C5 - Totally Dead
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 251
Likes: 9
From: Western Massachusetts
C5 - Totally Dead
First - Happy Thanksgiving to all. I decided to do so routine work on my '99 FRC. I was changing the positive terminal on the battery. The negative was first disconnected and out of the way. My daughter was handing me a wrench - inadvertently dropped it - touched both battery terminals - there was a spark and slight burn mark on the wrench. I finished changing the terinmal and made sure everything was connected and tight. Checked terminals - both tight. I went to start the car - totally dead - no lights, no horn, etc. All the dash gauges were pegged to maximum. Some time later I tried starting the car again - everything was normal. Car started as it normally did! I turned the car off - all gauges returned to "normal". Thought nothing more about it. Later went to start again to move it - nothing - absolutely dead. Tried opening the trunk - nothing! Tried lights, horn, etc. Nothing! Gauges were all normal - everything was dead. Any help suggested! The only techs I trust are ECS - Performance in Windsor Locks, CT. Absolutely the best - they are the only people I trust with our cars! One drawback for me - they are 60+ miles away.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 219
From: West Branch, MI
Absolutely test the battery. You shorted it out albeit very briefly. A longer short out could really cause some problems. A shorted car battery can easily deliver several hundred amps -- more than an arc-welding machine. Don't take chances with it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 251
Likes: 9
From: Western Massachusetts
What am I looking for - I will use a multimeter? Earlier this evening everything was absolutely dead! I checked the connections. The negative, which has a quick disconnect, was slightly loose. I tightened it - when I opened the door the interior lights went on. I made no attempt to start the car. The Interstate Battery distributor is several miles away and will test everything for me. If a loose terminal is the problem and I recheck and tighten it - will it be safe to start the car and drive those two miles? Thank you in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 219
From: West Branch, MI
If you have a meter, yes check your battery. If 12.6v or higher, you're probably ok. If lower, then you might be ok as well but it wouldn't hurt to put a trickle charger on it. And yes, your loose negative connection was probably the culprit in this totally dead issue. If everything seems ok, it probably is. However, I would take it to get it checked. Batteries are fairly simple. If they have the correct volts and hold a charge, then they're ok. It's very fortunate that the cables were disconnected from the battery when this occurred. That simple fact isolated the car's electrical components away from any damage. Whew! And as stated many times in the past, if our C5s don't get the correct voltages that they're expecting, wierd things start to happen. I think you have avoided any serious issues. Glad things are working again. It's probably safe to start and test the battery.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
What am I looking for - I will use a multimeter? Earlier this evening everything was absolutely dead! I checked the connections. The negative, which has a quick disconnect, was slightly loose. I tightened it - when I opened the door the interior lights went on. I made no attempt to start the car. The Interstate Battery distributor is several miles away and will test everything for me. If a loose terminal is the problem and I recheck and tighten it - will it be safe to start the car and drive those two miles? Thank you in advance.
If you have one of the big box auto parts stores nearby (Advance, Autozone) just take it there and have them test the battery.
Last edited by MAC5; Nov 27, 2015 at 07:49 AM.
