Bad starter?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 14
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas
Bad starter?
Hi guys, looking for some help with my c5. I was experiencing bad alternator whine so I got that replaced as well as a new battery. All was well for a few days as car started/ran perfect. 2 days ago (while driving) I received a bunch of pings out of nowhere - “service ABS, low wiper fluid, service traction control, TPMS” and the like. Car was still driving fine. I read that it could be a result of a new battery, so I was just gonna get my friend with a obd to clear codes and see if any of them came back. (Reset button doesn’t work)
Yesterday I go to start and car clicks but that’s about it. I get “low voltage” so now I’m kinda lost. Today, no electrical power at all. It’s a new battery, new alternator, and car was running fine. After hours of YouTube videos I believe it is a - bad starter/bad ground somewhere, and I would just like to ask for some other ideas before I take the car apart.
Yesterday I go to start and car clicks but that’s about it. I get “low voltage” so now I’m kinda lost. Today, no electrical power at all. It’s a new battery, new alternator, and car was running fine. After hours of YouTube videos I believe it is a - bad starter/bad ground somewhere, and I would just like to ask for some other ideas before I take the car apart.
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,434
Likes: 3,981
From: Cape Coral, Florida
Even though it's a new battery make sure you don't have a parasitic drain...your battery may be draining overnight...if you put voltmeter in the AMPS function remove the negative battery cable and put the DVOM leads in series between the battery negative post and the battery cable...see if you see a large current draw...close the doors and wait about 20 minutes until the cars modules go to sleep before testing...max draw is about 25-30 milliamps...fully charged battery is 12.66 volts
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
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Double-check that your new alternator is suitable.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nd-issues.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nd-issues.html
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 14
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas
Even though it's a new battery make sure you don't have a parasitic drain...your battery may be draining overnight...if you put voltmeter in the AMPS function remove the negative battery cable and put the DVOM leads in series between the battery negative post and the battery cable...see if you see a large current draw...close the doors and wait about 20 minutes until the cars modules go to sleep before testing...max draw is about 25-30 milliamps...fully charged battery is 12.66 volts
thank you for the advice. I will go out and buy a voltmeter soon. I suspected the battery however the car wouldn’t even jumpstart when I tried today. There’s just no power at all. Could this still be a result of parasitic drain?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 14
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas
Double-check that your new alternator is suitable.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nd-issues.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nd-issues.html
Thanks! I’ll read up on it
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,434
Likes: 3,981
From: Cape Coral, Florida
If the battery is completely “spanked” the car may not start…I got a mobile call from a C6 owner in town a few months ago that couldn’t get his car started…he did not have it on the tender for about a month…battery was maybe 2 volts…I couldn’t even jump it with my jump pack …I removed the battery and put it on my big battery charger for 30 minutes…I finally got the battery to take a charge and was able to get the car started….you may have a drain and the more the battery becomes sulfated it shortens it life SIGNIFICANTLY !!…good idea to have a good DVOM and 12 volt test light.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2021
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If the battery is completely “spanked” the car may not start…I got a mobile call from a C6 owner in town a few months ago that couldn’t get his car started…he did not have it on the tender for about a month…battery was maybe 2 volts…I couldn’t even jump it with my jump pack …I removed the battery and put it on my big battery charger for 30 minutes…I finally got the battery to take a charge and was able to get the car started….you may have a drain and the more the battery becomes sulfated it shortens it life SIGNIFICANTLY !!…good idea to have a good DVOM and 12 volt test light.
My '99 won't even crank with less than 11.6 volts. A fully charged battery should give you 12.5. You may have a ground problem if you are getting random codes that don't seem related. Once you get it started again, check your voltage on the battery while it's running. Turn your a/c on, headlights, etc. Get a real good load on that alternator. You should still be seeing 13 volts or more with all of that going on. If not, then you know it's either a bum alternator or the grounds.
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