Richiez

I tried to start my C6 Corvette today and when I hit the start button the dash went black and nothing happened.

A neighbor came over with his cables and we tried to jump start the car. Results were the same, dash went black and nothing happened.

Then we tried holding the FOB just below the start button and hit start and the car started,

Does this mean the battery in the FOB is dead?

It allowed me to open the doors, run the windows down and open the trunk?

Additionally, when I got home shut the car off and restarted it with the FOB in my pocket?

How can I tell if my FOB battery needs to be replaced

Mordeth

Why not spend $5 and 30 seconds of your time and replace the battery? They go bad and cause issues like this. In a pinch, if the FOB appears not to be working due to dead FOB battery, then place it in the glove box slot and car can be started. All of these things are found in your manual. Additionally, you are in the wrong forum.

Richiez

Because, at the time I thought the problem was the car battery. How would it was the FOB when I was able ro get in the car amd open the trunk??

Mordeth

The FOB battery could simply be weak and only working intermittently. Spend $5 and 30 seconds and put a new battery in it. They should be replaced every few years either way. At a minimum this will eliminate it as a potential culprit and is a simple, easy fix. Just pop the FOB open, remove the battery and take it up to your local Walgreens or Grocery store or whatever. They stock the batteries.

The other issue that can cause this is if you have ANYTHING else plugged into the car, like a PAL unit, an IPOD, something in the OBDII port etc. If you do, then unplug it.

Richiez

Again, I thought it was the car battery. I had just purchased the FOB, that came with a battery. Additionally, I had an extra FOB and two batteries at home.

FatsWaller

I'm trying to fill in the blanks here. You say your neighbor tried boosting the car and had the same result. Then you tried again to start it holding the fob near the start button and the car started.

Were the booster cables still hooked up at this point at this point?
Was the new fob programmed for the car?
Did you have both fobs with you in the car?
Does the other fob start the car without problems?
Did you get any messages on the DIC when the car failed to start?

Richiez

The boster cables did not help, DIC still went blank, with no message. When i held the FOB (not new) under the starter button the car started. When I got home I tested the FOB battery and it was nearly dead, very weak.I replaced te fOB battery and all is fine. My concern isI didn't know if the problem was the car battery of the FOB? will I get a warning if my car battery needs to be replaced?

Vette_DD

No, you will not get such a message about the car battery or the fob battery.. Also, new fob batteries are sometimes no good.

FatsWaller

How old is the battery, where do you live, and do you keep the battery on a maintainer? The maintainer greatly extends battery life, and hot climates greatly reduce it. Lots of posts about this on the forum. I change my car batteries every 5 years even if they test good. I'd rather not get stuck on a road trip with a crapped out battery.

EVRose

I caught this on mine a few months back. It's rare but it can make an appearance!

Red08

I ALWAYS keep a spare FOB battery in my console.

owc6

The antenna used when the starting the car is in the glove box, not near the start button. There is also a slot in there to stick the fob into in case the fob battery fails or is missing.

Narddog

Could have been the jumper cables too. Not every set of cables will work. I usually don't attempt a jump unless I see spark when I connect the jumpers.