Strange electrical problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
Strange electrical problem
Wife called me from work Friday at about 1:00. She had driven our 08 about 4 miles to work at about 8:30 and couldn't get out of the car without using the mechanical emergency release. She wanted to trade cars because she didn't trust the Vette. I went to her office and the car was undrivable because the battery was almost completely run down. I had to get in the car using the emergency mechanical hatch release. The car was flat bedded to the dealer, and they called Friday night to say that the car seemed fine after charging the battery. They are going to keep the car through Monday since their Vette specialist will be in to look at it. The car started up fine Friday morning and everything seemed normal. It had been sitting for about a week. Any ideas?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
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Tech Contributor
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Wife called me from work Friday at about 1:00. She had driven our 08 about 4 miles to work at about 8:30 and couldn't get out of the car without using the mechanical emergency release. She wanted to trade cars because she didn't trust the Vette. I went to her office and the car was undrivable because the battery was almost completely run down. I had to get in the car using the emergency mechanical hatch release. The car was flat bedded to the dealer, and they called Friday night to say that the car seemed fine after charging the battery. They are going to keep the car through Monday since their Vette specialist will be in to look at it. The car started up fine Friday morning and everything seemed normal. It had been sitting for about a week. Any ideas?
You might consider a battery tender if the car is just a weekend cruise or short trip car. The Corvette C6 battery charge will last unattended for about 27 days on average. It can take up to 30 minutes to replenish the battery just from opening the door and starting the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,865
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From: Hope, Arkansas - '07 LMB Coupe
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Your best course of action will be to wait until Monday and see what Vette Tech finds out. If you need additional help after that, then ask away.
Fill us in on the diagnosis too.
Fill us in on the diagnosis too.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
The car had been sitting for a week after a 20 mile drive which should have fully charged the battery. It had not been driven since then until Friday. I'll keep everyone updated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Rochester New York
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
Here is the promised update. Basically, they could find nothing wrong. They did replace the top latches according to the service bulletin. I'll keep an eye on things to see if it can be reproduced. I have a battery charger in the garage, so no big deal if it happens again at home. In the meantime, walking away and leaving the car for a couple of hours if the door doesn't open properly is not an option. I'm wondering what happens if the button on the door is working properly and the solenoid that opens the door sticks? Is the car smart enough to know that the door didn't actuate, or does it keep sending current to the solenoid?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 815
Likes: 1
From: Mesa "highlands" AZ
Steve.....
If the car sat for a week or so, was driven for 20 miles, and then sat for a week again....the 20 mile drive is not sufficient to recharge a battery, even it's it's just slightly low. Especially if the radio, heater fan, lights were also used either, or both, of the 2 times it was driven.
Just noticed you are in Minnesota. I'll bet the spouse used some power robbing accessories in her 4 mile drive....while the battery was low.
Put the charger on it and if it's an auto regulating, wait till it indicates zero or turns off. Check the voltage with a meter. Then check again in several days....see what difference you have, if any (make sure all accessories are off...including courtesy lights).
Just some guesses on my part.
If the car sat for a week or so, was driven for 20 miles, and then sat for a week again....the 20 mile drive is not sufficient to recharge a battery, even it's it's just slightly low. Especially if the radio, heater fan, lights were also used either, or both, of the 2 times it was driven.
Just noticed you are in Minnesota. I'll bet the spouse used some power robbing accessories in her 4 mile drive....while the battery was low.
Put the charger on it and if it's an auto regulating, wait till it indicates zero or turns off. Check the voltage with a meter. Then check again in several days....see what difference you have, if any (make sure all accessories are off...including courtesy lights).
Just some guesses on my part.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
I should have added some new information on the failure to the update. I found out a couple of days ago that after my wife used the emergency release to open the driver's side door, she walked around the car and opened the passenger door normally to get some stuff out of that side of the car. Therefore, we know that there was significant discharge with the car just sitting there after she went in to work.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: Crab Orchard Tennessee
Just recently had a similar battery problem my self. Car had set for about a month - after a long hard drive. The battery had just enough charge to let me get in but not enough to recognize the presence of the FOB or start the car. I put a charger on the battery and only got it to a 50% charge which quickly faded to zero. I guessed that 3 cells were bad.
Took the battery to the nearest dealer and they confirmed the dead cells (BTW, dealer offered to come and put the car on a flatbed free of charge to get it too the dealership but I said "No thanks"). Battery was replaced under warranty and all is now well.
Took the battery to the nearest dealer and they confirmed the dead cells (BTW, dealer offered to come and put the car on a flatbed free of charge to get it too the dealership but I said "No thanks"). Battery was replaced under warranty and all is now well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 11
From: Beverly Hills, MI
I started this thread a week ago or so. Some interesting reading. Please see...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-the-deal.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-the-deal.html
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,296
Likes: 156
From: Location: Location: kAnSaS
a load test on the battery and Alternator should give you the answers you need, short of a freaky alt. or very unusual electrical issue.
A battery tender would be a good idea if it sets a week (which disharges the battery) and then is driven short periods alot (which doesnt charge the battery enuf) but thats asking alot to get the wife to plug one in. good luck , paul
A battery tender would be a good idea if it sets a week (which disharges the battery) and then is driven short periods alot (which doesnt charge the battery enuf) but thats asking alot to get the wife to plug one in. good luck , paul
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 148
From: Magnolia Texas
have your dealer or another shop if you don't trust your regular mechanic, to load test the battery and alternator as suggested. believe it or not, a 20 mile trip is not enough to charge the battery on a C6. you need over 30 minutes about 1500 rpm to gain on replacement of the power you used just getting started. need to drive the car more 
or get a battery tender to keep the charge up while its in the garage.
or get a battery tender to keep the charge up while its in the garage.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
I should have added some new information on the failure to the update. I found out a couple of days ago that after my wife used the emergency release to open the driver's side door, she walked around the car and opened the passenger door normally to get some stuff out of that side of the car. Therefore, we know that there was significant discharge with the car just sitting there after she went in to work.
