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Topic: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees

in Forum: C4 General Discussion


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Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (1/10)
 12/30/13 2:42pm
cheme3093
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Joined: 12/30/2013
Posts: 1

Since my daily driver pooped out on my the other day I have been forced to drive my 95 C4 for a few days in northern Minnesota. Last night the temp was -24 without wind chill. I turned the ignition key and everything lit up like normal but when I turned the key to put juice to the starter everything went dead. No lights anywhere, no dash, no interior lights etc. I just put a new battery in it two days ago and started it earlier in the day just fine. 

My first thought is a bad battery connection since I neglected to clean the battery terminals when I changed the battery. I was in a hurry because I was changing the battery in an unheated garage with no gloves on. My bad.

Is there any other possible scenario that could be going on besides the battery connections like a blown main fuse or fuselink? I have only had this car for six months so I am not familiar with the systems yet. I'm guessing the starter was drawing huge amounts of current when I tried to turn it over because the oil was so thick from being so cold. 
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Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (2/10)
 12/30/13 11:56pm
Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1985 Coupe-L98/Auto,Bright Red/Carmine. 1974 Coupe-L48/4speed, Medium Red Metallic/Black Deluxe.


Joined: 3/18/2009
Posts: 2230

I would start be re-checking the cable connections. Cold oil temps should not keep it from cranking, tho it may crank slower than "normal". Since you say the interior lights were on when you open the door, and then everything went dead when you tried to crank it, my first suspect would be the battery connections. Ouch

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Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (3/10)
 1/1/14 1:12pm
art
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Cohasset, MN - USA

Vette(s):
1986 Coupe Red, saddle leather interior Cast iron heads


Joined: 11/28/2009
Posts: 44

Another C4 owner from Northern Minnesota!  I live a few miles from Grand Rapids.  Yes, it is cold up here.  My '86 acted like yours (although not in cold weather) and the problem was the battery connections.
Have fun driving your Corvette in this frigid Minnesota winter.   

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Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (4/10)
 1/1/14 5:33pm
cco
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Joined: 8/16/2013
Posts: 191

Damn that's cold up there. Not surprised that the 'vette is giving grief......

Sounds like battery connections to me also. In that temp it would be very critical.

G/L and let her warm up b4 driving.

Happy New Year,
C.
Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (5/10)
 1/2/14 8:08am
REDVETTE85
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NORTON, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1985 C4 red, 1985 C4 Black and dark gray


Joined: 7/9/2012
Posts: 111

Strange t 
Strange things Happen @ NEGATIVE 24
Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (6/10)
 1/2/14 10:01pm
themailman
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Pickens, SC - USA

Vette(s):
1989 Red,convertible,sold an 78 Black coupeSilver Anniversary after 3 years.


Joined: 7/21/2009
Posts: 24

I would check the STARTER SOLENIOD being "stuck" or frozen.
Happened to me TWICE this year where the "throw" of the solenoid gets hung-up in between engaged & returned. Once I poured boiling hot water over the starter and you could hear the fork return. Another time I rapped the underside of the starter housing with a small hammer and it returned. Yet another time I disconnected the  neg batt. terminal for 2 minutes and when I reconnected it you could hear the starter "click" and the solenoid returned.
Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (7/10)
 1/3/14 4:55pm
comptrmedic
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Joined: 10/19/2012
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I live down in Blue Earth about 30 miles nort of the IA border, when we're freezing u guys up there are frozen, stand by for northern minn in the national headlines come monday morning.  Whoooweee gonna be a cold one! I'm glad I got my baby tucked away!


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Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (8/10)
 1/6/14 8:13pm
HwyStar
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Centerville, MN - USA

Vette(s):
'92 Coupe 350/Auto


Joined: 10/5/2012
Posts: 20

...I think I'd go rent something before exposing my Vette to that kind of cold, I'd be concerned about the 'glass cracking - not to mention the salt/brine mix MnDOT spreads getting into all the spots you can't get it out of. 
 
I'm in Centerville about 20 miles north of St. Paul...it's -15 or so at this moment and "HwyStar" is snug as a bug in heated storaged.


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Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (9/10)
 1/11/14 3:20pm
hcbph
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Minneapolis, MN - USA

Vette(s):
Purchased a 1986 Convert August 2013, Bright Red color with a black top, it'd already received a Tremec 5 speed upgrade along with a disc upgrade prior to purchase.


Joined: 8/16/2013
Posts: 53

I was going to start my 86 on New Years day, made a momentary noise then nothing.  Haven't had that much time with it between buying and putting it to bed for the winter, so figured the battery might be weak or bad (which it looks like it is).  I've got another fully charged battery but it's been too darn cold to get out into the garage and change it out.  I think it was -27 last monday, and I feel like a reptile (colder it gets the less I like going out).
Sounds like it's going to be warmer this weekend, if so I may try swapping batteries and run it a little.
At least I did check the antifreeze this fall and should be good for anything we'll get this winter.
This is in Minneapolis - brrr.


|UPDATED|1/11/2014 12:20:41 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Re: Complete Electrical Failure in -24 Degrees (10/10)
 1/14/14 8:40pm
hcbph
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Minneapolis, MN - USA

Vette(s):
Purchased a 1986 Convert August 2013, Bright Red color with a black top, it'd already received a Tremec 5 speed upgrade along with a disc upgrade prior to purchase.


Joined: 8/16/2013
Posts: 53

My problem was the battery.  The previous had assembled the side panel wrong so it took a while to get off, but once I did and replaced the battery with a known good one, it fired right up and ran just fine (thankfully)
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