Would not start?

[Mannings]

Vettes been driving great. Went out today after work, turned key, lights and dash dimmed to nothing would not start? Opened hood shook wires to starter tried again still nothing. Had 2 friends push me backwards, popped the clutch and off I go.

On the way home DIC shows 13.8 - 13.9 volts, charging. Turned Vette off DIC shows 12.0 volts. Cranks like a champ now. Has new starter, silonoid, cables and 6 month old Red Top. No codes.

Any ideas?

[vett boy]

Ah ,the old shakin' the wires trick .Humm that might be a clue.

I wish ya luck though.

[98 softtail]

I have heard lots of stories about the "Optima" batteries just going dead for no apparent reason, however, you should make sure that something isn't draining it down.

If your battery has drained down to the point that it will not start the car, you should put a battery charger on it to make sure it is fully charged, "GEL" or "AGM" batteries require a slow deep charge to come up to full amperage, if your battery charger has a "deep cycle" mode, use that setting to charge your "Red Top".

Joe B.

[Rich Z]

Man, I used to have that kind of problem ALL of the time. If my 2002 C5Z would sit for two weeks, the battery would be dead. I've heard people say that it really doesn't make any difference, but in my experience, putting the shifter into reverse and leaving it that way when I shut down the car has caused this problem to just cease completely for me.

[Mannings]

Thanks for the suggestions. Got home a last night, started up today and got me to and from work. Just a little paranoid now.

[98 softtail]

I bought a "float charger" awhile back, just in case...it is still sitting in the box.

I bought an Auto Zone "Gold" battery for the White Vette a few years back and it starts the car after sitting for a month or so. Go figure.....