Help please: Dead Battery??
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Car started right up when the roadside assistance guy hooked up his portable thingamajigee starter battery. I immediately drove to the dealer and they pulled it inside in case it wouldn't start again. Service Advisor entered my VIN and pulled up 2 "recalls". One was related to the heated seats, can't remember the other one. Also asked them to add Android Auto even though I have read that it is pretty much worthless. Asked about a tranny reflash and was told they would see if my car needs it. Not sure what that means. I only have the rough 1-2 and 3-1 shifts occasionally and usually when the car is cold. I hope they find that my battery is defective because I don't want to go through this again. Thanks for all the help and advice. Oh, it was raining cats and dogs during the drive to the dealer and the car didn't melt.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
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Glad it started OK and those little jump packs are very handy. Hook everything up and then flip the switch on the pack so there are no sparks near the battery.
I bought one from Harbor Freight several years ago largely to power a low power amateur radio set while camping but I used it once to start my CTS and another time to assist my diesel utility tractor in starting. Less than $60 and they have a power port to recharge phones or other devices and a built in work light. They aren't that big but I don't think I would travel with it in my C7 however it is very handy around the house. It is rather large to be used as a flashlight but a charged battery would run its built in LED light for days if not weeks
I bought one from Harbor Freight several years ago largely to power a low power amateur radio set while camping but I used it once to start my CTS and another time to assist my diesel utility tractor in starting. Less than $60 and they have a power port to recharge phones or other devices and a built in work light. They aren't that big but I don't think I would travel with it in my C7 however it is very handy around the house. It is rather large to be used as a flashlight but a charged battery would run its built in LED light for days if not weeks
Last edited by NSC5; May 11, 2016 at 04:07 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
BTW see if you can find out from the dealer if the ipod connection you mentioned is always hot. If it is, it may be a source (not necessarily THE only) of causing a low battery level.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Moderator emeritus
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From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Car started right up when the roadside assistance guy hooked up his portable thingamajigee starter battery. I immediately drove to the dealer and they pulled it inside in case it wouldn't start again. Service Advisor entered my VIN and pulled up 2 "recalls". One was related to the heated seats, can't remember the other one. Also asked them to add Android Auto even though I have read that it is pretty much worthless. Asked about a tranny reflash and was told they would see if my car needs it. Not sure what that means. I only have the rough 1-2 and 3-1 shifts occasionally and usually when the car is cold. I hope they find that my battery is defective because I don't want to go through this again. Thanks for all the help and advice. Oh, it was raining cats and dogs during the drive to the dealer and the car didn't melt.Elmer
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 133
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I hear a lot of praises at this site about CTEK, all I know is my CTEK was hooked up for 4 months, when I tried to wake up the car, the battery was totally dead and the CTEK was off...(paid GM $120 for this) in several posts here, CTEK does NOT bring the battery back, I thought it was a float-charger....I have bought several at Harbor Freight for about $8, they float and keep the batteries up on many of my cars...right near by I had numerous cars on float chargers and they are fine !!! Now I get to fight GM if they will do anything....!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
I hear a lot of praises at this site about CTEK, all I know is my CTEK was hooked up for 4 months, when I tried to wake up the car, the battery was totally dead and the CTEK was off...(paid GM $120 for this) in several posts here, CTEK does NOT bring the battery back, I thought it was a float-charger....I have bought several at Harbor Freight for about $8, they float and keep the batteries up on many of my cars...right near by I had numerous cars on float chargers and they are fine !!! Now I get to fight GM if they will do anything....!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 16,507
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From: Southern Indiana
Car started right up when the roadside assistance guy hooked up his portable thingamajigee starter battery. I immediately drove to the dealer and they pulled it inside in case it wouldn't start again. Service Advisor entered my VIN and pulled up 2 "recalls". One was related to the heated seats, can't remember the other one. Also asked them to add Android Auto even though I have read that it is pretty much worthless. Asked about a tranny reflash and was told they would see if my car needs it. Not sure what that means. I only have the rough 1-2 and 3-1 shifts occasionally and usually when the car is cold. I hope they find that my battery is defective because I don't want to go through this again. Thanks for all the help and advice. Oh, it was raining cats and dogs during the drive to the dealer and the car didn't melt.Corvette Stories
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
I haven't heard from the dealer yet but I will post as soon as I do. I left the car and there was a list of issues they were going to try and address:
Battery issue
Trans reflash
Performance timer install
Android auto install
Some TSB about the heated seats
I told them to take their time as I'm going out of town until Friday evening.
Battery issue
Trans reflash
Performance timer install
Android auto install
Some TSB about the heated seats
I told them to take their time as I'm going out of town until Friday evening.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Dealer just called. They charged the battery and let the car sit overnight. Started right up this morning. Very strange as it went dead overnight sitting in my garage. I asked about the various USB ports remaining on when car is parked and was told they all turn off. I leave my ipod in the car plugged in to the port behind the screen. The only port that stays on is the rear charging port. Will be interesting to see what happens when I get it home. Not saying I don't trust this dealer but they do not sell or service a lot of Corvettes but do have 1 certified tech. I hope to talk with him when I pick up the car. I will definitely use my CTEK anytime the car is parked overnight from now on. I am not convinced there isn't something wrong with the battery. Time will tell. Is the battery covered for 36 months under the bumper to bumper OEM warranty?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
A Corvette C7 can set up the five weeks, sometime six weeks on the battery and still start fine. It's been proven time and time again here by people who travel. Over on the Camaro forum right now there is a car that was going through the same thing killing a battery and they found out one of the connectors under the seats was leaking current… There is a leak somewhere, If it does it again.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
A Corvette C7 can set up the five weeks, sometime six weeks on the battery and still start fine. It's been proven time and time again here by people who travel. Over on the Camaro forum right now there is a car that was going through the same thing killing a battery and they found out one of the connectors under the seats was leaking current… There is a leak somewhere, If it does it again.
