CULAYTR

I searched the forum before writing this but couldn't find it anywhere, that's not a good sign My '05 with 5620 miles on it was away for the winter as usual, except this year, I never put the battery tender on it or disconnected the cables. So, I go to take it out a few days ago and it's dead. Put the tender on it for 3 days till the light turns green, it starts up fine then a few seconds later, it dies. DIC says low engine power alternately with service traction system and hear clicking noises coming from behind the middle dash area (radio, climate controlls). It does the same thing a few times so I figure I'll just go buy a new battery, no problem. Off to Sears I go and come back home with a new Diehard Gold (I know, I know, but I've always liked them). I put in the new battery and it's still doing the same thing. Starts up fine, seems to be running fine, then in about 7 or 8 seconds, it just dies abruptly and the DIC says low engine power alternately with service traction system and hear clicking noises. If I try to start it again immediately, everything just shuts down and goes dark for about 8 seconds, then everything miraculously comes back to life and it will go through this whole routine all over again. It won't run when it starts for more than 8 seconds ever. Does warranty cover the flatbed that comes to rescue it from my garage? Anybody else had this happen??? I'm scared to send it to a dealer service dept, it will be the first time... Does this sound serious to you guys???

The Clevite Kid

I predict a trip on a flatbed to a dealer for diagnosis and repair.

F40

Well at the very least I would call the dealer.I would think the tow service should be covered under warranty.
Jim

PAVette

Not good...good luck.

C-INRED

Free roadside service (towing) came with your car.

The one time I tried to use mine I was given a 3 hour estimated wait time...which give the circumstances was not acceptable. I located a (quality) towing company on my own and had it towed (flatbed) to the nearest dealer. I then called the roadside service number and requested reimbursement...which I received.

CULAYTR

Thanks for that little tip. I'll make sure I have plenty of time to kill when I attempt to deal with this

Hoonose

maybe a bad battery ground?

ben dover

Sorry for your trouble - let us know what you find.

shopdog

These cars weren't designed to sit in a garage for days at a time without being driven.

humvet

My C5 acted up similar to your C6 but it turned out to be a weak battery. When I swapped the battery for a new one (Sears Gold BTW) it acted up one or two times and then everything worked fine.

The fact that it starts up and then dies sounds like the ecm is malfunctioning and needs to be reset or maybe it is damaged. definitely sounds like a diagnostic challenge for the dealer to me.

Zig

check for some loose spark plug wires.

jschindler

How long are they designed to sit? Mine is not a daily driver. Should I have bought something else? What can your recommend that would be more suitable for those of us who bought them as a "weekend toy"?

(okay, Shopdog, you know me well enough to know I like a good debate - just screwing with you )

BADC64GO

05's seem to have DBS pretty bad! Good luck.

CodyC6

Did you charge the new Diehard Battery before you put it in? What was the voltage reading? Many times, the new batteries are not charged completely, or could even have a bad cell.

Put your battery tender on the new battery until you get the green light, and see what happens before you flat bed it.
Good luck.

MNVette

Obviously, this car has DBS without question. I think you just bought a bad DieHard (given the name of the battery, you'd think the Sears PR people would choose something better). I predict that the car will get to the dealer (after a flatbed tow), they will attach a powerpack to it, and it will spring to life! Just the way these fickle things work out sometimes. Get the reflash while you're there and tell them to warranty a new battery for you (test it before it goes in the car). Let us know how it works out.

Happy Vette-ing, All!

C6VetteRocks

122.35 hours mamimum, sorry couldn't resist.

JVM225

Hoonose

This car with a fresh std delco should be able to sit about 3 weeks+.
Maybe take about a week off this for each year as the car ages?

Lightning Coyote

The sooner the better.

jschindler

Are you talking about me, or my car?