whats wrong with my camaro - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

thegreatwhite · 08-20-2019, 10:03 AM

im hoping this is a battery issue but im interested to see if anyone has experienced something like this with their car.

i have a 2014 2SS RS, manual. used to be a daily driver but now for about the last year and a half it mostly stays in the garage because i have another car i drive everyday. i take the camaro out once in a while, try to run it every 1-2 months to keep everything normal. well the last time i really drove it was maybe late may or early june.

a couple weeks ago i went to start it and it would not start. some of the interior lights would come on but not everything, it would not crank and the little yellow check engine light was on. idk what the problem was but since i had not started it in a couple months i hoped it was just a dead battery. i jumped it, it started fine, drove it around for like 30 minutes. turned it off and on a few times and everything was good. went back home parked it an that was it.

i go to start it again last weekend and the same problem happens, some lights come on but not all, starter wont crank. this time when i jumped it it had to crank alot to get started. like more than iv ever heard it have to. then once it got running the motor was running very roughly an weak it felt like for a minute or two. on top of that now i was getting a "service stabilitrak" and service something else message on my screen. also when i revd the gas the RPM on the dash did not move at all. i did not drive it at all cause i didnt know what would happen on the road. i let it run for about 10 minutes. turned it off and tried to turn it on again and it started but had to crank quite a bit again to get started.

its been a little over 5 years since i got the car and its sat most of the last year, do i just need new batteries? or is this a bigger problem. anyone have a similar experience?

SSkat · 08-20-2019, 10:08 AM

Start with the battery

Venomcustom · 08-20-2019, 10:08 AM

I would change the battery, spark plugs and possibly plug wires. Then see how it is.

SlingShot · 08-20-2019, 10:18 AM

Battery for sure seeing it's 5 years old. Get a new one along with a tender to keep it going. If I let any of my cars go longer than two weeks without running, the battery will be dead. Last year I had to replace three batteries at around $250 a pop. Being yours is a 14, there may be a transport mode you can put it in.

There is no confirmed Transport Mode for thy 5th Gen only the 6th Gen

Welker2 · 08-20-2019, 11:54 AM

Don't believe there is anything wrong with your Camaro; your battery is over 5 years old and you are letting it sit for weeks at a time. With all the electronics on vehicles these days, if you let them sit for long periods of time, the battery will slowly drain.

First, given your battery is 5 years old and has been drained a couple of times, I would replace it.

Second, I would get a battery tender/maintainer. I had a similar problem if I let either of my vehicles sit for over a week or so (being retired, this happens frequently). Once I started using the maintainers, no more issues. I personally like the Deltran Battery Tender series as they are relatively cheap, work well and can be bought at just about any auto parts store or on line from Amazon or other sources. I currently use the Battery Tender 800 on my Corvette and Battery Tender Plus on my Camaro. Both have the quick connect harnesses that make connecting/disconnecting a snap. That being said, there are a lot of good tenders/maintainers out there.

Juiced1 · 08-20-2019, 12:04 PM

Either put your battery on a charger or get a new battery. It really sounds like that is the issue.

scoob7276 · 08-20-2019, 05:09 PM

As far as it not turning over at all, start with the battery like everyone else has said. BUT...the fact that it took a while to start and then running poorly, I would venture to say it is the gas. You never said anything about filling it with fuel, adding fuel stabilizer or anything of the such. Gas will go bad, especially over 12 months, or possibly longer, worth of time. I would either drain the gas, and fill with new(adding fuel stabilizer), or fill it up from where it is and run the entire tank out. Then refill and add fuel stabilizer before you park it again.

Rock-It Man · 08-20-2019, 05:14 PM

If you use the car so little, you should be hooking up to a battery tender.

So first get a new battery (you're due after 5 years because of disuse) and second, start using a battery tender. That way the new battery will comfortably last more than 5 years.

15RS2NV · 08-20-2019, 05:34 PM

Like explained above, an older battery sitting for weeks/months at a time will slowly drain your battery. In my opinion, you'll need a new battery, a trickle charger (keep it charged the week(s) you don't drive it), and make sure you don't have pack rats under your hood. Your stabilitrac codes are just because you battery is so dead, it's lost it's memory. If you have a new battery, it'll learn again.

