Good point.
Locked out
Racer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 475
Likes: 300
From: Utah
so you can use the fob to enter the car. Hopefully a jump start at the battery will get you going.
The starter is on the passenger side of the engine.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,256
Likes: 4,745
From: SE WI
Similar thread and the guy jumped it from the starter and an engine bolt under the car (per Elmer's suggestion in post #10). Just to unlock the car with the fob. Not to start it.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ocked-out.html
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https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ocked-out.html
.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,568
Likes: 594
From: Jefferson City Missouri
When you do get the rear key latch operating, I suggest putting a small piece of duct tape over the hole to help keep out the dirt. There is a lot of crap that blows up behind the car.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 21
Well I just got back from working on the car. No joy. The emergency key will not unlock the hatch no matter how much you push, pound on the deck lid. The key turns to the pax side untill it hits the car. It only turns to the driver's side about 30 degrees. I'm pretty sure it is supposed to turn to the pax side, but I tried both.
Then I jacked up the car on the pax side. This sucked because the car is parked on a hill. I blocked the rear wheels, but it is scary getting under the car. I only jacked it up enough to get under. I hooked a small alligator clip to the starter and my truck. It would not pop the locks.
I give up and we called onstar. They are sending a tow truck tomorrow.
This car was in the body shop before to get a rear fender replaced. They may have unhooked the cable. As far as the battery, I've seen batteries get so dead that you can't start the engine, even with a jump. The dead battery will suck all the power. But I would have thought I could pop the locks.
Whats the deal with no warning on the dash? They got warnings for everything else. My wife said when she pushed the start button, it turned real slow and just kept turning till the battery was stone dead. She tried to push it to stop it from turning anymore, but it just keeps cranking.
Then I jacked up the car on the pax side. This sucked because the car is parked on a hill. I blocked the rear wheels, but it is scary getting under the car. I only jacked it up enough to get under. I hooked a small alligator clip to the starter and my truck. It would not pop the locks.
I give up and we called onstar. They are sending a tow truck tomorrow.
This car was in the body shop before to get a rear fender replaced. They may have unhooked the cable. As far as the battery, I've seen batteries get so dead that you can't start the engine, even with a jump. The dead battery will suck all the power. But I would have thought I could pop the locks.
Whats the deal with no warning on the dash? They got warnings for everything else. My wife said when she pushed the start button, it turned real slow and just kept turning till the battery was stone dead. She tried to push it to stop it from turning anymore, but it just keeps cranking.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 190
Likes: 84
From: Tucson AZ
I hope you get it all figured out soon. Likely the cable was disconnected during body repairs.
This is a good reminder to go out and try the key in the lock cylinder to make sure it works before a break down.
This is a good reminder to go out and try the key in the lock cylinder to make sure it works before a break down.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 437
From: San Dimas CA
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 21
Gave it about 20 minutes. Of course, I tried it several times during that time. Not sure if attempting to open the deck lid when it's not ready yet sets you back to zero.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,256
Likes: 4,745
From: SE WI
I wonder if putting a battery tender on there for a few hours or more would do any good. I have a Battery Tender Plus with the big alligator clamps. At least it might try to charge it. And the amps are pretty low, 1.25 amps until it get to the maintaining cycle. It would probably display an error light if something was wrong. Just not sure if it works so far from the battery posts.
Last edited by Zjoe6; Oct 5, 2021 at 12:35 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,055
Likes: 9,817
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Well I just got back from working on the car. No joy. The emergency key will not unlock the hatch no matter how much you push, pound on the deck lid. The key turns to the pax side untill it hits the car. It only turns to the driver's side about 30 degrees. I'm pretty sure it is supposed to turn to the pax side, but I tried both.
Then I jacked up the car on the pax side. This sucked because the car is parked on a hill. I blocked the rear wheels, but it is scary getting under the car. I only jacked it up enough to get under. I hooked a small alligator clip to the starter and my truck. It would not pop the locks.
I give up and we called onstar. They are sending a tow truck tomorrow.
This car was in the body shop before to get a rear fender replaced. They may have unhooked the cable. As far as the battery, I've seen batteries get so dead that you can't start the engine, even with a jump. The dead battery will suck all the power. But I would have thought I could pop the locks.
Whats the deal with no warning on the dash? They got warnings for everything else. My wife said when she pushed the start button, it turned real slow and just kept turning till the battery was stone dead. She tried to push it to stop it from turning anymore, but it just keeps cranking.
Then I jacked up the car on the pax side. This sucked because the car is parked on a hill. I blocked the rear wheels, but it is scary getting under the car. I only jacked it up enough to get under. I hooked a small alligator clip to the starter and my truck. It would not pop the locks.
I give up and we called onstar. They are sending a tow truck tomorrow.
This car was in the body shop before to get a rear fender replaced. They may have unhooked the cable. As far as the battery, I've seen batteries get so dead that you can't start the engine, even with a jump. The dead battery will suck all the power. But I would have thought I could pop the locks.
Whats the deal with no warning on the dash? They got warnings for everything else. My wife said when she pushed the start button, it turned real slow and just kept turning till the battery was stone dead. She tried to push it to stop it from turning anymore, but it just keeps cranking.
Bill
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 21
If you are trying to power the car from your truck what did you do to complete the circuit? Hooking an alligator clip to the + terminal on the starter won't do a thing unless there is a ground connection between the frames of the two vehicles. Small wires may not provide sufficient current-carrying capacity to the Vette so the voltage drop across the wire may drop the voltage at the starter + terminal too low to do anything.
Bill
Bill
Today we had the car towed. Onstar had it towed to our local dealer. Of course, our local dealer doesn't work on Vettes. So now it's getting towed to a dealer 50 miles away.
stay tuned.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 21
Just to close this thread, we got the car towed to the dealer and they were able to hook power to the starter long enough to pop the locks. The bodyshop was at that dealer that forgot to hook up the emergency cable. I figure that mistake cost us about 300 more than just the battery.
Moral of this story, check your emergency key.
Moral of this story, check your emergency key.