priority start
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 17
priority start
Howdy all. New to this forum so be gentle with me!
Just this week I ordered my first Vette, an '07 Coupe with the automatic. Delivery in eight weeks, hopefully. Anyway, I've read all about the roof problems and the DBS problems.
I have done multiple searches on something called 'priority start' and for the life of me I cannot find out exactly what this is. Bear in mind that I have not seen the owner's manual.
Can someone make me smart as to exactly what priority start is, how it works, and how I can obtain it for my new car? Is this something the dealer can install for me, or do I have to go elsewhere to obtain it? How much does it cost?
Will installing my own trickle charger interfere with said priority start system?
Thanks!
Mike Sigman
Just this week I ordered my first Vette, an '07 Coupe with the automatic. Delivery in eight weeks, hopefully. Anyway, I've read all about the roof problems and the DBS problems.
I have done multiple searches on something called 'priority start' and for the life of me I cannot find out exactly what this is. Bear in mind that I have not seen the owner's manual.
Can someone make me smart as to exactly what priority start is, how it works, and how I can obtain it for my new car? Is this something the dealer can install for me, or do I have to go elsewhere to obtain it? How much does it cost?
Will installing my own trickle charger interfere with said priority start system?
Thanks!
Mike Sigman
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,039
Likes: 0
From: Stuttgart
Mike,
Priority Start is a module that easily mounts on the battery and monitors the voltage of your car. Should some persistant energy drail occur it will automatically disconect the battery from the rest of the systems in the car when approximately 11.5 volts is recognized. This allows the battery to recover on it's own and allows the car to start again by reconnecting the battery when you "jolt" the system by pushing the cigarette lighter in (or something of the sort). It is an easy install and is really only needed if you have a manual 6 speed transmission. It is good protection no matter what vehicle you have if you do not drive it very often.
Cost is about $70 and you can easily do it on you own.
Priority Start is a module that easily mounts on the battery and monitors the voltage of your car. Should some persistant energy drail occur it will automatically disconect the battery from the rest of the systems in the car when approximately 11.5 volts is recognized. This allows the battery to recover on it's own and allows the car to start again by reconnecting the battery when you "jolt" the system by pushing the cigarette lighter in (or something of the sort). It is an easy install and is really only needed if you have a manual 6 speed transmission. It is good protection no matter what vehicle you have if you do not drive it very often.
Cost is about $70 and you can easily do it on you own.
Last edited by Steve Germany; Aug 5, 2006 at 01:20 AM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 638
Likes: 2
From: Medford NY
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by mbsigman
...
Can someone make me smart as to exactly what priority start is, how it works, and how I can obtain it for my new car? Is this something the dealer can install for me, or do I have to go elsewhere to obtain it? How much does it cost?
...
Can someone make me smart as to exactly what priority start is, how it works, and how I can obtain it for my new car? Is this something the dealer can install for me, or do I have to go elsewhere to obtain it? How much does it cost?
...
http://www.prioritystart.com/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
The advantage of Priority Start over a battery tender is that the PS is a passive device. Once installed, you do nothing. If the battery voltage drains below 11.9 volts, the device simply disconnects your battery to stop any further drain. All other devices require that you hook your car up to an outside power source.
Battery tenders are excellent if you want to insure that your battery stays fully charged, especially during long periods of inactivity...such as winter storage. A Priority Start is intended to prevent a dead battery situation from stranding you, but will not keep the battery charged. Some owners actually use both devices. It's sort of like having your car hooked up to an IV.
Battery tenders are excellent if you want to insure that your battery stays fully charged, especially during long periods of inactivity...such as winter storage. A Priority Start is intended to prevent a dead battery situation from stranding you, but will not keep the battery charged. Some owners actually use both devices. It's sort of like having your car hooked up to an IV.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton Illinois
Originally Posted by Zymurgy
With the automatic you don't need one. Spend the money on some other mod.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 210
From: Las Vegas Nevada
2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I read all the posts about the priority start in the past. I sat there and said I don't need this, I am never going to have DBS. I had it one time and then I ordered the priority start.
It is kind of like being robbed and then installing a security system, It happened once and you make sure it doesn't happen again.