In your area, 5-8 years is life of a car battery. Letting it sit will decrease the life so being 5 almost 6 years you're due for a new one. Here in Tucson, batteries last 2-3 years because of our extreme heat during the summers.

thegreatwhite · 08-20-2019, 05:41 PM

thanks. this was the answer i was hoping for that it was the battery and not a worse problem. thanks for the help.

thegreatwhite · 08-20-2019, 05:42 PM

with that being said lets take it a step further. what car batteries do you guys use for your camaros.

zlathim · 08-20-2019, 06:41 PM

I installed whatever it was that was available in the correct size at the parts store. Works fine. If you want to go all fancy, there are plenty of premium batteries to chose from. I've always wanted to try an Optima, but never have.

kmarshall2121 · 08-20-2019, 06:49 PM

Throwing any codes beside the engine light? My Avalanche hardly ever gets driven, decided to a while back - engine light on - then blinking - found out a damn family of mice had been chewing up wires. in fact, one was dead, with a sparkplug wire in his jaw... replaced all the bad wiring, and bam! shes got power, and no more issues (unless gas drained to the cats, then i have that to deal with before a smog check) - good luck!

Rock-It Man · 08-20-2019, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegreatwhite

thanks. this was the answer i was hoping for that it was the battery and not a worse problem. thanks for the help.

AC Delco, the OEM battery.

I took care of mine and it was still OK after 7 seasons when I replaced it as a precaution. Now on season 10.

The car has never sat for more than 2 weeks without a battery tender, and it is hibernating on the tender for 6 months even year.

08-20-2019, 10:03 AM	#1
thegreatwhite Drives: 2014 SS Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Norcal Posts: 315	whats wrong with my camaro im hoping this is a battery issue but im interested to see if anyone has experienced something like this with their car. i have a 2014 2SS RS, manual. used to be a daily driver but now for about the last year and a half it mostly stays in the garage because i have another car i drive everyday. i take the camaro out once in a while, try to run it every 1-2 months to keep everything normal. well the last time i really drove it was maybe late may or early june. a couple weeks ago i went to start it and it would not start. some of the interior lights would come on but not everything, it would not crank and the little yellow check engine light was on. idk what the problem was but since i had not started it in a couple months i hoped it was just a dead battery. i jumped it, it started fine, drove it around for like 30 minutes. turned it off and on a few times and everything was good. went back home parked it an that was it. i go to start it again last weekend and the same problem happens, some lights come on but not all, starter wont crank. this time when i jumped it it had to crank alot to get started. like more than iv ever heard it have to. then once it got running the motor was running very roughly an weak it felt like for a minute or two. on top of that now i was getting a "service stabilitrak" and service something else message on my screen. also when i revd the gas the RPM on the dash did not move at all. i did not drive it at all cause i didnt know what would happen on the road. i let it run for about 10 minutes. turned it off and tried to turn it on again and it started but had to crank quite a bit again to get started. its been a little over 5 years since i got the car and its sat most of the last year, do i just need new batteries? or is this a bigger problem. anyone have a similar experience?

08-20-2019, 10:18 AM	#4
SlingShot Drives: 2012 ZL1 - #670 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Seminole, Fl. Posts: 8,009	Battery for sure seeing it's 5 years old. Get a new one along with a tender to keep it going. If I let any of my cars go longer than two weeks without running, the battery will be dead. Last year I had to replace three batteries at around $250 a pop. Being yours is a 14, there may be a transport mode you can put it in. There is no confirmed Transport Mode for thy 5th Gen only the 6th Gen __________________ Last edited by SlingShot; 08-20-2019 at 10:47 AM.

08-20-2019, 11:54 AM	#5
Welker2 Ret AF, cancer survivor Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS/RS & 2006 Corvette Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Mesquite, NV Posts: 2,741 View My Garage	Don't believe there is anything wrong with your Camaro; your battery is over 5 years old and you are letting it sit for weeks at a time. With all the electronics on vehicles these days, if you let them sit for long periods of time, the battery will slowly drain. First, given your battery is 5 years old and has been drained a couple of times, I would replace it. Second, I would get a battery tender/maintainer. I had a similar problem if I let either of my vehicles sit for over a week or so (being retired, this happens frequently). Once I started using the maintainers, no more issues. I personally like the Deltran Battery Tender series as they are relatively cheap, work well and can be bought at just about any auto parts store or on line from Amazon or other sources. I currently use the Battery Tender 800 on my Corvette and Battery Tender Plus on my Camaro. Both have the quick connect harnesses that make connecting/disconnecting a snap. That being said, there are a lot of good tenders/maintainers out there. __________________

