Hey guys. I just bought a used ‘05 c6 automatic w 40k miles on it a few months back. I have only now been having electrical/ battery issues. I don’t know much about these cars and would love your help.

so basically it started when my car wouldn’t start one day randomly. I drive every single day so it doesn’t sit. In fact, I couldn’t even get into the car. The electronic doors wouldn’t open and my key fob when clicked wouldn’t flash the corvettes lights. I had to climb in through the trunk which set the alarm for 20 seconds. Once I got in, still nothing. Just clicks when I tried to push to start. However, the heat worked, I could turn my headlights on which worked, and the light in the middle console where the heat is controlled was little. Other than that, everything else was dead. Iassumed the battery was dead so I got a ride home.

I returned 2 days later with another car to jump it. However, the key fob when clicked activated the lights. The car doors opened and it started like nothing happened. I thought this is weird.

about 2 days ago, and roughly 3 weeks after the initial incident, it happened again. I tried to open the car from the outside, handles wouldn’t open , lights wouldn’t flash when keys were clicked, etc. again, the heat and air could be turned on from the inside , as could my headlights. I tried to charge it with a mighty jump and nothing happened. I then let it sit being charged by a battery tender for 10 hours. I came back, and the keys opened the door from the outside , worked fine.

here we are today, only a day after the second incident, and it’s doing it all over again. I’m assuming if I leave and come back in a day it’ll miraculously start again? Does anyone have any idea what I’m dealing With here, battery, alternator, both? I would like the address this as financially friendly as possible as I’m stuck at work and can’t get home.

thank you so much for your time guys. Really

 

Have the battery checked, how old is it? My ‘12 had the original battery in it, I noticed corrosion on the positive terminal. After closer inspection I noticed the terminal connections were not seated all the way down on the terminals and they were not tight. Loose connections will cause intermittent issues.

 

This ^^^^^^^^^^

 

What he said, get a new battery and be sure connections are clean and tight. That's where you start on these cars with this issue.

 

thanks for the reply man! Appreciate your help.

how do you recommend I go about doing this? Bringing it right to Chevy, or a third party like auto zone, pep boys etc? Do I need a specific type of battery for this car or to prevent these issues ? And how much $ am I looking at ? Thanks!

 

I have been buying batteries for all my corvettes from Auto Zone, and have never had a problem. It's just a battery, and they will tell you the one you need, and install it for free.

 

Side note - there should be a door release in the drivers side hatch area. Page 2-12 of the 2005 owners manual.

 

Nothing mysterious here.....typical C6 behavior with old/weak batteries. Since you apparently don't know it's history, replace the battery with a premium battery & get yourself a battery tender (not a battery charger) & use it regularly if you have access to electrical power. Also, don't be surprised if you start getting TPMS failure signals. Again, no known history on when the sensors may have been last replaced & the life cycle of those batteries is usually 6-8 years at best.

 

Replace the battery, especially if you've no idea how old it is.
So many of these electrical issues are due to failing battery every time.
New batteries can run anywhere from $100 to $150, and parts stores install if purchased from them.

After a new cell's installed issue persists, then can dig deeper.
Must first eliminate the known & quite common point of failure given the symptoms: battery.

 

Just a note - if it's a short drive (say 5 or 10 minutes) it will not be adequate to recharge the battery after starting, so a tender would still be needed.