Battery dead?

[DRTH VTR]

I went to the garage to go to work this morning and my car would not start. I got one feeble "click" from the starter, then nothing. The dash lights were dim, and flickered a bit, the headlights would not come up, etc. It acts like the battery is dead. I checked to see if I left anything on, but there was nothing. I had no previous hint that the battery could be an issue. It is a 2002, so the battery is not that old.

1. How long does the factory battery last?

2. Is this the usual way that they die?

3. Assuming that it is the battery, is there any reason to use a different battery as a replacement?

Thanks, Jim

 

[Ed02]

Jim, I asked the same question on a thread last month, the general consensus was it all depends on the vehicle and the state of the battery. There were stories like the car started fine, drove it to the store, went to start and it was deader than a doornail.I was more worried about the thing springing the dreaded positive post leak or going dead on our 3K roadtrip next month and decided 3 years was long enough. So I went out and bought an Exide Orbital battery. Gell cell technology, 84 month warranty. Cost about $119. Hope this helps.
Ed

 

[DRTH VTR]

Where do you buy those?

 

[Ed02]

Where do you buy those?

I bought it at NTB (Nat'l tire and Battery) I think I may have found it by going on the Exide.com site and looking up dealers but I'm not sure. May have just called them because they sold batteries. I had originally looked for an Optima but couldn't find anyone around here that carried them. I decided I wasn't going to buy another Delco battery after reading the numerous complaints on battery leakage.
Ed

 

[BarryK]

yep, it's possible that it went dead that quickly without notice.
just last month we had my wifes Lexus out and than pulled it into the garage at night. In the morning she went to start it and it was completely dead - not even a feeble click noise. We couldn't even jump the car it was so dead. turns out the battery had a complete dead short in it. Popped in a new battery and she started right up.

 

[srthom13]

My brother has a 03 Z06 and has had the same dead battery problem. This problem started right from the beginning. In his case the vehicle is not driven often. Usually after 2 - 3 weeks of sitting the battery will not has enough power to crank the engine. Had the vehicle cheched by the dealership and was told that it was the nature of the beast and to drive it more often. He when to Walmart and bought a $20. battery tender and problem solved. Steve

 

[Patrick]

Jim,
I'll just throw in my $0.02.

First, if you do plan to leave a Corvette parked for more than about 2 weeks at a time, a battery tender is a very useful investment. Beyond two weeks without a tender, you're tempting fate where the battery is concerned. (This is actually something I learned from C4C5Specialist, during his technical seminar at Cruisefest this past weekend.)

Second, I completely agree with Ed about the type of Battery. You definately need to get a good gel technology battery. C5's were designed so that the battery sits directly over your computer PCM. If you get a battery that's prone to leaking battery acid, that acid will eventually find it's way into your computer. (I've heard horror stories from C5 owners about what happens when battery acid starts eating into your computer.)

Hope this helps.


-Patrick

 

[DRTH VTR]

I appreciate the input from everyone. But I do need to clarify something. My Z06 is a daily driver. It ran just fine last night. That is what makes what looks to be a dead battery so unusual. In the past, I have gotten warnings that the battery is failing. It is slow spinning the starter, for example, or is just lazy in the morning. I had no warnings that I noticed. I drove the car yesterday, and I could not identify a power drain. :confused

 

[BarryK]

DRTH
that's why I related the story of my wifes car. No warninng whatsoever - just 12 hours later and just as dead as could be. Sometimes batteries just don't give any warning.

did you try jumping it to start it? if the battery went to a complete dead short like ours did it won't even allow you to jump start it with the battery that dead. As soon as the new battery dropped in everything has been perfect since.

 

[bluecoupe]

Your battery may have reversed a cell. A Car battery is actually several batteries (or cells) wired in series +- +- +- +- this adds the voltage of each cell together to reach the "12" volts of the total battery. (This is visually apparent if you look at an Optima battery.) Sometimes a cell will weaken more quickly than its neighboring cells and the polartity of the weaker cell will reverse +- +- -+ +- this will cause a major battery failure. This happens very quickly and usually without warning. You can have your battery tested with a load tester to verify whether or not it has failed.

 

[DRTH VTR]

I dropped an Excide Orbital battery in there and everything was back to normal. It was a bit expensive, but it seemed like the right way to go. I had a '97 with extensive damage done by a leaking battery. It got to the wiring harness under the battery tray and obliterated a vacuum line that is part of the a/c controls.

 

[bluecoupe]

I dropped an Excide Orbital battery in there and everything was back to normal. It was a bit expensive, but it seemed like the right way to go. I had a '97 with extensive damage done by a leaking battery. It got to the wiring harness under the battery tray and obliterated a vacuum line that is part of the a/c controls.

Cool Battery!

 

[cerberus]

Picture it. Just got my 02 Eblue Coupe. Had it about 2 weeks. Rinse the garage dust off at the car wash, fire her up, and pull out of the stall to wipe it off to take the wife for our first "night out in the new Vette". Looking cool wiping it down at the car wash while the ricemobiles gawk at my awesome ride. Take about 1 hour to get her perfect, hop in and...... 1 click and dead. No warning, no nothing. From peachy keen to dead in one hour.

Forgot cell phone. Had to borrow phone from nice kid in ricemobile. Crow beginning to taste crappy at this point. Wife arrives with cables. Follow process in manual for jump starting, wouldn't even jump. No codes, no clue what the hell was wrong. Thinking I got water somewhere I shouldn't have when washing. Looking decidely UNCOOL as I stand frowning while it is loaded on the flatbed towtruck.

What was it, battery. That was this spring on an 02 with around 19,000 miles. The dealer said I could have the $90 battery or the $65 battery. I asked what the difference was. The man said $25. Sold. No problems since. After reading this, I hope I don't come to regret the purchase of the cheaper battery. Felt like a fool for having my car at the dealer for a flippin dead battery, but such are the lessons of life. Still loving my beautiful ride that I've wanted since being a child, but I have to say it makes me a little anxious every time I get in and turn the key.