It is kind of like being robbed and then installing a security system, It happened once and you make sure it doesn't happen again.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,114
Likes: 17,971
From: DFW Area TX
Originally Posted by Wingrider
Really??? With a 2006 A6, I have had a dead battery twice. And this is a daily driver. Dealer cannot isolate the cause, after replacing the battery after the first failure. I now have a priority start.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,524
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by Zymurgy
But, in general, A6 owners really don't need to worry about this.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...d+battery+poll
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 25,455
Likes: 3
From: Damn Connecticut Yankee
Originally Posted by StanNH
Battery tenders are excellent if you want to insure that your battery stays fully charged, especially during long periods of inactivity...such as winter storage. A Priority Start is intended to prevent a dead battery situation from stranding you, but will not keep the battery charged. Some owners actually use both devices. It's sort of like having your car hooked up to an IV.
I run both.
It's cheap insurance.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Well I have used priority starts purpose in life many times (unfortunately) and it has ALWAYS saved my butt, so much so that I have put them in all my vehicles. It has since saved my wife 4 hours from home on a shopping spree when she accidentally left her lights on in her Tahoe. So for me they're worth EVERY penny.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,524
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by TOOMUCH
Well I have used priority starts purpose in life many times (unfortunately) and it has ALWAYS saved my butt, so much so that I have put them in all my vehicles. It has since saved my wife 4 hours from home on a shopping spree when she accidentally left her lights on in her Tahoe. So for me they're worth EVERY penny.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 854
From: Daytona Beach FL
Bugman's website
Here's a link the forum member Bugman's informative website:
Bugman
Click on "Priority Start" for a great explanation of the unit and DIY instructions for installation.
Bob
Bugman
Click on "Priority Start" for a great explanation of the unit and DIY instructions for installation.
Bob
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 1
From: Life ain't no dress rehearsal, are you gonna wait to get your toys til AFTER you have a heart attack?
Originally Posted by Wingrider
Really??? With a 2006 A6, I have had a dead battery twice. And this is a daily driver. Dealer cannot isolate the cause, after replacing the battery after the first failure. I now have a priority start.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 17
battery cable disconnect or battery replacement
My thanks to all who took the time to reply.
I'm hoping (probably with some blinders on) that my battery will be ok. I have a trickle charger that a friend with a C5 religiously uses and plan on using that as this car will not be a daily driver, nor will it ever intentionally see rain.
Pre-emptively replacing the Delco with an Optima is also on my mind.
This leads me to my next question: When disconnecting battery cables for battery replacement, what do I have to do to get all the onboard computers reset? I have read somewhere that I need to do the window index relearn procedure, but is there anything else that needs to be done?
I ask this because on my '96 Seville, the original battery went kaput after five years. Roadside service came out and replaced the battery under warrantee, and the mechanic spent five minutes pressing buttons inside on the temp control module in a double secret probation sequence. He said he was reprogramming the computers. Hmmmm.
Yeah, that was a Cadillac, but GM is GM and they can work in strange and mysterious ways.
Thanks again for your advice.
Mike
I'm hoping (probably with some blinders on) that my battery will be ok. I have a trickle charger that a friend with a C5 religiously uses and plan on using that as this car will not be a daily driver, nor will it ever intentionally see rain.
Pre-emptively replacing the Delco with an Optima is also on my mind.
This leads me to my next question: When disconnecting battery cables for battery replacement, what do I have to do to get all the onboard computers reset? I have read somewhere that I need to do the window index relearn procedure, but is there anything else that needs to be done?
I ask this because on my '96 Seville, the original battery went kaput after five years. Roadside service came out and replaced the battery under warrantee, and the mechanic spent five minutes pressing buttons inside on the temp control module in a double secret probation sequence. He said he was reprogramming the computers. Hmmmm.
Yeah, that was a Cadillac, but GM is GM and they can work in strange and mysterious ways.
Thanks again for your advice.
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,524
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by mbsigman
I'm hoping (probably with some blinders on) that my battery will be ok. I have a trickle charger that a friend with a C5 religiously uses and plan on using that as this car will not be a daily driver, nor will it ever intentionally see rain.
Pre-emptively replacing the Delco with an Optima is also on my mind.
This leads me to my next question: When disconnecting battery cables for battery replacement, what do I have to do to get all the onboard computers reset? I have read somewhere that I need to do the window index relearn procedure, but is there anything else that needs to be done?Mike
Pre-emptively replacing the Delco with an Optima is also on my mind.
This leads me to my next question: When disconnecting battery cables for battery replacement, what do I have to do to get all the onboard computers reset? I have read somewhere that I need to do the window index relearn procedure, but is there anything else that needs to be done?Mike
When the battery goes to zero you lose the window indexing. Run the windows up and hold for a few seconds, then down the same way. Most memory settings don't disappear, generally. At least mine haven't.
