Car won't start... help please...
03-03-2005, 07:30 PM
#1
Racer
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Updated: Car won't start... help please...
I came home from work and parked my car in my driveway for about 30 mins. I walked up to the car and unlocked the doors/windows down with the remote (valet). I pushed the clutch in and turned the key as usual. I heard a sort of light clicking sound followed by a fan noise comin from under the passenger side dash board. It wasn't a fan... sort of like a buzzing sound. Immediately after everything went dead. Nothing works. No radio. The remote. No DIC. My windows are still open. I have never had this happen before. I haven't checked anything yet because I don't know where to begin. If it were the battery... wouldn't the engine at least have cranked? Can I try to jump start it like any other car? I did have 2 new keys made yesterday. They worked perfectly til now. Any immediate help/tips would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you.
Update:
I went back to the car... and nothing worked. Not even the interior lights. I tried to jump start it and it barely started on the 3rd try. Thats after letting it charge for 5 mins or so. Then when it did start I d/c the cables. The only thing that worked was the engine (sort of). The speedometer maxed out a few times along with the chiming. Like when you 1st put the key in... this happenned about every 2 mins. But the engine continued to run. The headlights did not turn on. I parked it in my garage for now. The battery is the original AC delco since 97. I have about 60,000kms on the car. I am happy that this happenned in my driveway rather than out and about somewhere. At least thats the only positive thing for now. I will check the battery voltage. I guess the best replacement is the optima?
Any other cars I have had give you a warning at the least. Slow crank or you can jump start it a few times. Even push start.
Once again thank you.
Update:
I went back to the car... and nothing worked. Not even the interior lights. I tried to jump start it and it barely started on the 3rd try. Thats after letting it charge for 5 mins or so. Then when it did start I d/c the cables. The only thing that worked was the engine (sort of). The speedometer maxed out a few times along with the chiming. Like when you 1st put the key in... this happenned about every 2 mins. But the engine continued to run. The headlights did not turn on. I parked it in my garage for now. The battery is the original AC delco since 97. I have about 60,000kms on the car. I am happy that this happenned in my driveway rather than out and about somewhere. At least thats the only positive thing for now. I will check the battery voltage. I guess the best replacement is the optima?
Any other cars I have had give you a warning at the least. Slow crank or you can jump start it a few times. Even push start.
Once again thank you.
Last edited by SMX; 03-03-2005 at 08:55 PM. Reason: Update
03-03-2005, 07:59 PM
#2
Racer
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St. Jude Donor '06-'09-'10-'11
It very well could be your battery. Even if the lights and all worked and the car wouldn't start it can be the battery. Check the obvious: First, read the voltage. At rest it should be around 12 volts. See if the cables to the battery are tight and clean. Try another key, etc..
03-03-2005, 08:04 PM
#3
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Same thing happened to me last summer. It was a bad battery (the Delco) that just up and quit with NO warning whatsoever. My car made all the noises you described.
Got a jump start and went straight to Sears and bought an Optime Red Top. Started like new ever since.
Good luck.
Got a jump start and went straight to Sears and bought an Optime Red Top. Started like new ever since.
Good luck.
03-03-2005, 08:08 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
How old is your battery and what type is it? More then likely it is a battery problem. It is very possible to show no sign of trouble then just die. You can jump start it but I would first check the battery then replace if needed. My personal recommendation is the Optima ( I run the Yellow Top as I leave my car parked for weeks at a time).
Good luck and let us know how things turn out.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out.
03-03-2005, 08:10 PM
#7
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Yep, It is the Battery. Mine did the same thing, I'm glad it did though because the Delco was starting to leak. I went to Sears and got A Red Top installed. The guy cleaned everything and now I am starting just fine and don't have to worry about acid leaking on my computer.
