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My 1999 C5 Corvette manual will not start. Tried jumpstarting it. No luck. It makes a clicking noise and dash lights up fine, but engine does not start. Right after disconnecting the helping car, the corvette dies completely and lights and windows, etc. are dead. Right now, I just tried jumpstarting it for the third time And literally nothing happens when I try to jumpstart it. No clicking, no lights, no dashboard, nothing! Right now the car is acting as if it has no battery. Right now the car is acting as if it has no battery. The first and second time that I tried Jumpstarting it, The battery voltage meter was showing it to be around 12 V which is normal.The battery voltage meter was showing it to be around 12 V which is normal. Now, however, Nothing works. Already tried reinstalling the battery. Please help!
I immediately suspect the battery. Just because it reads 12v when it's charged up by a tender or other outside charger doesn't mean it's healthy. Take it to a parts store and they can properly test it.
I immediately suspect the battery. Just because it reads 12v when it's charged up by a tender or other outside charger doesn't mean it's healthy. Take it to a parts store and they can properly test it.
So do you recommend me to try a new battery in there and see if it works?
A DVM would be the first thing I would try....they cost between $5.00 and $20.00 and youtube shows you exactly how to use the tester. You are looking for something in the mid 13's and not 12's. AND make sure you have GOOD connections.
Last edited by runner140*; Oct 3, 2020 at 06:45 AM.
Reason: add
You are looking for something in the mid 13's and not 12's. AND make sure you have GOOD connections.
A fully charged battery is still under 13V. If the engine is running the alternator should be floating the voltage around 13V minimum or up to 14.5 usually. Since his won't start, yes he will be looking for 12.5V give or take on a HEALTHY battery.
Sounds like the battery is junk. A C5 is very volt sensitive. Even with a jump from another vehicle, if your battery is totally dead, or totally junk, you'll have a hard time getting it to turn over. I'm assuming that's what you mean by saying it wont start. That said, a fully charged battery should read over 12v. More like 12.7-12.8. I recently bought a new one, because the old one still cranked the engine, but quickly went dead with any draw on it. Used a hydrometer and all cells were bad. Please note that this battery read between 12.4-12.5v fully charged. Which was the first tip it was on it's way out. If I left the voltmeter on the terminals, you could see it slowly discharge 1/100v at a time. Went from 12.5 to 12.00 in about 1/2 hour. Have it load tested, but it sounds like it is done.....
Last edited by grinder11; Oct 3, 2020 at 04:00 PM.
Reason: Spelling
Sounds like the battery is junk. A C5 is very volt sensitive. Even with a jump from another vehicle, if your battery is totally dead, or totally junk, you'll have a hard time getting it to turn over. I'm assuming that's what you mean by saying it wont start. That said, a fully charged battery should read over 12v. More like 12.7-12.8. I recently bought a new one, because the old one still cranked the engine, but quickly went dead with any draw on it. Used a hydrometer and all cells were bad. Please note that this battery read between 12.4-12.5v fully charged. Which was the first tip it was on it's way out. If I left the voltmeter on the terminals, you could see it slowly discharge 1/100v at a time. Went from 12.5 to 12.00 in about 1/2 hour. Have it load tested, but it sounds like it is done.....
Put in a new battery and it started right up. Took the old battery to AutoZone and they told me that the old battery is not totally garbage but the machine says it is very low voltage.
So right now they are charging it and will let me know if it is defective when it is done charging. In the meantime, the brand new battery is perfectly fine and the car runs. I did not expect the old battery to fail because it was replaced 2 to 3 years ago.
Damn. This is timely. Started my car last Tuesday. Drove to the store and back.
Got in it today and nothing. Showed it had less than 12 volts. Charged battery for
about 45 mins and still nothing. Put my charger on start and still nothing. No click
or anything. Dash lights dim and come back after release of the key. Battery is
about 3 years old. I drive it every weekend usually several hundred miles per weekend.
Never any problems before. Any other thoughts? Starter?
Thanks all help appreciated.
Get your battery load tested and go from there !!...your battery is probably nuked if it doesn’t take a charge.I like the AC Delco Professional batteries myself...mine was about 5 years old and I replaced it last month.
Mine was doing the EXACT same thing. Left it sit for a couple weeks, went to start it and it clicked multiple times, no start. I left it on a charger overnight, next morning there was still nothing. Even tried jumping it with my Yukon, still nothing. Put a brand new battery in it, and it came to life
Get your battery load tested and go from there !!...your battery is probably nuked if it doesn’t take a charge.I like the AC Delco Professional batteries myself...mine was about 5 years old and I replaced it last month.
the battery that went bad was an AC Delco.. I wouldn’t buy that brand
Mine is the AC Delco too. I've always had really good luck with the Duralast Gold. My XJ 8 is very
sensitive to battery current too. That's been in about 3 and a half years with good results. I'll take
the battery in to get it tested tomorrow. I hope its that easy.
Finally got around to taking the battery in. Checked out good at two different places. Load test and all.
Connections all look good(clean/tight). So any other suggestions? I'm leaning towards the starter.
DEAD C5 Corvette
