Slow cranking
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 8
From: Dallas, TX
Slow cranking
It's been cold here the last couple of days. Temps have been in the 20/30's. I've noticed my car has had a sluggish start/crank. It will start up but it takes a little longer than normal. Would this be a battery issue? I have not had the battery checked but was planning on it this weekend. If it turns out the battery is good, what else can I check? My car does have LT headers. Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,768
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
How often are you driving the car? The problem could be the battery, but if the car sits for a while, especially in cold weather, it can have a slow start. Mine has been doing the same thing during the unusual cold weather we've had in Phoenix, but I had the battery checked this past weekend and it was fine. I'm just not getting the car out enough to juice the battery up completely.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 8
From: Dallas, TX
How often are you driving the car? The problem could be the battery, but if the car sits for a while, especially in cold weather, it can have a slow start. Mine has been doing the same thing during the unusual cold weather we've had in Phoenix, but I had the battery checked this past weekend and it was fine. I'm just not getting the car out enough to juice the battery up completely.
Last edited by RoliO; Feb 13, 2025 at 12:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 8
From: Dallas, TX
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,768
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
That's not enough driving. You might want to invest in a trickle charger. 4 miles doesn't even get the oil hot enough to burn off any condensation.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 8
From: Dallas, TX
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 752
Likes: 255
From: Florida
I STRONGLY recommend you stop driving such short distances. If you aren't getting the oil up to temp you're gonna kill the motor eventually. If you must then at least once a week drive it a good 10 to 15 miles minimum and change the oil yearly or at 3000 miles whichever comes first.
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
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 8
From: Dallas, TX
I STRONGLY recommend you stop driving such short distances. If you aren't getting the oil up to temp you're gonna kill the motor eventually. If you must then at least once a week drive it a good 10 to 15 miles minimum and change the oil yearly or at 3000 miles whichever comes first.
a lot more.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 488
Likes: 314
From: SoFlo
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
One thing I do with mine is let it idle for almost 10 minutes before I drive to work. I have it worse, well if you can say worse, my commute is a whopping 2.5 miles. I do this not for the battery charge but as C6VetteLover says you have to get the oil up to temp to burn the moisture off. The oil takes longer than the coolant to heat up. This also helps with battery charging also. Some days I will take the long way if I don't let it idle long enough.