Like many of you in the cold weather, I have stored by 2000 Vert in the garage for the winter, I normally get a chance to take it out once a month and get it started. Haven't this year and of course its 55 today and she's dead as a door nail. I pulled the jumper cables out and connected my 540 to the Vette, Hot to Hot on the battery and ground to a steel ground area on the car. When connected the Vette lit up immediately and the alarm went off. I put the key in, turned it, and the alarm went off and everything looked A-OK. Iwaited a minute or so, everything looked good, pushed the clutch and hit the ignition, I got two or three clicks and then everything goes dark. Still connected to the BMW and now I have nothing.

Did I fry something ? Owners manual in the trunk and can't get it out since I have no power and can't read to find out where the manual pull might be if there is one.

Other than a dead battery as I have read in the other posts, what else should I look for ? Did I jump it wrong ? Any help is much appreciated. It's going to be 60 in Chicago tomorrow.

Thanks
Dave
:banghead:


[Modified by carsandguitars, 7:13 PM 3/18/2003]

 

Sounds like the dead battery syndrome. Storing any car without disconnecting the battery will drain it. I drive my Vette every day here in California, and my original battery lasted three years before dying.

 

carsandguitars

You need to charge your battery for at least an hour on a high rate charge to get it to properly start the car. If you dont have a battery charger let it stay connected to the BMW for atleast 45 min with the BMW engine running prior to trying to start it. Your car's charging system is engineered to maintain the charge on the battery, not charge it back up from a dead condition. I would charge it up (the new delco glass matt batteries require a unique charging procedure!!) for about an hour and then give it another attempt at cranking and running. If it cranks and runs, shut it off and get the battery properly charged back up to full potential prior to using it every day. This will minumize wear and tear on the altenator and the rest of your electrical system... Jumping it to get it going again and not charging the battery is a last resort procedure to get it back on the road if you were stranded somewhere and did not have access to a battery charger.

Bill C

 

Bill,

He probably doesn't have an AGM (They became OEM in 2001), so I would guess that a trickle (3 - 7) amps would be just fine. Otherwise I agree 100% with what you said. (FYI, AGMs like 20-amp charges)

Now, if a charger is not available, you should still be able to pop the hood, remove the battery and take it to the dealership or many auto parts stores to have them recharge the battery.

Good luck!

 

I would remove the battery and make sure it didn't leak. If the battery has a leak and the fluid in the battery is low the plates will berakdown and the battery will have a dead short and the car will not start or take a charge. In any event you should take the battery out and have it checked. If it's over 2 1/2 years old look to a new battery like a Optima or a new Delco.

 

I had the same problem about a month ago. I thought I popped a maxi fuse or something. Just go back and leave the bimmer running connected to the vette battery for about 10 minutes. After that it should fire right up, well at least mine did. Just give the battery some time to hold some juice. Good Luck

 

Thanks for all the info so far. Here's what I did.

I went out and purchased a battery charger and put it on for about 4 hours. When I came home, I noticed that the under hood lamp was not lit. I knew that the battery was not charging OR the car wasn't getting juice.

When I originally jumped the Bimmer to the Vette, the under hood light lit up immediately, as live current was now connected. When I tried to fire up the Vette, that's when everything went dark, even though the Bimmer was still connected. I really think that I have something more serious going on here, because based upon your good suggestions, when I connect the Bimmer to jump the Vette, I should have some indication that live current is connected.

After 4 hours on the charger at 10AMPS, I opened the door and nothing, turned the key, not a chirp, no dash lights, nada, dead.

I'm guessing there is something that popped between the battery and the fuse relay when I attempted to start it the first time it was jumped to the BMW.

So, I still have a dead Vette, it will not take a jump, or a charge and it looks like perhaps I have a fuse or relay that may be the problem now. Any ideas ? Otherwise it's on a flatbed Monday to the Chevy dealer. And does anyone know if I may have voided any warranty that I may be able to take advantage of, if it tums out that the damage was caused by jump starting ?

Thanks. I'll be pushing the car into the driveway tomorrow and just sit there, enjoying the warm (well, for Chicago anyway) weather, dreaming that I fried the engine and Chevy installs a new Z06 mill by mistake.....under warranty.

Still dreamin,
Dave
:sleep:

 

Dave

Sorry to hear that you did not find something simple. I know Vette driving weather is precious in the windy City as it is here in CT. Hope you get it fixed soon. Dont worry about the warrenty. Most Chevy dealers will be eager to fix it. Just hope that they do it right! :rolleyes:

Please let us know what they find wrong.

Bill C

 

Thanks to everyone who posted and offered help with my Dead Vette. Here is what happened.

I called my local Chevy dealer to inquire as to what I could do. The lady at the service desk advised that she was unaware of what the problem could be and that I would have to "drive it in" in order for them to assess what the problem was. I told her that of course, the Vettte, was dead, dead not running, dead no lights, dead no key clicks, no sounds, no jump starting, no nada, no nothing, D-E-A-D, dead. At which point she offered the advise that I would have to tow it there where the Vette specialist would have to look at it. I asked if I could speak to Earl (good mechanic, spoke to him before) and she tells me that they don't come to the phone. The good piece of advice was to talk to him, so I drove there and after about 3 mins of explanation, Earl agreed that he believed that battery to be gone. He advised that it be replaced anyway since the 2000 Vette still had an acid battery and there are about 3 major components in the tray beneath the battery that could become damaged if the battery was leaking. He suggest a Delco dry battery, which he walked me over to the parts counter to order. 123.00 bucks later, I had a receipt and a promise that it would be there at 9AM next day, which it was.

Good news, I installed the battery and immediately everything came on, and car started no problems. Had to re-train the key fob and as soon as it stops raining I will find out if I have to do the tire sensors. So, it was DEAD BATTERY SYNDROM. It would appear that one could fry something out since it wouldn't take a charge or a jump start. Answer is, trickle charge during the winter, or get it out once and a while and drive her around. That's not always possible, so I will get an automatic battery charger so it can't be overcharged and trickle charge next winter....... or move.

Sorry so long, but thought that the solution could help someone else.

Thanks
Dave

:party:


[Modified by carsandguitars, 8:32 AM 3/21/2003]

 

Dave I'm glad it all worked out for you .... I knew that it was the battery (see my post 3/15) Good luck hope you can get out and drive ...