Dead battery
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Dead battery
I sored my 2006 C6 in a storage unit for the first time this winter but it doesn't have electrical outlets so I couldn't keep the trickle charger on it. I went pick it up yesterday and found the battery completely dead so I took it out and brought it home to slow charge it. My question is can I just re-install the battery and all should be good to go or is there something I should know first?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,470
Likes: 442
As you now know all Corvettes from about C5 on up need a battery tender connected (life support) if sitting without driving after about 2-3 weeks. Even with normal battery drain of about 20ma or less battery reserve power will drop day by day. Try and see if it will take a full charge, if it does then take it to AZ or Advance AP and have it tested before you even re-install it. You might have killed it especially if it is 4-5 years old or older.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
I replaced my original battery on my 13 just because it was starting to give me issues such as taking longer to crank the engine when cold (sounded weaker) and ammeter gauge read 14.7 instead of 14.2. Now everything is normal again.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,465
Likes: 1,149
From: Wayne Township WI
In early January '19 my Z threw a CEL, seems O2 sensor *and* CC was shot.
After some expense getting it right I went to p/u car, it'd just started snowing when I hit the garage.
Put car on tender, covered & forgot about it.
This Winter in WI was a PITA, no days w/o snow and no usual 'thaw' to get it out for short spins.
Flash forward to March, registration expired & needed to be inspected before new stickers issued.
Imagine my surprise when it always passed 10 years prior and it failed now, couple codes "Are Not Ready".
Went again a few days later & 115 miles, no-go.
Wrench asked if power had been interrupted, recently.
>Doink<
Didn't occur to me dealer disconnected battery for work and w/ no time to drive it afterwards.
Wrench assured after driving 1-2 hundred miles + multiple drive-cycle starts/stops those 2 items would ready themselves.
Problem was I'd be doing so on expired plates. Great. Never saw so many cops.
Eventually after racking-up slightly >200 miles went back & 3rd time was the charm, passed w/ flying colors.
Point is if after disconnecting power car needs miles put on for a registration inspection, or it'll fail.
Be aware of this (along w/ re-indexing windows) & know this is 'normal' until car's been driven enough to reset computers.
After some expense getting it right I went to p/u car, it'd just started snowing when I hit the garage.
Put car on tender, covered & forgot about it.
This Winter in WI was a PITA, no days w/o snow and no usual 'thaw' to get it out for short spins.
Flash forward to March, registration expired & needed to be inspected before new stickers issued.
Imagine my surprise when it always passed 10 years prior and it failed now, couple codes "Are Not Ready".
Went again a few days later & 115 miles, no-go.
Wrench asked if power had been interrupted, recently.
>Doink<
Didn't occur to me dealer disconnected battery for work and w/ no time to drive it afterwards.
Wrench assured after driving 1-2 hundred miles + multiple drive-cycle starts/stops those 2 items would ready themselves.
Problem was I'd be doing so on expired plates. Great. Never saw so many cops.
Eventually after racking-up slightly >200 miles went back & 3rd time was the charm, passed w/ flying colors.
Point is if after disconnecting power car needs miles put on for a registration inspection, or it'll fail.
Be aware of this (along w/ re-indexing windows) & know this is 'normal' until car's been driven enough to reset computers.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,465
Likes: 1,149
From: Wayne Township WI
Yet power on my '08 was dis/reconnected and clock still works fine.
Not bitching mind you, but go figure.
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
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 973
Likes: 268
From: Oro Valley Arizona
I'm going on a two week vacation. So when I do I disconnect the battery. It's never a problem like the other poster said windows and that's about it. I leave the window open so I can open the hood. Car's locked in the garage. Have done this several times.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,465
Likes: 1,149
From: Wayne Township WI
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,093
Likes: 1,599
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Evidently it depends on when the battery was disconnected. Reports indicate if disconnected sometime in November 2018 to present the clock is inoperable. There is also a theory the clock may reappear after April 6, 2019. Satellite GPS issue some think.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,465
Likes: 1,149
From: Wayne Township WI
Might be right, mine was disconnected early Jan '19 for a couple days.
Interesting info, a GPS issue's plausible.
4-6 should be an interesting day for those w/a lost clock.
Reports indicate if disconnected sometime in November 2018 to present the clock is inoperable. There is also a theory the clock may reappear after April 6, 2019. Satellite GPS issue some think.
4-6 should be an interesting day for those w/a lost clock.
Last edited by Landru; Apr 4, 2019 at 09:33 AM.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 626
Likes: 118
From: Indianapolis
Before going through the trouble of pulling the new head unit I would get a proper charge on battery and pull fuse for the stereo. If this appears to fix the battery issue, then you have found your problem.