Dead Corvette
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 277
Dead Corvette
Much to my chagrin I found my 2 week old convertible "deader than a doornail" yesterday morning. Am on a roadie and had left it in the parking garage of my hotel. Sensed something was wrong when I approached and the door LED's didn't activate. I had tucked her into a corner of the garage...tight against the walls...so it was quite difficult to wedge myself between the wall and the rear to manually unlock the trunk. Then had to "fish" darkly to find the door unlock pull tab. (FYI, practice this maneuver from the side of the car and you'll get a good workout!)
Got everything opened up and found a good samaritan with jumper cables. We connected the cables and everything lit up. Climbed in and she would turn over...waited a few seconds, tried anew, and she fired.
Off for the day's activities but let her run for a good hour before shutdown. All seemed well...but will know for sure(?) when I head out this morning.
No idea what happened...light are set for auto on-off, and all lights were off, for certain, when I left her Friday night. (Very dark garage so know that fact.)
Anyone have a similar experience?
Peace, out.
Got everything opened up and found a good samaritan with jumper cables. We connected the cables and everything lit up. Climbed in and she would turn over...waited a few seconds, tried anew, and she fired.
Off for the day's activities but let her run for a good hour before shutdown. All seemed well...but will know for sure(?) when I head out this morning.
No idea what happened...light are set for auto on-off, and all lights were off, for certain, when I left her Friday night. (Very dark garage so know that fact.)
Anyone have a similar experience?
Peace, out.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 277
Thanks for the replys...don't think I hit anything exiting Friday night. 'Cept for having to reprogram lotsa things, all switch settings seemed fine.
BTW, it's a 2009, automatic, convertible.
Peace, out.
BTW, it's a 2009, automatic, convertible.
Peace, out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 21
From: Roanoke and Fieldale VA
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: Westminster CO
Not if you hit that dimmer switch. I did that on Thursday when I was cleaning mine and the lights stayed on all that night and half way through Friday. Luckily I got in and it fired right up. Was showing 14.2 volts on the battery which seemed like what it's always running. I was kind of surprised and expected to have a dead battery situation.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,753
Likes: 210
From: North Western Connecticut
My experience is that the battery won't recharge while idling. You will only have a very partial charge on it. I would get it on regular battery charger and make sure it's been fully recharged. As to why it was dead mysteriously seems some vettes seem draw more amps while sitting than others. Unless you had something on which is unlikely considering you were able to restart after a few mins then it's anyone's guess why.
I have an 06 MN6 and on occasion it's been parked over a month and it starts right up. Original factory batter in it. Some people seem to find 2 weeks the outside edge of where it will still start. I always wonder why some vettes seem to loose starting ability so much quicker than others.......
I have an 06 MN6 and on occasion it's been parked over a month and it starts right up. Original factory batter in it. Some people seem to find 2 weeks the outside edge of where it will still start. I always wonder why some vettes seem to loose starting ability so much quicker than others.......
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
My experience is that the battery won't recharge while idling. You will only have a very partial charge on it. I would get it on regular battery charger and make sure it's been fully recharged. As to why it was dead mysteriously seems some vettes seem draw more amps while sitting than others. Unless you had something on which is unlikely considering you were able to restart after a few mins then it's anyone's guess why.
I have an 06 MN6 and on occasion it's been parked over a month and it starts right up. Original factory batter in it. Some people seem to find 2 weeks the outside edge of where it will still start. I always wonder why some vettes seem to loose starting ability so much quicker than others.......
I have an 06 MN6 and on occasion it's been parked over a month and it starts right up. Original factory batter in it. Some people seem to find 2 weeks the outside edge of where it will still start. I always wonder why some vettes seem to loose starting ability so much quicker than others.......
Other way: take car out, drive for 30-45 minutes at no less than 1500 rpm.
If leaving car for more than 2 weeks, use battery " maintainer"---told to me by BG.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 4
From: Arlington TX
Correct. I spoke with BG after my batt went as dead as yours, OP. Charge battery fully via a charger, not the alternator. Alt. not made for charging.
Other way: take car out, drive for 30-45 minutes at no less than 1500 rpm.
If leaving car for more than 2 weeks, use battery " maintainer"---told to me by BG.
Other way: take car out, drive for 30-45 minutes at no less than 1500 rpm.
If leaving car for more than 2 weeks, use battery " maintainer"---told to me by BG.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
My experience is that the battery won't recharge while idling. You will only have a very partial charge on it. I would get it on regular battery charger and make sure it's been fully recharged. As to why it was dead mysteriously seems some vettes seem draw more amps while sitting than others. Unless you had something on which is unlikely considering you were able to restart after a few mins then it's anyone's guess why.
I have an 06 MN6 and on occasion it's been parked over a month and it starts right up. Original factory batter in it. Some people seem to find 2 weeks the outside edge of where it will still start. I always wonder why some vettes seem to loose starting ability so much quicker than others.......
I have an 06 MN6 and on occasion it's been parked over a month and it starts right up. Original factory batter in it. Some people seem to find 2 weeks the outside edge of where it will still start. I always wonder why some vettes seem to loose starting ability so much quicker than others.......
I have left my '08 C6 for up to 2 1/2 weeks and it started right up. Very interesting as to why some C6's batteries die and some do not.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
A person might say "it's a complicated car." But if some die and some don't...then there is something different from one car to the next. Some C6s NEVER have battery or discharge problems. Other C6s need to have a charger attached to them 24/7 or the battery will go dead. Quality Control.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,008
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Not if you hit that dimmer switch. I did that on Thursday when I was cleaning mine and the lights stayed on all that night and half way through Friday. Luckily I got in and it fired right up. Was showing 14.2 volts on the battery which seemed like what it's always running. I was kind of surprised and expected to have a dead battery situation.
If you open and then close any door, the 20 minute cycle starts again.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 277
Update
First, thanks for all the replies...it is, indeed, "food for thought."
Very unlikely I hit the dimmer switch. My egress is always rearward...tried to hit hit it today w/o success.
Good news: Fired w/o probs today after sitting overnight...in the same garage as if that would make a difference.
Could this be a factor? Last two C5's were manny trannies and, due to muscle memory, I have found myself exiting whilst the '09 is still in drive. Could leaving it in "D" be a factor? I also pulled the NPP fuse day of delivery...possible factor?
No mods.
Thanks, folks.
Peace, out.
Very unlikely I hit the dimmer switch. My egress is always rearward...tried to hit hit it today w/o success.
Good news: Fired w/o probs today after sitting overnight...in the same garage as if that would make a difference.
Could this be a factor? Last two C5's were manny trannies and, due to muscle memory, I have found myself exiting whilst the '09 is still in drive. Could leaving it in "D" be a factor? I also pulled the NPP fuse day of delivery...possible factor?
No mods.
Thanks, folks.
Peace, out.