God where do I start? I'm a female who just bought this vette....4th one, and have NEVER had an issue like this!

Bought a 2005 about 4 months ago, have actually only driven it 2 weeks total time, bc TOWED INTO DEALER 6 TIMES NOW..... Doesn't start intermittently, and has been stranding me places....

Go to get into it, close door, press clutch in, press green button, gears up to start, but then nothing....

Problems and things we have fixed already...
1. Seems like battery is hyper draining from somewhere, 3 batteries have gone dead. (Solution, bought trickle charger to try and not let battery go dead...)

2. Every time I get in, all doors, lights, console light up as normal, but then I press start button, gears up to start and then nothing....has happened 7 times now....then throws codes like service column lock (which we replaced)..still happened...Chevy said its like a brain low on oxygen, that it starts acting strangely with low battery voltage, and throws codes that isn't actually the cause

3. Replaced the BCM, thought it was security system maybe not recognizing me. Still didn't start intermittently...

4. Replaced start button...still didn't start

5. Chevy kept it for 3 weeks this last time, to see what happened when it didn't start, started every single time, but then I brought it home and it didn't start again about a week later. (SIGH)

6. Car Fax shows 4 owners on this car, we think it is maybe (?) same issue all these years...

7. Called several dealers and have gotten some advice on what may be causing this FRUSTRATING intermittent non-starting issue...I have gotten everything from LoJack maybe being installed and it causes a heightened type of security and battery draining....also being told that a cell charger can influence the program on this 2005 year...also that there is a Reflash Program Update that maybe wasn't installed (?) so battery wouldn't drain if no one put it in reverse....

ANY ADVICE ANYONE CAN GIVE ME? This is SO frustrating to me and the Chevy Dealers, bc no one seems to know what is causing the intermittent non-starting issue...it's obviously electrical, but we already replaced the BCM, which controls the security, doors, key fob, etc, and we were SURE that would fix it, but it didn't....

I heard this was a BIG issue with the 2005....any advice we aren't thinking about????? I love this vette, and don't want to have to trade it in 4 months after buying it. But if this continues I have no choice....I AM GOING OUT OF MY MIND

Thanks, SHERRY

 

so...have you actually been leaving it in reverse each time you park it?

 

Sorry for your troubles. Hope it gets fixed soon.

First, I think you should post your situation in the C6 General Forum for more eyes to see.

But, before you do that, if you do, you need to answer and include this info in your post.

Are you in fact parting the car in Rev? Have you ever seen a message on the DIC about "shift to reverse to shutdown"? Has anyone done an actual battery drain test to determine if something isn't shutting down when the car is off?

Just a first thought on possible problem, the positive battery cable connection at the starter is a common source of electrical issues. Do you know if anyone has checked that yet?

You can answer here and include the info in your repost in the General Forum or just work with it here. Good luck.

 

It definitely sounds like a battery connection problem to me too. Another thing to check after the connection at the starter is the connections at the battery. Make sure the nuts that tighten the terminals down are the right ones with the conical shape on the bottom. If they arnt the terminal will not tighten down properly.

 

When I got mine they didn't put it in reverse so it sat for days at the dealership. When I stop by to see her, she dead. Jumped her and I've only had one issue where she was dead in the am. Her being put in reverse is crucial. Good luck and let us know how it gets resolved please.

 

Thanks for your replies, YES I have been putting it into reverse each and every time. Also, Chevy dealer has as well, verified that. I have also put this in the General Forum, as suggested here, so more eyes can see and suggest. Thanks so much, Sherry

 

YES we do think the battery is being hyper-drained, but from where??? Battery drains or goes dead...which throws codes (like a second "service column lock" when it was already repaired).

The Chevy dealer has had this car on and off for 3 months, and they have done all software updates GM suggested, done everything GM recommended (to replace the BCM--still happened), replaced parts it was throwing codes for, replaced key fob, replaced BCM, replaced 3 batteries....something is draining the battery more hyper than normal....driving all of us crazy....