03-03-2005, 08:39 PM
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Update:
I went back to the car... and nothing worked. Not even the interior lights. I tried to jump start it and it barely started on the 3rd try. Thats after letting it charge for 5 mins or so. Then when it did start I d/c the cables. The only thing that worked was the engine (sort of). The speedometer maxed out a few times along with the chiming. Like when you 1st put the key in... this happenned about every 2 mins. But the engine continued to run. The headlights did not turn on. I parked it in my garage for now. The battery is the original AC delco since 97. I have about 60,000kms on the car. I am happy that this happenned in my driveway rather than out and about somewhere. At least thats the only positive thing for now. I will check the battery voltage. I guess the best replacement is the optima?
Any other cars I have had give you a warning at the least. Slow crank or you can jump start it a few times. Even push start.
Once again thank you.
I went back to the car... and nothing worked. Not even the interior lights. I tried to jump start it and it barely started on the 3rd try. Thats after letting it charge for 5 mins or so. Then when it did start I d/c the cables. The only thing that worked was the engine (sort of). The speedometer maxed out a few times along with the chiming. Like when you 1st put the key in... this happenned about every 2 mins. But the engine continued to run. The headlights did not turn on. I parked it in my garage for now. The battery is the original AC delco since 97. I have about 60,000kms on the car. I am happy that this happenned in my driveway rather than out and about somewhere. At least thats the only positive thing for now. I will check the battery voltage. I guess the best replacement is the optima?
Any other cars I have had give you a warning at the least. Slow crank or you can jump start it a few times. Even push start.
Once again thank you.
03-03-2005, 08:44 PM
#10
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wont start
Originally Posted by SMX
I came home from work and parked my car in my driveway for about 30 mins. I walked up to the car and unlocked the doors/windows down with the remote (valet). I pushed the clutch in and turned the key as usual. I heard a sort of light clicking sound followed by a fan noise comin from under the passenger side dash board. It wasn't a fan... sort of like a buzzing sound. Immediately after everything went dead. Nothing works. No radio. The remote. No DIC. My windows are still open. I have never had this happen before. I haven't checked anything yet because I don't know where to begin. If it were the battery... wouldn't the engine at least have cranked? Can I try to jump start it like any other car? I did have 2 new keys made yesterday. They worked perfectly til now. Any immediate help/tips would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you.
it funny how they just die with know warning.. 
...went to the golf course played and came back to nothing..... Get a optima and you will not be stuck again..... 
03-03-2005, 09:15 PM
#14
Corvette C5 Enthusiast
Battery 
- I went with the Optima. Two types (as you may know) Red and Yellow Top. Yellow is the "Industrial Strenght" model. I went with yellow, only because I store my C5 late fall to early spring. I have a battery tender, but figured the Yellow Top might stand up a bit better to the long periods of storeage....even with the tender.
- I went with the Optima. Two types (as you may know) Red and Yellow Top. Yellow is the "Industrial Strenght" model. I went with yellow, only because I store my C5 late fall to early spring. I have a battery tender, but figured the Yellow Top might stand up a bit better to the long periods of storeage....even with the tender.
03-03-2005, 09:35 PM
#15
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
If it's the original battery I wouldn't be checking anything but my wallet for the price of a new battery. And count my lucky stars I didn't have to buy two batteries by now. But don't be surprised if your alternator goes south very quickly once you get a new battery in there. Keep us posted. My .02
03-04-2005, 09:25 PM
#17
Racer
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I did some searching for OPTIMA batteries on the forum. Many posts seem to be against it. I think I'm leaning towards an AC DELCO again. Good choice?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1030033
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026859
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1030033
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026859
03-04-2005, 10:04 PM
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
"Original Delco since '99"
If there was a betting pool on the forum, I would wager that this is your problem
If there was a betting pool on the forum, I would wager that this is your problem
03-04-2005, 10:18 PM
#20
Racer
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Originally Posted by AC54ME
"Original Delco since '99"
If there was a betting pool on the forum, I would wager that this is your problem
If there was a betting pool on the forum, I would wager that this is your problem