Trying to find out how many C6 owners are aware that they must park their standard shifts in reverse to save the battery. It might also be helpful to know how many knew before they purchased the vehicle.

I read your other post, so I sort of know the answer. But why? So when you park uphill you also have to engage reverse (instead of a proper 1st gear) and risk the car sliding backwards?

I'm new to this as I'm learning about Corvettes and this the second strange item I found. The first was the 1st-4th gear start pattern. [:-]

Well, you can get rid of the forced 1-4 shift by installing an i-Cags.

It doesn't matter if the shifter is in first or reverse, the engine will act as a brake the same way. Now if you put it in 6th it wouldn't brake very well, due to the gear ratio (more revs at the wheels to fewer revs at the motor gives more mechanical advantage to the wheels to turn the engine over against the force of compression).

Hi cfmosier, and welcome to the forum, so you have to put the car in reverse, so that's the way there made, what's the problem?
On a C-3 automatic you have to put it in "N" apply the parking brake and shift into "P". PG.

The problem is that if you do not know that, or you mistakenly do not put it in reverse, the battery will go absolutely dead, to the point there is cell damage, and you will need to replace the battery or have it towed. We use our 07 Corvette as an everyday vehicle and have been stranded 2 times in the past 2 weeks and did not know why. The Chevy dealer has diagnosed it as a user error in that we must not have parked in it reverse. I just wanted other 07 owners to know that if they are experiencing battery problems when the car sits for 2 days, it may be that they are not parking it in reverse. I haven't found it in the owner's manual yet, because the car is still in the dealer's service, but they assured me it is in there somewhere. When I get the car back, I will post what page it is on. I also do not remember being instructed when I purchased it, that if you do not park it in reverse the battery will go dead within 48 hours and you will need a new battery, jump or tow.
I hope that helps to explain why it is so important and possibly a big deal. If your spouse gets stranded, like mine did, it can be confrontational. What is that Dr. Phil says? If Mom's not happy, nobody is happy.

Straight from page 105 of the owners manual:
Parking Your Vehicle(Manual Transmission)Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever into REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the parking brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can turn the ignition off and release the clutch.However, after my perusal of the owners manual and supplementsI could not locate a statementora notice (such as the 1-4 shift light notice) that failure to do so will cause damage of any kind. I would love to see a wiring diagram to figure out how this is draining the battery.

Hi again, I can understand why your so pi$$ed, a brand new car with a dead battery because the dealer never told you to put it in Rev.

Then your spouse gets stuck! I can relate to that.
It will be fixed soon enough and then you can enjoy it for all the reasons you bought it. PG

Page 101 1>4 more info on page 195 hope this explains why.It's a great feature in traffic.

I've heard about this, but still haven't seen an explanation for it.

The CAGS equipment on the car sucks horribly. I drive every day in Charlotte, and it drops the car into 4th at around 800 rpm, there is absolutely no power that low to get through traffic. The first "mod" I'll be doing is getting the Icags.

Only the 2005 manual transmission cars had to be in reverse at shut off or the electronics would stay awake and drain the batter in a day or so. If you have a 2006 or newer car this does not apply. If you have a battery going dead on a 2006 or newer, it is either the battery itself or there is a draw coming from some other source.

Ok, i just purchesed and 06, and went to the car to find the batery dead. Did no t know the car should be parked in reverse. When i jioned this forum today it was my #1 priority to see if anyone had an issue like this. With an 06 do i or not have to park the car in reverse, or do i have another issue? Also both key fobs were left in the car, will this cause a problem? Thanks for any help in advance.

This only applys to 05 year model cars, the issue was fixed for 06.

Intern, how about leaving the fobs in the car, will this affect the car?

If you leave a fob in the car and exit the car the horn will "beep" 3 times, as far as I know this will be the only issue, I haven't heard of battery issues over leaving the FOB in the car.

I can see where this could be a glitch though, the computer might keep "thinking" about how the FOB is in the car and run the battery down, BUT as far as I know this hasn't been an issue.

To turn the "3 beep" notice off, go into your options when you see "FOB reminder" select "NO," this will turn this option off.

Thanks Intern, i charged the battery and the car fired right up. It's safe in it's new home now. I'll have to keep a check on the battery situation for a while. IS it possible for the battery to go bad after two years? It's the original delco. If so, what battery is a better option?

yeah its possible.. go to advance auto parts, they can check your battery for free.. chances are its just low though. A small trickle charger would keep things ready to go this winter if your not going to be driving it much..

Thanks intern again, i have the car home now and will just have to keep a chack on it. I charged the battery and everything is ok so far. Took it down for the insurance and state inpection today, what a car, the thing is amazing.

I left my 2007 in the garage while I went on vacation for 10 days. Came back and the car started fine, never left it in reverse?????


Sorry, just noticed someone stated it was only 2005 and earlier had that problem, I posted too quick!

Does anyone know if this is a problem with the C5 Series (2004)?

Maybe they picked up this feature from Saab?

With Saabs, the manual has to be in reverse to remove the key, which is down near the shifter. The tranmission gets locked in reverse when the key is removed. It was their alternative to locking the steering column.

when you turn off the car it says shift to reverse on the comp right in front and the lights wont shutt off neither will the radio or the door wont unlock so they make it pretty clear

But apparently not clear enough for some people?