1998 C5 Big Issue
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From: Ohio
1998 C5 Big Issue
So I was out working on my car this last weekend. I was replacing the front passenger side panel since it was cracked with a brand new one. After I removed the panel by the front passenger tire a couple minutes later I see my hood light flickering and a noise emitting from the fuse relay box or the battery. It was right in that area. When I went to turn on the car it wouldn't crank but the lights in the car would flicker. Now my car when I put in the key and turn it no electronics come on. No lights come on either.. I made sure my battery connections were good and all wires seem to be fine. Is my battery dead? Or a fuse blew? The noise was almost vibrating in tone.. humming. If you can picture a old light bulb making a noise like "vzz vzzz" sorry if that doesn't make since. I will be removing the battery after I get home today and seeing what autozone says. I just had it recharged not too long ago. For the same reason almost. It was a noise similar to that. Maybe there's a short somewhere or it's the battery. Hopefully nothing expensive if you guys have any ideas or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Sounds like a dead battery to me. Did you charge it or put it on a tender after this ? you problems may disappear.
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No. it was driving fine all the days prior to me doing the fender. That Saturday morning it started fine and everything then all of a sudden when the lights flickered and the noise the car would start anymore lol. So I'll try recharging the battery later and see if that works.
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I wiggled all the wires I could see and nothing happens with the key in ignition to on, where the electronics would start. Since the car won't start and if the battery and grounds don't work.. after I recharge battery and clean grounds. How will I move the car out of my garage to be out on a flat tow? Just try and put it in manual and push it? It's an Automatic. Thanks for the responses also
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From: Ohio
Relays require a certain minimal amount of voltage to function. If the voltage is too low the relay points will "chatter" instead of closing. That is most likely what you are hearing, the chatter of a relay.
Fuses SELDOM start "going bad". The fail out right as they were designed to do. ie more current trying to flow in the circuit than the rated amperage of the fuse and it "blows out" breaking continuity in the circuit.
Fuses SELDOM start "going bad". The fail out right as they were designed to do. ie more current trying to flow in the circuit than the rated amperage of the fuse and it "blows out" breaking continuity in the circuit.
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You don't want to change out fuses that aren't blown. That's kind of like changing out a working light bulb. Like johnson-rod commented, something caused your battery to discharge, maybe a pinched wire. You have to determine what caused the discharge.
Maybe posting pictures of the areas you were working might help people assist you. At this point charge up the battery, but depending on what is causing the battery to discharge, connecting the battery could be dangerous. Did a large gauge wire get pinched? If so, you could have some heavy arcing, melting, and maybe fire. Instead of connecting the positive battery terminal to the battery, you may want to connect a test light in series between the positive battery terminal and the positive battery cable. If there is a significant power draw, the light will illuminate. Perhaps googling how to use a test light for troubleshooting. Have any friends that are good with electrical troubleshooting?
Maybe posting pictures of the areas you were working might help people assist you. At this point charge up the battery, but depending on what is causing the battery to discharge, connecting the battery could be dangerous. Did a large gauge wire get pinched? If so, you could have some heavy arcing, melting, and maybe fire. Instead of connecting the positive battery terminal to the battery, you may want to connect a test light in series between the positive battery terminal and the positive battery cable. If there is a significant power draw, the light will illuminate. Perhaps googling how to use a test light for troubleshooting. Have any friends that are good with electrical troubleshooting?
Melting Slicks
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From: Appleton WI
I agree with others that relays are what is making the noise. If you need to push the car out of the garage, you need to put it in neutral.
Last edited by 3sACROWD; Jun 18, 2018 at 08:03 PM.
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I would post a video but don't know how to from my iPhone. But after I took battery to autozone, checked wires, cleaned grounds and battery connections. Plugged everything back in and tied down a little more firm. He fired right up. The guy behind the counter at autozone said the battery is reading 100% after the recharge also. So we'll see.
