Car keeps dying..electrical ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Likes: 2
From: Philadelphia PA
Car keeps dying..electrical ?
My dad has an 02 vert. He's been having problems for the past year with the car dying after not driving it for a few days. We've had the grounds, battery and alternator all check and replaced the battery. We thought we figured it out with the driver side seat motor qwerk so we unplugged it but its still dying. Does anyone have ideas on what the hell is causing this? The car is bone stock and clean with 100k.
This car is my dads pride and joy. He loves driving it but it hasn't been reliable for him in the past year. Id love to fix this for him.
This car is my dads pride and joy. He loves driving it but it hasn't been reliable for him in the past year. Id love to fix this for him.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
when does it die, when you try to move ??? is it a manual, do you get a column lock message on the DIC ??? if so you need this,http://www.complianceparts.com/lmc5whoneeds1.html
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Likes: 2
From: Philadelphia PA
It’s an A4. It’s when trying to start it. I found this old post and think it may relate. It’s a little over my head but any pointers ? Same symptoms
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-4-scm-l.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-4-scm-l.html
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
You need to clarify what the symptom is.
Do you mean that, after the engine is started, it dies? If so, when? After the key is moved to the run position? Or when?
Do you mean that when you turn the key to start, nothing happens? Do you mean that the engine cranks but does not start?
Do you mean that, after the engine is started, it dies? If so, when? After the key is moved to the run position? Or when?
Do you mean that when you turn the key to start, nothing happens? Do you mean that the engine cranks but does not start?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Likes: 2
From: Philadelphia PA
My mistake.. when you go to start the car it’s bascially dead and clicks like the battery is dead. A quick jump start and it drives perfect and throws no codes. It’s when the car sits for more than an hour or so, it will not start back up again with out a jump.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
So, the car has a battery drain or a second bad battery.
There are a ton of posts if you search battery drain .
I had a similar problem, here is how I addressed it:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ery-drain.html
READ the reference to Bill Curlee's post.
I would FIRST test the new battery then pull BOTH seat breakers and then do a battery drain test. Make sure the battery side terminals are tight FSM says 11 foot pounds. You can't get a torque wrench in there, but make sure they are tight.
There are a ton of posts if you search battery drain .
I had a similar problem, here is how I addressed it:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ery-drain.html
READ the reference to Bill Curlee's post.
I would FIRST test the new battery then pull BOTH seat breakers and then do a battery drain test. Make sure the battery side terminals are tight FSM says 11 foot pounds. You can't get a torque wrench in there, but make sure they are tight.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
The first thing to do is verify you have a battery drain problem. Disconnect negative battery cable and connect DMM in series with battery terminal and cable, select DC amps and plug test lead to 10 amp test point and common test point and wait 10-15 minutes and check meter, normal sleep mode current drain should be 20-25 millamps.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Likes: 2
From: Philadelphia PA
Okay so I went back to a auto store initially to have them test the alternator but they first tested the battery and said it’s bad. This battery is a 10 months old interstate and I swapped it initially when I had this problem about a year or so ago.
Could the alternator be bad causing this? What should I do next?
By by the way, I jumped it to take to the store and while they tested it they had me shut it off for a second and it wouldn’t even fire back up..... not sure if that means anything
Could the alternator be bad causing this? What should I do next?
By by the way, I jumped it to take to the store and while they tested it they had me shut it off for a second and it wouldn’t even fire back up..... not sure if that means anything
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
A bad alternator could very well be causing a battery drain problem, diodes inside the alternator fail when this happens, have it tested. Word of advise have someone rebuild your alternator if it indeed is bad or buy a GM replacement, if not you will get a charge system fault message.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Likes: 2
From: Philadelphia PA
Update-
I pulled the alternator today and took it to have tested to rule out the battery issue. It PASSED. Part of me was wishing it didn’t so I could find the issue.
Now, tomorrow I will get the battery tested out of the car.
Would the battery go totally bad by it sitting a lot in the past year? My dad wasn’t driving it much due to health issues and problem with the convertible top so it sat in the driveway under a cover. (not on a battery tender)?
I pulled the alternator today and took it to have tested to rule out the battery issue. It PASSED. Part of me was wishing it didn’t so I could find the issue.
Now, tomorrow I will get the battery tested out of the car.
Would the battery go totally bad by it sitting a lot in the past year? My dad wasn’t driving it much due to health issues and problem with the convertible top so it sat in the driveway under a cover. (not on a battery tender)?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 67
From: Bahama North Carolina
Okay so I went back to a auto store initially to have them test the alternator but they first tested the battery and said it’s bad. This battery is a 10 months old interstate and I swapped it initially when I had this problem about a year or so ago.
Could the alternator be bad causing this? What should I do next?
By by the way, I jumped it to take to the store and while they tested it they had me shut it off for a second and it wouldn’t even fire back up..... not sure if that means anything
Could the alternator be bad causing this? What should I do next?
By by the way, I jumped it to take to the store and while they tested it they had me shut it off for a second and it wouldn’t even fire back up..... not sure if that means anything