Guys, need some help to find a solution or at least info on where to start troubleshooting. Here's the issue:

Got an '01 Vert with ~73k miles that I bought in Jan this year. Last drove it 4 days ago with absolutely no problems. Always use a battery tender. Battery tender showed green light this morning indicating battery was topped off. Got in it this morning to take it to work, turned ignition to accessory and all lights came on nice and bright, turn to start and the car went dead immediately. Starter didn't even turn over or click. All dash lights, external lights, everything electrical went out. Tried a few times to cycle the ignition with no success. After a few attempts, I noticed a couple of things. I kept hearing quick random clicking coming from the fuse box in the passenger foot area. The security light on the dash came on but was very dim and flashing quickly. This was the only light that ever remotely came on. I had to get to work, so I decided to disconnect the battery to be safe. As I was disconnecting it, I was hearing an intermittent (as the battery contacts loosened) high pitched whine coming from the front right headlight area. Never heard this before on previous battery disconnects, but thought it might have been the horn for whatever reason.?...
Not sure it's relevant, but only thing I did from the previous drive was cycle the hazard switch about 30 times since I've been having some problems with intermittent turn signals.
Any suggestions? Is there a fuse possibly that may have blown? Hopefully, this is something simple...

 

Sounds like you have a bad cell in your battery. Have it load tested at Autozone or some place similar. The clicking you hear is due to the relays and such not having sufficient power to do their thing.

A battery with a bad cell will often times fool a charger. They hold a surface charge but have no power to actually do anything. If your charger shows actual voltage, it will show very low when first hooked up and be "fully" charged in 10-20 minutes.

 

 

Thanks guys. I'll take the battery this afternoon to get it checked and let you know the results.


Regarding the mod question, except for aftermarket exhaust it's all stock.

 

I am still taken aback by the abrupt way this failed, if it is the battery. In other cars I've had, if the battery is dying lights would be dim and starter would click as it tried to turn over. Never experienced this before.

 

I've had batteries that acted low on charge so I charged them. Removed from charger, start the car, turn off, and try to restart with a no start. I then reattached the charger and it showed low charge. Ten minutes later charger shuts off due to "full" charge. A cell can go bad very quickly.motorcycle batteries are notorious for that due the vibration and jarring they experience. (Electrode inside breaks)

 

Even brand new batteries fail. My son just bought a high end battery (Red Top I believe) for his SUV. Day one was good. Day two dead, completely dead. Returned to the auto store and they did not believe it was the battery. They tested it for 6 hours and found two cells would not accept a charge. Murphy's law is always in play.

 

I certainly hope the battery is the issue. Not cheap, but better than chasing electrical ghosts for a while.

 

Gents, just want to send out a sincere "thank you". The car is now running fine and you saved me hours, if not days, of searching for the problem.
I took the battery in to AutoZone this afternoon and had them test it. The battery was showing fully charged with 12.7 V, but nothing being discharged. Not sure exactly what caused this, but it was internally bad. Bought a new one, came home and installed it. Car immediately fired up with no problems.
Given the symptoms, I surely wouldn't have gone after the battery first. Thanks again.

 

Glad it was a simple fix and thanks for confirming our diagnosis. It helps us know we gave you the correct advice. Now, enjoy that car!