Help with electrical issue
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Help with electrical issue
hello,
Today while driving I lost all power to the car. No gauges, power windows, etc. everything was dead except car was running, drove weird, but it was running. Turned the car off and now batter is dead. I’ve replaced several batteries over the last year and the most recent one that is dead is only 2 months old. Any thoughts on what is going on? Alternator? Thanks.
Today while driving I lost all power to the car. No gauges, power windows, etc. everything was dead except car was running, drove weird, but it was running. Turned the car off and now batter is dead. I’ve replaced several batteries over the last year and the most recent one that is dead is only 2 months old. Any thoughts on what is going on? Alternator? Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
hello,
Today while driving I lost all power to the car. No gauges, power windows, etc. everything was dead except car was running, drove weird, but it was running. Turned the car off and now batter is dead. I’ve replaced several batteries over the last year and the most recent one that is dead is only 2 months old. Any thoughts on what is going on? Alternator? Thanks.
Today while driving I lost all power to the car. No gauges, power windows, etc. everything was dead except car was running, drove weird, but it was running. Turned the car off and now batter is dead. I’ve replaced several batteries over the last year and the most recent one that is dead is only 2 months old. Any thoughts on what is going on? Alternator? Thanks.
the cars will run on next to nothing when it comes to voltage.....so i am not surprised the battery is dead. you had only enough power to fire the plugs and then nothing else.
charge the battery and then start trouble shooting the system. i would start with an alternator test at the auto parts store
Last edited by bobs77vet; Oct 8, 2017 at 05:27 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
Several batteries over the last year indicate something is going on. Perhaps something is draining the battery.
In addition to 8VETTE7's advice, check the main battery grounds to frame and to engine. If that does not yield anything,
Here is a link on how to check for battery drain:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ery-drain.html
In addition to 8VETTE7's advice, check the main battery grounds to frame and to engine. If that does not yield anything,
Here is a link on how to check for battery drain:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ery-drain.html
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Got a new battery this morning and car starts fine now. That’s threw batteries in a year. Taking it to the dealer tomorrow to have them check for a drain. Something has to be going on.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Racer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 406
Likes: 59
From: Northern California
I had a similar issue in one of my cars. Turned out to be the chassis ground was loose. Make sure the ground for the battery is secured to the chassis. Also check the engine ground to the chassis.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
the alternator tests that the sales clerks do at the strip mall auto parts store are pretty good, just look over their shoulder and make sure they follow the instructions on their machine for the load test portions. the tests can measure the diodes and the phases and you get a print out to decipher the test results...not bad for free.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Currently, I have 1) a freon leak that they can’t find. Freon only lasts maybe a month 2) driver’s headlight stops working which the dealer has tried to fix 9 separate times, three actuators etc and 3) battery issue they can’t find. Time to find a new shop.