If it does go dead again, I won't be going back to the same dealer. I have had the car about 9 months and have parked it without a battery maintainer and it has sat for well over 10 days with no problems. I drove to and from the Bash, over 1400 miles, came home and parked it. Sat for 3 days, no problem, started right up. Drove around doing errands for about 30 minutes and parked it overnight. Went out the next morning and the battery was completely dead. Don't understand it. Very strange.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
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Thanks for confirming that all of the USB ports turn off when retained accessory power (RAP) times out. I thought that sounded wrong when I was told about the behind screen port during delivery but thought I would pass it along just in case. Another rumor put to rest
Although it is a pain watch your car for odd behavior after you turn it off for the next few weeks. My 2008 CTS drained the battery twice shortly after I took delivery; the dealer thought it was due to two defective batteries
One night I went back into the garage without turning on the lights and saw the status indicators on the rear view mirror were illuminated and the battery drain problem was due to one circuit intermittently not powering down. It was cured by a replacement module and I never had any additional trouble however if I hadn't noticed those status lights I have a feeling it would have been a long time before the dealer found the problem.
Although it is a pain watch your car for odd behavior after you turn it off for the next few weeks. My 2008 CTS drained the battery twice shortly after I took delivery; the dealer thought it was due to two defective batteries
One night I went back into the garage without turning on the lights and saw the status indicators on the rear view mirror were illuminated and the battery drain problem was due to one circuit intermittently not powering down. It was cured by a replacement module and I never had any additional trouble however if I hadn't noticed those status lights I have a feeling it would have been a long time before the dealer found the problem.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Thanks for confirming that all of the USB ports turn off when retained accessory power (RAP) times out. I thought that sounded wrong when I was told about the behind screen port during delivery but thought I would pass it along just in case. Another rumor put to rest
Although it is a pain watch your car for odd behavior after you turn it off for the next few weeks. My 2008 CTS drained the battery twice shortly after I took delivery; the dealer thought it was due to two defective batteries One night I went back into the garage without turning on the lights and saw the status indicators on the rear view mirror were illuminated and the battery drain problem was due to one circuit intermittently not powering down. It was cured by a replacement module and I never had any additional trouble however if I hadn't noticed those status lights I have a feeling it would have been a long time before the dealer found the problem.
Although it is a pain watch your car for odd behavior after you turn it off for the next few weeks. My 2008 CTS drained the battery twice shortly after I took delivery; the dealer thought it was due to two defective batteries
One night I went back into the garage without turning on the lights and saw the status indicators on the rear view mirror were illuminated and the battery drain problem was due to one circuit intermittently not powering down. It was cured by a replacement module and I never had any additional trouble however if I hadn't noticed those status lights I have a feeling it would have been a long time before the dealer found the problem.Last edited by rmorin1249; May 13, 2016 at 10:57 AM.
Le Mans Master
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From: And then it was said... "let there be blue Corvettes and yellow Camaros" Ft Worth Texas
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Dealer just called. They charged the battery and let the car sit overnight. Started right up this morning. Very strange as it went dead overnight sitting in my garage. I asked about the various USB ports remaining on when car is parked and was told they all turn off. I leave my ipod in the car plugged in to the port behind the screen. The only port that stays on is the rear charging port. Will be interesting to see what happens when I get it home. Not saying I don't trust this dealer but they do not sell or service a lot of Corvettes but do have 1 certified tech. I hope to talk with him when I pick up the car. I will definitely use my CTEK anytime the car is parked overnight from now on. I am not convinced there isn't something wrong with the battery. Time will tell. Is the battery covered for 36 months under the bumper to bumper OEM warranty?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 2,638
From: Gilbert Arizona
Just a thought....
This may be a silly question, but do you have LoJack installed on your car? I bought my C6 with 3,900 miles on it and every time I came back from a business trip (3-5 days), the battery was dead. After much investigation I found out the previous owner installed LoJack and it was constantly pinging and drained the battery. And after much searching (they hide it somewhere in the car) we finally contacted the original owner and he told us where it was located. Once we disabled it the battery was fine.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
This may be a silly question, but do you have LoJack installed on your car? I bought my C6 with 3,900 miles on it and every time I came back from a business trip (3-5 days), the battery was dead. After much investigation I found out the previous owner installed LoJack and it was constantly pinging and drained the battery. And after much searching (they hide it somewhere in the car) we finally contacted the original owner and he told us where it was located. Once we disabled it the battery was fine.
Last edited by rmorin1249; May 13, 2016 at 11:25 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
Yeah, I am trying to remember if I did anything different when I parked the car the last time I drove it. Is it true that even if you leave your door open, lights on, etc. that the car is supposed to power everything off? I always have my lights set on the "Auto" setting and I have my car set to automatically lock when the doors are closed. I am going on vacation next week for 8 days and am trying to decide whether or not to connect my CTEK or not while I am gone. I think I will put it on tonight when I park the car just to make sure the battery is completely charged and then take it off and leave it off while we are gone to see if it holds a charge for at least a week. What do you guys/gals think?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
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From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
If someone tried to mess with the car could it somehow put the car in a mode that would have activated something that could drain the battery? I don't know that this happened but it could have. Just trying to eliminate possible causes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Down south in Dixie
I would leave the charger off while on vacation. That should tell you if it's OK or not. If not it's better to find out while the car is home, than have it die while you're out and about. IMHO