08-20-2019, 05:34 PM	#9
15RS2NV Ponies are for girls Drives: 2015 RS LFX Red Hot A6 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Southern AZ Posts: 315 View My Garage	New battery and use a trickle charger Like explained above, an older battery sitting for weeks/months at a time will slowly drain your battery. In my opinion, you'll need a new battery, a trickle charger (keep it charged the week(s) you don't drive it), and make sure you don't have pack rats under your hood. Your stabilitrac codes are just because you battery is so dead, it's lost it's memory. If you have a new battery, it'll learn again. In your area, 5-8 years is life of a car battery. Letting it sit will decrease the life so being 5 almost 6 years you're due for a new one. Here in Tucson, batteries last 2-3 years because of our extreme heat during the summers. __________________ H&R 1.8/1.7” drop, Overkill 80mm + intake ported by AFS, 1" insulator MACE, Accel Super Coils, THR cai, JET MAF sensor, Hurst shifter handle, GPP strut tower brace, CI ice cube tray hood vents (functional) @SemperFiCamaro

08-20-2019, 06:41 PM	#12
zlathim Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 726	I installed whatever it was that was available in the correct size at the parts store. Works fine. If you want to go all fancy, there are plenty of premium batteries to chose from. I've always wanted to try an Optima, but never have. __________________ GPI SS2; EE E2 catch can; SP 1 7/8" LT Headers w/ hfc; FM AT 3" cat-back; CAI Cold Air Intake; AEM Wideband Tuned by GPI McCleod RXT; MGW flat stick; Ram Clutch slave cylinder & hydraulic adjuster BMR cradle & diff bushings, trailing arms, toe rods & upper control arm bushings Hotchkis sub-frame brace Stop Tech Z-23 brakes 4.10 gears, Eaton Truetrac, LPW diff cover Best 1/4 mile 12.073 @ 115.68 mph 3,300 ft DA

08-20-2019, 10:08 AM	#2
SSkat Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 268	Start with the battery

08-20-2019, 10:08 AM	#3
Venomcustom Hard to want. Drives: 2020 red hot 1SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Nashville Tennessee Posts: 533	I would change the battery, spark plugs and possibly plug wires. Then see how it is.

08-20-2019, 12:04 PM	#6
Juiced1 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 2SS CAMARO 45th Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 18,648	Either put your battery on a charger or get a new battery. It really sounds like that is the issue.

08-20-2019, 05:09 PM	#7
scoob7276 Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS Convertible Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4 View My Garage	As far as it not turning over at all, start with the battery like everyone else has said. BUT...the fact that it took a while to start and then running poorly, I would venture to say it is the gas. You never said anything about filling it with fuel, adding fuel stabilizer or anything of the such. Gas will go bad, especially over 12 months, or possibly longer, worth of time. I would either drain the gas, and fill with new(adding fuel stabilizer), or fill it up from where it is and run the entire tank out. Then refill and add fuel stabilizer before you park it again.

08-20-2019, 05:14 PM	#8
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,043 View My Garage	If you use the car so little, you should be hooking up to a battery tender. So first get a new battery (you're due after 5 years because of disuse) and second, start using a battery tender. That way the new battery will comfortably last more than 5 years.

08-20-2019, 05:41 PM	#10
thegreatwhite Drives: 2014 SS Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Norcal Posts: 315	thanks. this was the answer i was hoping for that it was the battery and not a worse problem. thanks for the help.

08-20-2019, 05:42 PM	#11
thegreatwhite Drives: 2014 SS Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Norcal Posts: 315	with that being said lets take it a step further. what car batteries do you guys use for your camaros.

08-20-2019, 06:49 PM	#13
kmarshall2121 Drives: 2012 45th Anniversary Edition Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,618 View My Garage	Throwing any codes beside the engine light? My Avalanche hardly ever gets driven, decided to a while back - engine light on - then blinking - found out a damn family of mice had been chewing up wires. in fact, one was dead, with a sparkplug wire in his jaw... replaced all the bad wiring, and bam! shes got power, and no more issues (unless gas drained to the cats, then i have that to deal with before a smog check) - good luck!