointment @ a local Chevy dealer recently to flush/refill the coolant on my 01 convertible. I started it up in the morning and drove 40 minutes in traffic to the dealership & pulled into the Service Area. I turned off the key and opened the door to get out. As the radio antenna was going down it stopped halfway. I thought that was strange and turned on the ignition key and the car was dead.
The technician tried to jump start it but was unable to. He checked the battery and said it was bad. They replaced the battery and it seems fine, however, I had no indication of a bad battery prior to this incident. I didn't notice gauge warnings as I was driving in that morning.
I would appreciate any comments as to other underlying causes or concerns that I should have to steps to prevent this going forward.
I can understand if the battery was weak and wouldn't start after sitting, but I do not understand how it could go dead after a 40 minute drive and as I was turning off the ignition.
Help!
The technician tried to jump start it but was unable to. He checked the battery and said it was bad. They replaced the battery and it seems fine, however, I had no indication of a bad battery prior to this incident. I didn't notice gauge warnings as I was driving in that morning.
I would appreciate any comments as to other underlying causes or concerns that I should have to steps to prevent this going forward.
I can understand if the battery was weak and wouldn't start after sitting, but I do not understand how it could go dead after a 40 minute drive and as I was turning off the ignition.
Help!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 365
Likes: 19
From: Hugo MN
Battery/Electrical Problem
Thanks for the feedback. I've never heard of "sulfation"! I hope that's the cause of the problem and nothing more serious.
For winter storage I disconnect the black cable and have never used a Battery Tender or Battery Minder. I would think simply disconnected the cable would alleviate this issue as opposed to using one of the low voltage chargers noted above, however, it did happen to me.
The only think different about my drive to the Chevy dealer that morning was that I plugged in my Garmin navigation unit which I had never used in the vette before, although I don't know how that could create this issue!
For winter storage I disconnect the black cable and have never used a Battery Tender or Battery Minder. I would think simply disconnected the cable would alleviate this issue as opposed to using one of the low voltage chargers noted above, however, it did happen to me.
The only think different about my drive to the Chevy dealer that morning was that I plugged in my Garmin navigation unit which I had never used in the vette before, although I don't know how that could create this issue!
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
Ive seen this issues on several of my Corvette and jeep batteries. It just happened to my 2011 C6 Grand Sport. Good battery on Friday and Saturday, the battery was COMPLETELY DEAD. No lights, no start no nothing. It would NOT even take a charge. Battery had an internal open and was covered bt the 3yr/36,000 mile warranty.
Batteries can open internally . It will read some voltage but not pass any current. Nothing that you did caused the damage!
I have also expierenced battery terminal tightness problems. 97-2003 corvette battery terminal bolts need to be TORQUED to 11 ft/lbs for proper battery terminal connection.
BC
Batteries can open internally . It will read some voltage but not pass any current. Nothing that you did caused the damage!
I have also expierenced battery terminal tightness problems. 97-2003 corvette battery terminal bolts need to be TORQUED to 11 ft/lbs for proper battery terminal connection.
BC
