car wont start
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
car wont start
Ive had my 05 c6 for a few months and havent had any problems until today. i stopped by my cousins house and my car will not start... when i push the button everything comes on and thats about it. car says the battery is at 11 volts and everything works except the car doesnt even try to start or anything... anyone have any idea what this could be...
thanks
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 7
From: Bristol raceway area
Is your car a manual? If it is you Have to put it in Reverse when parked or it will drain the battery. '05 only.
Take the battery to Advance or Autozone and let them charge it and put a load test on it. That will tell you pretty quick what condition it is in.
When you get it right put a hand held volt meter on the battery while running, will tell you how much your alternator is putting out. Good luck.
Take the battery to Advance or Autozone and let them charge it and put a load test on it. That will tell you pretty quick what condition it is in.
When you get it right put a hand held volt meter on the battery while running, will tell you how much your alternator is putting out. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
Is your car a manual? If it is you Have to put it in Reverse when parked or it will drain the battery. '05 only.
Take the battery to Advance or Autozone and let them charge it and put a load test on it. That will tell you pretty quick what condition it is in.
When you get it right put a hand held volt meter on the battery while running, will tell you how much your alternator is putting out. Good luck.
Take the battery to Advance or Autozone and let them charge it and put a load test on it. That will tell you pretty quick what condition it is in.
When you get it right put a hand held volt meter on the battery while running, will tell you how much your alternator is putting out. Good luck.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 7
From: Bristol raceway area
11 volts are not going to get the job done. Should be 12.0-12.5 volts engine off. Our car shows 14.0-14.4 volts running.
Are the battery connections clean?
If they are put a charger on it for an hour.
Are the battery connections clean?
If they are put a charger on it for an hour.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,288
Likes: 129
From: Providence Forge, VA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
I agree, 11 volts is too low. You need a new battery. Make sure you are putting it in reverse when you park it. Always good to keep it on a battery tender if it is not going to driven for a while.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
good advice! if you don't know the age of your battery, with all due respect, it's pushing 5 years. that's old.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I know the C-5's, you need a minimum of 12.5 for the electronics to work but the starter might turn over with less. I'll venture a guess the C-6's are the same.
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
my dad went to autozone and had them "load" it and its work all day (about 5 starts).... really strange im expecting it to happen again if its the battery. im guessing the car doesnt even try to start around 11.5ish volts if its the battery....? battery is about 6 months old and its a optima high performance one or whatever
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I've seen lots of reports here in the forum about bad "new" Optima batteries. Check the battery connections and starter solenoid connections as that is where it all comes together.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Vonore Tennessee
my dad went to autozone and had them "load" it and its work all day (about 5 starts).... really strange im expecting it to happen again if its the battery. im guessing the car doesnt even try to start around 11.5ish volts if its the battery....? battery is about 6 months old and its a optima high performance one or whatever
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
The 05 Vettes are notorius for problems with their steering column lock motors. When they start shorting out, they will drain the battery. Sometimes you will get a "service column lock" message, but other times, there is no message. After being stranded 3 times over a 2-month period and multiple trips to the dealership (costing $2000), they finally diagnosed the problem correctly.
ive had that service steering column a couple times... how did they fix that problem?
also it seems like something with the nav/stereo is always running even when the car is off and in reverse... it sounds like a cd spinning but ive taken both disks out and something is still running.....anyone know what that could be and why its not turning off?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,839
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
Ah the dreaded 05 DBS strikes again. I remember those days well. 
If your battery is putting out less than 12v, replace it (with something other than AC Delco).
If your battery is putting out less than 12v, replace it (with something other than AC Delco).
Last edited by DSOMC6; Nov 8, 2010 at 12:53 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 748
Likes: 3
optimas are notorious for being bad even new from optima. they also have been known to leak when optima claims that they are sealed batteries and will never leak.
i'd never buy an optima.
kinetik batteries are respected in the car audio world, and car audio takes a ton of power. so you might want to look at one of those.
i'd never buy an optima.
kinetik batteries are respected in the car audio world, and car audio takes a ton of power. so you might want to look at one of those.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
i had the same thing happen to my 05 . you had low battery voltage that caused the theft computer to go in lock mode. disconnect both battery leads and touch them together for 30 seconds. this will unlock and reset the theft computer. then reconnect the leads to the battery and start the car. you will then have to index you windows. let me know what happens
