need help!!!! battery dead?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
need help!!!! battery dead?
i tried to start the car today after 1month with out starting in the winter. car wont crank. tried to boost with cables but the car just makes a click when i press start. when i hookup the cables i can open doors etc but when i hit start nothing. should i swap the battery for a new one? i dont know if its the starter but it does click when i press start as if its trying.
please help!!!
please help!!!
2005 Beast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 8
From: Tarpon Springs FL
I think it could be your battery is completely done. The clicking means its trying. I have a battery bug installed and it will tell you crank power and total life so you will know and its not that expensive. Google it for where to get one. If I were you I'd get a new battery install it and then install the battery bug. If it gets low again an alert will sound under your hood telling you its draining. Vettes always use power but a month without a trickle charger and your asking for a dead battery.
Best of luck, tell us how that works out for you.
Bonez
Best of luck, tell us how that works out for you.
Bonez
Last edited by TBonez; Mar 10, 2009 at 06:59 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
You're not getting enough amperage to the car to start it...any number of reasons...cheap cables would be the most likely; poor connections could be the other. A starter pulls HUNDREDS of amps to turn an engine over. Thats alot of current to get across from another car. Cables should be solid copper and feel HEAVY. 4 Gauge cable. All the other electrics on the car worked fine because you had 12 volt power coming over from the other car, but your connection was not capable of delivering the heavy current required to spin a motor.
Anyway, just charge your battery slowly overnight and you will probably be fine.
Anyway, just charge your battery slowly overnight and you will probably be fine.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 12
I had my battery go in Dec. I tried jumping it with no luck. I tried
2 different cars for jump with no luck. I tried hooking 2 batteries
together for jump no luck. Tow operator tried his battery box jumper
before it was towed to the dealer with no luck. I thought for sure
that there was something wrong with the car but all dealer did was
change the battery (at no cost) and everything was fine.
2 different cars for jump with no luck. I tried hooking 2 batteries
together for jump no luck. Tow operator tried his battery box jumper
before it was towed to the dealer with no luck. I thought for sure
that there was something wrong with the car but all dealer did was
change the battery (at no cost) and everything was fine.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Altho there are cases like the one above where even the tow truck start wouldn't work, I'm more inclined to take cc's position. It takes a lot of power to start the car and those thin cables sometimes just can't carry all the juice.
if this is the first time the battery's gone dead, and it's not a 5 year old battery (how does one do that in a C6?
), with the right start eqpmt. or a long charge, you may be able to get it started again with the same battery. if you have AAA, give them a call because if they can't start it, chances are you'll need a new battery.
while others might dispute it, even BGreen recommends that over 3 weeks of non-running, use a battery "maintainer". that's their suggestion; I just follow it.
if this is the first time the battery's gone dead, and it's not a 5 year old battery (how does one do that in a C6?
), with the right start eqpmt. or a long charge, you may be able to get it started again with the same battery. if you have AAA, give them a call because if they can't start it, chances are you'll need a new battery.while others might dispute it, even BGreen recommends that over 3 weeks of non-running, use a battery "maintainer". that's their suggestion; I just follow it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
If you are interested, another member just went through this the past few days. The bottom line was the battery was toast. You don't say how old it is but most likely it needs to be replaced. Then do yourself a favor and get a Battery Tender or CTEK to hook up when the car is going to sit more than a week or two.
Here is the other thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ry-change.html
Here is the other thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ry-change.html
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
From: Prescott AZ
You're not getting enough amperage to the car to start it...any number of reasons...cheap cables would be the most likely; poor connections could be the other. A starter pulls HUNDREDS of amps to turn an engine over. Thats alot of current to get across from another car. Cables should be solid copper and feel HEAVY. 4 Gauge cable. All the other electrics on the car worked fine because you had 12 volt power coming over from the other car, but your connection was not capable of delivering the heavy current required to spin a motor.
Anyway, just charge your battery slowly overnight and you will probably be fine.
Anyway, just charge your battery slowly overnight and you will probably be fine.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
The only way to really check a battery is under a load...big load like 200 amps. Otherwise it can be bad and just showing you a surface charge.
This is why battery specs indicate a spec for "load test amps". Battery must perform under this test.
This is why battery specs indicate a spec for "load test amps". Battery must perform under this test.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,491
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
Tough to say without knowing the year of the car, transmision or your location - -all helpful info you might think about adding to your profile to gain better answers. As an example, `05's with manual trannys had to be parked in reverse in order to shut down the computer system and avoid battery drain. (apologies if this is old news to you or not applicable)
Based upon your description and assuming the car's either a few years old, or in cold whether or not on a battery tender - - or has mods that might draw down the battery - - the best guess and easiest solution is to put in a new battery.
You might consider one of the heavy duty yellow top Optimas, Diehards or equivilent and look at a battery tender if it's going to sit for extended periods.
You will also probably need to index your windows - -check your owners manual for instructions but in short - - put the window up, re-engage the window switch for a few seconds, and that should reset it.
Good luck--
Based upon your description and assuming the car's either a few years old, or in cold whether or not on a battery tender - - or has mods that might draw down the battery - - the best guess and easiest solution is to put in a new battery.
You might consider one of the heavy duty yellow top Optimas, Diehards or equivilent and look at a battery tender if it's going to sit for extended periods.
You will also probably need to index your windows - -check your owners manual for instructions but in short - - put the window up, re-engage the window switch for a few seconds, and that should reset it.
Good luck--
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
From: Prescott AZ
A top charge will dissipate in 4 hours. Yes a load tester is nice. The next best thing is a volt meter and time. However, we all agree to try to charge it first.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 804
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco Ca.
It could be just that you need to leave the cables on for a few minutes longer. Make sure that the slaved vehicle is running at above idle also. Generally 1000-1200 rpms to get their alternator to kick in charging the system. Another thing is the vehicle that you are using is not up to the task of jumping the Vette. That's why I said leave the cables on a few more minutes running above idle.
Example: a Hyundai would have issues jump starting a Vette.
Example: a Hyundai would have issues jump starting a Vette.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,110
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From: Folsom Ca
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 534
Likes: 2
From: Timonium Maryland
It could be just that you need to leave the cables on for a few minutes longer. Make sure that the slaved vehicle is running at above idle also. Generally 1000-1200 rpms to get their alternator to kick in charging the system. Another thing is the vehicle that you are using is not up to the task of jumping the Vette. That's why I said leave the cables on a few more minutes running above idle.
Example: a Hyundai would have issues jump starting a Vette.
Example: a Hyundai would have issues jump starting a Vette.
I have a 2005 6speed. I always use the proper shut down procedure. DBS occurred once in 2006. Not again until the week before last and then again last week. My vette normally sits one to two weeks at a time in the winter. I jumped my vette with my 07 Tahoe. It took 15 + minutes to get a strong enough charge to start the vette. The DIC also showed "service column lock" for the first time.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11