Ground Wire
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,418
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
Ground Wire
I diconnect my ground wire while I'm not using the car. I start it up every 2 weeks for about 45 minutes. The last couple times I've had a hard time getting a good connection. The clamp is tight on the terminal but the car won't start. The accessories will start acting wierd coming on and off. If I try to move the ground wire I can hear it crackling. I ended up jumpstarting just to get it running. I'm going to try using sandpaper on the terminal and clamp to see if that helps. Does anybody know a better solution? I'm sure this will leave me sit sometime if I don't figure out how to solve it.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,531
Likes: 152
From: Western WA
Get a battery post cleaner. It is a combo, wire brush that goes around the battery post and you twist it to clean the post, and a brush that goes inside the battery clamp to clean it.
These are are widely available in the auto parts stores for a few bucks.
For a real solution, get a battery tender and build in an outside plug you can plug it into. See: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=Ray+Kawal
This is one of the slickest mods too.
Good luck.
These are are widely available in the auto parts stores for a few bucks.
For a real solution, get a battery tender and build in an outside plug you can plug it into. See: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=Ray+Kawal
This is one of the slickest mods too.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
For a real solution, get a battery tender and build in an outside plug you can plug it into. See: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=Ray+Kawal
This is one of the slickest mods too.
Good luck.
This is one of the slickest mods too.
Good luck.
You should get your battery checked now to find out if it is any good. Then get a tender and maybe a new battery. 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,418
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
I'm trying to avoid having something plugged in all the time. Also don't like stored cars having power.
There doesn't seem to be any corrosion on the terminal. I've seen gels to put on battery terminals before. Do these really work? This battery issue is getting very irritating.
When I go to start the car the first thing I do is connect the ground terminal. The underhood light comes on everything seems good. I get in the car with the doors and lights working as they should. When the start button is pressed I can hear the starter engage then everything shuts off. I have to use the door release pull handle to get out. Then if I just touch the ground wire everything comes back on. This is when things act wierd with warning lights and other automatic functions. I will try to rotate the battery connector back and forth a little then try to restart. It might startup or just shut off again. This last time I got fed up and got out the jumper cables.
There doesn't seem to be any corrosion on the terminal. I've seen gels to put on battery terminals before. Do these really work? This battery issue is getting very irritating.
When I go to start the car the first thing I do is connect the ground terminal. The underhood light comes on everything seems good. I get in the car with the doors and lights working as they should. When the start button is pressed I can hear the starter engage then everything shuts off. I have to use the door release pull handle to get out. Then if I just touch the ground wire everything comes back on. This is when things act wierd with warning lights and other automatic functions. I will try to rotate the battery connector back and forth a little then try to restart. It might startup or just shut off again. This last time I got fed up and got out the jumper cables.
Last edited by MARSC6; Feb 26, 2008 at 01:53 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
The battery connectors are not designed for repeated connection and disconnection. You need to replace the connector as it has now failed. If you insist on continuing to frequently connect and disconnect the battery, invest in a battery disconnect switch which is designed for such service.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,289
Likes: 129
From: Providence Forge, VA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
The battery connectors are not designed for repeated connection and disconnection. You need to replace the connector as it has now failed. If you insist on continuing to frequently connect and disconnect the battery, invest in a battery disconnect switch which is designed for such service.
Additionally, terminal corrosion leading to a bad connection is not always visible. The terminal may look fine, but its there.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,418
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
I do have a disconnect switch that I just dug up because of this. I'm going to hit the battery terminal with some sandpaper and install the switch. The battery connectors were just so easy to disconnect I never bothered messing with the switch. And also the appearance issue.
Last edited by MARSC6; Feb 26, 2008 at 04:53 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 1
From: Mine Hill New Jersey
Why do you disconnect the ground cable if you are going to start the car every two weeks? The battery should not discharge during that time. My '05 is still on its original battery and it sits for three months every winter and it hasn't died once.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 15
From: Grant-Valkaria Florida
I'm not an expert, but with all the computer driven systems in the C6, I can't believe that it's a good thing to be constantly disconnecting the battery.
I have a '65 Corvette and every time I'm done with my weekly (or so) cruise, I disconnect the battery. It has a disconnect on the cable for this reason, but I would not do it on my C6...and sometimes it sits for longer periods of time than the '65.
I could be wrong, but I would check with someone that has better knowledge of the C6 operating systems.
I have a '65 Corvette and every time I'm done with my weekly (or so) cruise, I disconnect the battery. It has a disconnect on the cable for this reason, but I would not do it on my C6...and sometimes it sits for longer periods of time than the '65.
I could be wrong, but I would check with someone that has better knowledge of the C6 operating systems.
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?
Back when I was the power plant supervisor in a large telephone company switching office, we used a product called No-Ox-Id-A to coat all of the exposed cell terminals and intercell connectors. Most of these cells were BIG (2' X 2' X 4') and there were two 70 cell lines connected in series and those two lines were connected in parallel to form one "battery string" that provided 140 volts to a power distributor for the building. However, I don't know if that stuff is available to the general public.
CRC makes a product that should work quite well;
http://www.gemplers.com/product/5634...inal-Protector
CRC makes a product that should work quite well;
http://www.gemplers.com/product/5634...inal-Protector
Last edited by PappyTinker; Feb 26, 2008 at 07:44 PM. Reason: To correct for better wording
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,836
Likes: 9
From: Rushsylvania Ohio
While your cleaning battery posts, you should clean the positive one also. This may be where your problem is rather than the negative cable. I would stop doing what you are doing and buy a battery tender.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,418
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
After closer examination there is some corrosion on the battery post. The post is also starting to get a little deformed. Connector looks like it is ok.
So the plan is to clean everything up install switch and get some of this spray.
Hopefully the battery is still alright since I'm sure it has not been getting a good charge with these connection issues. If not I guess its time for an optima yellow top and some sort of battery cover.
So the plan is to clean everything up install switch and get some of this spray.
CRC makes a product that should work quite well;
http://www.gemplers.com/product/5634...inal-Protector
http://www.gemplers.com/product/5634...inal-Protector
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
Likes: 612
From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
After closer examination there is some corrosion on the battery post. The post is also starting to get a little deformed. Connector looks like it is ok.
So the plan is to clean everything up install switch and get some of this spray.
Hopefully the battery is still alright since I'm sure it has not been getting a good charge with these connection issues. If not I guess its time for an optima yellow top and some sort of battery cover.
So the plan is to clean everything up install switch and get some of this spray.
Hopefully the battery is still alright since I'm sure it has not been getting a good charge with these connection issues. If not I guess its time for an optima yellow top and some sort of battery cover.
May be time for new battery.
