Jumping a C5 Battery

[Pseudomind]

I ran across this statement here on the board in this forum,

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showpost.php?p=725155&postcount=1

What say C4 folks? C5 electrics are not helped by jump starting or dead batteries, but are C4s as susceptible to electronic problems if “jumped" to start?

Are there some issues with the C5?

 

[RoadReady]

Here's excerpts from a magazine tech tip that I saved a few years ago. I don't know if it does apply to the C5, but it does to many late model vehicles. To be safe I never jump start with the charger on, or from a running vehicle. Better safe than sorry.


"When I went out to start the car, it wouldn't. All it did was click. I got out my trusty Sears battery charger and hooked it up to start the car. When I did, it was backfiring, stalling and hesitating. I took it to the Chevy dealership and they told me I had "smoked" the ECM by hooking up the battery charger. My question is, can jump-starting a Corvette damage the ECM or are they just giving me a line?

Answer: Your (C4) has a normal 20 milliampere bailey draw. This low battery drain is due to the various microprocessors (computers) in your Corvette. If the key is left in the ignition there will be an extra 180 milliamp draw due to the fact the central control module (CCM) is then awake.

You should not quick-charge a Corvette battery. A slow 24-hour charge is better. You can "smoke" the ECM by putting a 50-amp charge on a low bailey. When jump starting a car, use the normal 12-volt battery-to-battery method. When you turned on the key with the 50-amp charger connected, the ECM received a high spiked voltage. When jump starting, hook up cables then let it sit for a couple of minutes before tying to start it. This powers up all of the microprocessor boards and prevents damage.

If you start the car with a charger hooked up, the charger sees a low battery condition and kicks in. This voltage spike can damage electrical components."

 

[Pseudomind]

Thanks,

If I am reading this correctly? The other car should not be running Either. (Alternator going).

This would be a good question for c4c5 specialist to chime in on if he ever gets a free moment

OK a shameless plug here, this should be post number 700 :L

 

[Tuna]

I've jump started my C5 just once and it worked just fine. However, the battery was really and truly dead and refused to take a charge. The variable voltage set all sorts of warning messages and scared the heck out of me. It was 8 at night on a Sunday night and the only thing I could think of was getting it home.
I managed to get the car home but as soon as I shut it off, everything was dead again. Good thing I managed to keep it running all the way home.
I replaced the battery and everything was fine afterward.
Moral of this story - I guess - 1) it's okay to jump start a C5 if you follow the general precautions above as I did not fry the ECM, 2) find out what killed the battery in the first place; 3) the C5 is a battery hog and will kill batteries in 3 years no matter how long the battery is warranteed to last.

 

[Old Dog]

However, the battery was really and truly dead and refused to take a charge. The variable voltage set all sorts of warning messages and scared the heck out of me.
I managed to get the car home but as soon as I shut it off, everything was dead again. Good thing I managed to keep it running all the way home.
I replaced the battery and everything was fine afterward.
the C5 is a battery hog and will kill batteries in 3 years no matter how long the battery is warranteed to last.

Just a cent or two more on the subject. Just had the same experience with my 02. Battery, a Delco AGM, had been in the car since new(Feb, 02). Got the car boosted and had the same type of problems, DIC going wild with error Msgs and no heat or oil pressure readings on gauges. :confused

Next morning, went across the street to my local alt. & starter shop. Tested everything. No open circuits, Alt. putting out just great, and the first time the load test was run, battery did great. Went to start it and no go. :eyerole

Long story short, one of the posts inside the battery had gone bad and would make a connection on a random basis. When we load tested it, that did it in and it would no longer take a charge. I have always kept a battery tender on when the car was not in use to avoid any problems. The auto electric guy said he had seen this a lot with Delco.

I replaced it with a Red Top, reset the gauges on the DIc and everything is fine.

 

[Pseudomind]

Thanks,

If I am reading this correctly? The other car should not be running Either. (Alternator going).

This would be a good question for c4c5 specialist to chime in on if he ever gets a free moment :L

I have been perusing the C5 manual pages 5-41through 5-45 and in it it states to insure the radio is off, plus a multitude of other warnings. It does however state to have both vehicles turned off when starting the jumping procedures, how to connect the cables, and once the jumper cables are connected to start the vehicle giving the jump, and how to disconnect the cables, etc.

I would recommend getting ones manual out and perhaps reading through this section, or downloading the online version here at CAC (.pdf) and reading it.