Strange electrical issue
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Strange electrical issue
So I'm trying to figure out what happened. Cranked the Z06 up yesterday and moved it so I could wash it. Finished washing and let it sit for about 3 hours before going back out to move it again. I turned the key to run, everything normal, then tick tick tick tick when i tried to crank it. The instrament panel was saying low voltage. I have an Optima red top battery thats very new and has never had any issues before. I am certain i didnt leave any lights on or anything. So I hook up a trickle charger and let it sit overnight. Went out today and it cranked fine, I also had the alternator checked at a parts store and it showed fine.. So did I maybe ground something out when washing it?!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
I didn't throw a check engine light but I still need to check to see if I have an code history... Voltage at battery was good when running.
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 cables. They MUST be clean and properly torqued on to the battery 11 ft/lbs for 97-03 C5s If you can move the cables by hand on the battery terminals, they are not properly connected.
Starter electrical connections: The connections on the starter are well know to come loose and cause starter issues. They also have to be clean and tight.
Block ground the ground terminal on the passengers side of the block must be clean & tight Its G-105.
Starte with the easy free stuff!
Starter electrical connections: The connections on the starter are well know to come loose and cause starter issues. They also have to be clean and tight.
Block ground the ground terminal on the passengers side of the block must be clean & tight Its G-105.
Starte with the easy free stuff!
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 20
From: Glendale Wisconsin
Hi bwill03z, did you happen to measure the voltage of your battery? Fully-charged, your RedTop should measure about 12.6-12.8 volts. How often do you drive your car and what kind of maintainer do you use when you're not driving it?
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Start with the battery cables. They MUST be clean and properly torqued on to the battery 11 ft/lbs for 97-03 C5s If you can move the cables by hand on the battery terminals, they are not properly connected.
Starter electrical connections: The connections on the starter are well know to come loose and cause starter issues. They also have to be clean and tight.
Block ground the ground terminal on the passengers side of the block must be clean & tight Its G-105.
Starte with the easy free stuff!
Starter electrical connections: The connections on the starter are well know to come loose and cause starter issues. They also have to be clean and tight.
Block ground the ground terminal on the passengers side of the block must be clean & tight Its G-105.
Starte with the easy free stuff!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Hi bwill03z, did you happen to measure the voltage of your battery? Fully-charged, your RedTop should measure about 12.6-12.8 volts. How often do you drive your car and what kind of maintainer do you use when you're not driving it?
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 20
From: Glendale Wisconsin
Even though you're only driving your car on the weekends, you probably don't need to plug it in every time you park it. You may want to consider plugging it in once a month or so during the summer months, just to make sure the battery stays topped off.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Even though you're only driving your car on the weekends, you probably don't need to plug it in every time you park it. You may want to consider plugging it in once a month or so during the summer months, just to make sure the battery stays topped off.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries