C6 Battery keeps dieing...
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
C6 Battery keeps dieing...
2005 C6, 6sp, w/navi & heads-up (don't know if this matters or not) with nearly 5,000miles on it. Very happy with everythig, except the battery. If I leave the beast asleep in the garage for about a week or so, next time I want to start it, I have to have the jumper cables in my hand. Once I get it jumped, the battery goes from about 13.2volts back to 14volts in a matter of seconds.I do not have anything plugged in power outlets (ie cell phone charger), and I kept a very close eye on the car shutting off when I left it the last 2 times to make sure all lights and everything else does turn off. I do not have any aftermarket electrical devices installed.
Anybody else with similar problem? Any ideas, suggestions? I will, of course, take it in, but first I wanted to get some input, maybe I'm doing something silly and am not being aware of it (what could it be?).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
Maybe a silly question but since you didn't say for sure....are you shutting it down in reverse? If you are, then my next best guess would be a defective battery, there have been a number of these reported here by several members. 
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Always in Reverse!
Alright, I knew I was forgetting to mention something. I always shut it in reverse. Here's how positive I am about this: I back the beast in the garage each and every time - as I back it in, I never take it out of reverse (and if it wasn't in reverse in the first place, I couldn't back it in). So for sure I am not one of the "forgot to put it in reverse" victims. 
Priority Start sounds very good - found their website at www.prioritystart.com - in case anybody else is having my problem. I think I'm sold on it as I want this problem fixed badly. Thank you sscamaro!
Thanks everybody for the replies.
Priority Start sounds very good - found their website at www.prioritystart.com - in case anybody else is having my problem. I think I'm sold on it as I want this problem fixed badly. Thank you sscamaro!
Thanks everybody for the replies.
Last edited by NFSMW; Jul 28, 2006 at 12:06 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 9
From: CA
Many have said the stock battery blows and gone with optima brand replacements. If I have battery problems, that is my plan.
And I thought I read here 07s have a new kind of battery too. Not sure on that though.
And I thought I read here 07s have a new kind of battery too. Not sure on that though.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Replace Battery?
Sure, I'd replace it, but not once a year. This is ridiculous. 
I'll see what the dealer sais about the limited warranty that's on it. My feeling is they'll want to keep it in the shop for a few weeks to make sure it really does keep on dieing.
I'll see what the dealer sais about the limited warranty that's on it. My feeling is they'll want to keep it in the shop for a few weeks to make sure it really does keep on dieing.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
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From: queensbury ny
It's DBS...
A well known and much discussed issue for 05 6spd vettes.Not all of them,but lots!!There is a procedure you can try and it may or may not help.The search function will aide you there,but it involves shutting down in reverse,then going to neutral and waiting for the shift to reverse message to come up on the mess.center.Also,if you don't hear little clicks(or something to that effect) when you shut it in reverse,than it's not shutting down.A priority start device will eliminate your dead battery issues 99.99% of the time. Good luck!
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Mine just back from the dealer for the 5th time. Steering column lock module and BCM replaced. Back on the battery tender and calling for a charge for over two days?? And the beat goes on.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,527
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by jesse12804
A well known and much discussed issue for 05 6spd vettes.Not all of them,but lots!!There is a procedure you can try and it may or may not help.The search function will aide you there,but it involves shutting down in reverse,then going to neutral and waiting for the shift to reverse message to come up on the mess.center.Also,if you don't hear little clicks(or something to that effect) when you shut it in reverse,than it's not shutting down.A priority start device will eliminate your dead battery issues 99.99% of the time. Good luck!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...29&forum_id=74
Certainly have the dealer make sure that your battery and charging system are working properly.
A prioritystart make sense for almost anyone anyway. Especially for '05 MN6. Just cheap and easy insurance.
Now one more thing:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...1287448&page=2
Read C5-Bruce with his update from GM post #107.
There might be a problem doing the backing up and shutting down routine.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,527
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by capevettes
Mine just back from the dealer for the 5th time. Steering column lock module and BCM replaced. Back on the battery tender and calling for a charge for over two days?? And the beat goes on.
They probably worked on it and didn't leave it in reverse!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,499
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From: Scottsdale AZ
Which model of the Priority Start is suggested for the C6 - - -the standard model or the ProMax - - -is there a discernable difference (besides the price) ? I coulda used this on my black & white a hundred years ago - - -
Thanks-
CQRT in AZ
Thanks-
CQRT in AZ
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Originally Posted by Hoonose
You mean just after you got the thing back?
They probably worked on it and didn't leave it in reverse!
They probably worked on it and didn't leave it in reverse!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,527
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From: Arizona
Originally Posted by capevettes
They did have it in reverse. To put the modules in required removal of the dash gauges and console, so the doors were open a long time. They load tested the battery and said it is fine, which is hard to believe after many DBS incidents. I have driven it twice since I got it home, over 120 miles and it is always calling for a charge while on the tender. Either the car isn't fixed or the battery is junk or both. I am rapidly losing patience with this whole thing. Sorry to sound so negative. I love driving this car but if I want reliablilty I will drive one of my 40 year old dinosaurs. Having GM customer assistance tell me to read my owners manual for proper shutdown procedures has really got me doing a slow burn!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by purple heart
i just hook up a Battery Tender I purchased from Eckler's every time i shut the car down for more than a week and I haven't had a DBS problem in almost a year now!
....49.95! for piece of mind.
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Originally Posted by Hoonose
Is it possible the tender is goofy?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Arizona
Originally Posted by capevettes
I have 4 of them and have rotated them. Always calling for a charge no matter which one I use. I am asking the dealer for an Optima Yellow top to at least determine if the underlying problem has been fixed or if I'm now just fighting a bad battery.
That would show internal battery problem vs the car?