Thanks also EVRose, I will makes ure the nuts are tightened down when I pick the car up tomorrow AGAIN....afraid nothing has been fixed AGAIN, and it will strand me AGAIN...

Posted this in General Forum too, maybe there is something I'm not thinking of or that we haven't tried....even GM is stumped....

 

When it doesn't start, do the dash lights dim for about 5 seconds and then become bright again? Do you try more than 4-5 times to get it started before you give up? Did it ever start on re-tries after initially failing?

If any or all of the above is true, look carefully at the cable connection at the starter solenoid and the solenoid itself. A rebuilt starter with solenoid from Autozone, O'Reilley's, etc for ~$100 would be the quick way to cure that problem.

Since you're in the Phoenix area, posting on the ACE (Arizona Corvette Enthusiasts) forum may get some local help.

BTW, is the car Victory Red?

 

Well, someone has to do some investigating. IF....the cables at the battery and starter check okay, AND don't let some lazy mechanic laugh at you about the starter, it might be an internally broken solenoid on the starter; see this thread and VIDEO:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...d-starter.html


IF all that checks okay, then a battery draw test needs to be done to determine what is running the battery down. When the car is shut down, the draw has to be in the 18-30 milliamp range, no more. Here is a long discussion, the nitty-gritty info starts on page 4:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-syndrome.html


These problems have to be approached methodically and we've seen enough of them here to know. Report back with new info.

 

Thanks HOXXOH
The dash lights don't dim prior to starting, but I have asked my service advisor to look at the starter and solenoid, and battery connections....Yes I do try 4-5 times to get it started, I even get out, rearm it, wait, and try again, but it seems that once it has made it's mind up not to start, nothing will get it to start after initially failing....

No, the car is LeMans Blue, Carfax said it came out of Las Vegas, Bill Heard Chevy, which is now out of business (I'd love to track down prior owners....)

 

I am having to consider getting rid of this vette I love.....There is a 2009 I am looking at to trade this in one possibly at the same dealership. Black - I hate black...too hot in AZ, but if it's a great vette, I'd consider it...better than being stranded all the time in my gorgeous blue/tan !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Geez....

 

Oh, one more quick note, occasionally at the dealership, they have disconnected the battery and it seems to "recycle itself" and then start (but not sure every time or not)...however, I am so desperate to get the car to run, that I even considered doing that every time the car doesn't start...however, I am a nurse who works 12 hour shifts, and the last thing I want to do at 11pm after my shift is have to crack the hood and disconnect the battery every time it doesn't start!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i'd look at any electrical mods that were done to the vehicle (esp if they were reversed), starter & battery in that order. look at the fuse panels for anything that shouldn't be there. 4 owners, someone prob did something...

 

Was the DBS flash done? It's easy for the dealer to find out. DBS (dead battery syndrome) was a big problem with the 05 manual transmission. GM came up with the flash and that solved it for almost 100% of the owners that had the problem.

Keep us posted.

 

Tell dealer to replace Steering Column Lock Module on the steering column.
I had to push start, tow multiple times to dealer like you with 2 BCM replaced, etc, etc. Had to give dealer the part# and begged them to look into it. They finally had some special electrical guy magically trace it to that and replaced it. Been years without problem now.
There should be many old posts about it where I got the part# from one post, as well as my frustrations too lol.

 

I had Clutch, master cylinder, slave cylinder replaced and now battery drains. Bought a new battery, and leave it on a trickle charger because the Auto shop won’t do anything about it. I was told that is a symptom that the ground was not connected or wiring harness pinched . But I don’t know where to look. And live in the Keys with no other corvette mechanics.

 

I saw your post in the Tech section…you do NOT need a Corvette mechanic to diagnose this…I can diagnose a drain on ANY car…find that auto electrical shop shop…the usual “grease monkey”mechanic has no electrical training !!!… this is not a ground issue…to bad you don’t live a little closer…if your battery has gone completely dead a few times you’ll need a new battery.