Hello I'm hoping for a little help here.
My '06 Z51 automatic car w/27,300 miles on her stays on a battery tender and all has been great. but I went out to drive it a bit since this evening since I haven't driven it in about a month. I disconnected the battery maintainer as normal and jumped in for a ride. Well it started slow but did start. I took it out for a about 20 plus mile drive and all seemed well and was charging good at (14.1 and the lowest was 13.8 at low idle with the lights on,radio on and the a/c running.)
I got back and pulled into my shop and tried to start it again and it started slow again. I then shut it down.
Now the strange thing is after I shut the engine down that the cars dash lights,radio, start button and all lights came on all by themselves and would not shut off. OK, I popped the hood and disconnected the battery terminal and of course it all shut down and off. But, hooked it up again and all dash lights came back on and all the lights came back on too on and heard a clicking noise (sounded like it was coming from around the front of the engine) if I disconnected and reconnected again it did the same thing.
So this time I took the cable back off and let it sit for a bit. Strangely went all back to normal and this time it stayed shut down with the window not indexing. I'm thinking battery. But just wanted to ask everyone here to make sure I'm on the correct path. It has been VERY hot down here and just wonder if the battery tender gave up and then just drained the battery.

 

You left out perhaps the most important bit of information, how old is the battery? Batteries age and go bad, even when attached to a battery maintainer. Batteries also hate heat and hot weather. But, the short answer to your question is 'yes', I'd start with a new battery.

 

Sounds like classic symptoms when a battery has shot craps.

 

All kinds of odd electrical things start to happen with an old battery

 

New battery time.

 

Just swapped out my original battery. I could tell it was cranking a little bit slower when starting. New battery and we are good again.

 

My friends Corvette had the same problem, wouldn't start, windows were down and wouldn't go up, lights wouldn't turn off, in his case we cleaned the battery terminals which were noticeably corroded and the car came back to life, in his case he didn't have to replace the battery, but what you have is definitely a battery issue.

 

Hi thanks for all the info. I've had the car for about three years and it doesn't get driven very much except on weekends and Ive never had a problem with this car at all. I kinda figure sitting in the hot shop killed the battery even though I had a battery tender on it. (BTW the battery is about four years old). I'm on the way to pick up a new battery now.
Is there anything I should know when I do this other than the window indexing?
They way I was told to do this is to roll them down one by one and then roll them up and then stop and then hold the window in the up position for about 5 seconds. Am I correct on this? Also will I have to reprogram anything else? Doing this at 73 years young in 100 degree weather and remembering to do things the right way just isn't as easy anymore...LOL

 

[QUOTE=Smokeysvette;1605466734
Is there anything I should know when I do this other than the window indexing?
They way I was told to do this is to roll them down one by one and then roll them up and then stop and then hold the window in the up position for about 5 seconds. Am I correct on this? Also will I have to reprogram anything else? Doing this at 73 years young in 100% weather and remembering to do things the right way just isn't as easy anymore...LOL[/QUOTE]

A little more info about the window indexing.Usually, this is the only thing that needs to be done after a battery replacement.

And on a side note, Z51 is not a Vette model, it's a performance package. 2006 models were coupe, convertible, Z06.

 

Yes Vette DD, I know the Z51 is a handling package but just wanted to throw it out just in case. Just like so many people ask if it's a Z51 or not .So I said it just to be helpful if it's different a bit. Kinda like saying yes, it's a 3LT as I wanted to put all the info I could out there.
I want to thank everyone for the help and like I kinda thought, it might be the battery.
But, when The dash lights, and starter button light ,the headlights, running lights started coming on "by themselves" after i shut the car down I was thinking all different kinds gremlins had got into my car

Got the battery in and all is back to normal again

Again thank each and everyone that chimed into help

 

Start by checking ALL of the battery terminals starting at the battery. Not even two weeks ago I had an issue that started when I went to my ‘10 and heard click, pop that my gauge cluster went crazy. What I found was a broken positive battery terminal. Very easy fix that has been posted here before without having to change the battery harness assembly.

 

You're not going to want to hear this but 3 years is about it for most batteries in a Vette. They EAT batteries!! Then add your hot climate and you may not even get 3 out of it!!! Don't buy a cheap battery either, it'll just give you problems and die sooner!!

 

I live in the "Valley of the Sun".......talk about hot summertime temps! Heat kills batteries, even when you keep it on a tender. Your FIRST action is changing the battery! Good luck.....