My 98 C5 sat for a couple weeks through some cold nights and would not start at all. This was 2-3 weeks ago, would not crank and only made clicking noises, no lights in cabin/dash coming on etc so seemed like simply a dead battery.



I jump started it and drove for a good while on the highway with the intention of "recharging" it. Came back an hour later and car would not start at all, even with a portable jump starter (although it is possible the jump starter was just too low battery at that point). Ended up replacing the battery that day and drove back home successfully.



While driving there with the old battery, and then back with the new battery, there was a consistent clicking noise coming from in front of the drivers seat. Hard to describe but I would say it sounds like when you walk under an automatic light and it switches on, this would happen every few minutes but I did not notice any accompanying issues other than 1) a check engine light and 2) halfway through the drive the tire system monitoring system warning displayed on the dash but this is an issue that existed before any of the battery troubles. Not sure if any of this is related to the issue below.



The car then sat with the new battery for a few days before I tried to drive it again (last weekend). 1st thing I notice is that not all of the lights on the dash come on - the security light does not flash when the door opens, and when I turn the key so as to turn the car on without starting it, the check engine, ABS, etc lights will come on but there is no text displayed on the dash, i.e. where it says "corvette" and then will show odometer, battery volts, etc. Other electrical functions like the door locks work fine too.



When I turn the ignition, the engine cranks and tries to turn over but will not start, there is also clicking every second or two, same clicking there was when the battery was completely dead but I am not sure if it's also the same clicking that was coming from the dash when the car was running.

I am sure there is an issue with parasitic drain but I am lost on the clicking noise / missing dash lights and why the brand new battery started at first but won't 2 days later, anyone familiar?

 

If you think you have a drain I’d address that first because you’ll be changing batteries every few weeks…as far as the other concerns I’d put a factory level or equivalent aftermarket scan tool on the car and see what you have…unfortunately we can’t diagnose your car over the internet…maybe bring the car to an auto electric shop near you !!

 

I can't help you with the clicking noise, but I'd keep that battery charged up while you check for the parasitic drain. Below are links to a couple of videos that might help you out. It very well could be the drain that is causing your clicking issue, or it might lead you to the right area.