Battery Dying? Car acting weird Help
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Cinnaminson NJ
Battery Dying? Car acting weird Help
I hit the unlock on the fob the car unlocks but the approach lights don't come on or any lights for that matter even after you open the door it is like the battery is totally dead. For a few weeks I would put the key in and turn it usually nothing happened the 3rd or 4th cycle it would start right up and the car would be fine. Today radio stations presets all gone and I turned the key 10 times with nothing I shifted my Automatic into Reverse and everything lit up and the car started 1st try. The HID always goes back to the default and the DIC is not cycling back to what was up last. Alt says volts are charging fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Do you have a voltmeter, measure accross battery with engine off. An alternative is to turn ignition on (engine off) and use DIC.
A 12-volt battery will measure at about 12.9 volts when it’s fully charged and about 11.4 volts when it is fully discharged.
C5s do not tolorate low voltage.
The best way is to have a load test done on the battery. If your battery is weak, it will drop low during cranking, this low voltage can cause wierld things in electrical/computer.
A 12-volt battery will measure at about 12.9 volts when it’s fully charged and about 11.4 volts when it is fully discharged.
C5s do not tolorate low voltage.
The best way is to have a load test done on the battery. If your battery is weak, it will drop low during cranking, this low voltage can cause wierld things in electrical/computer.
Last edited by Oldvetter; Feb 4, 2007 at 07:20 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
I had a bizarre experience with my battery seeming to go dead all the time and for what its worth, I will share my story...
I would drive the car, park, come back after an hour, attempt to start the car and the battey was dead and I needed a jump. Then other times, the same thing, but the car started right up no problems. Not assuming the trivial, I had the battery and alternator checked and the report was that all was well. After a week of dealing with this behavior and being motivated to start looking in other places, it turned out that my battery cables were simply loose. When I say loose, I don't mean dangling loose. I mean the screws that secure the cables to the battery were simply not tight. After tightening them up, the car started consistently every single time.
I would drive the car, park, come back after an hour, attempt to start the car and the battey was dead and I needed a jump. Then other times, the same thing, but the car started right up no problems. Not assuming the trivial, I had the battery and alternator checked and the report was that all was well. After a week of dealing with this behavior and being motivated to start looking in other places, it turned out that my battery cables were simply loose. When I say loose, I don't mean dangling loose. I mean the screws that secure the cables to the battery were simply not tight. After tightening them up, the car started consistently every single time.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 349
From: Layton Utah
Do you have a voltmeter, measure accross battery with engine off. An alternative is to turn ignition on (engine off) and use DIC.
A 12-volt battery will measure at about 12.9 volts when it’s fully charged and about 11.4 volts when it is fully discharged.
C5s do not tolorate low voltage.
The best way is to have a load test done on the battery. If your battery is weak, it will drop low during cranking, this low voltage can cause wierld things in electrical/computer.
A 12-volt battery will measure at about 12.9 volts when it’s fully charged and about 11.4 volts when it is fully discharged.
C5s do not tolorate low voltage.
The best way is to have a load test done on the battery. If your battery is weak, it will drop low during cranking, this low voltage can cause wierld things in electrical/computer.
I agree with Oldvetter here. You can take it to somplace like Checker or Sears and they will do a complete test of the elec system. Make sure it's under load or you can get a false reading on the strength of the battery. Good luck. I had a similar problem that turned out to be a weak cell but only showed up on the load test.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I hit the unlock on the fob the car unlocks but the approach lights don't come on or any lights for that matter even after you open the door it is like the battery is totally dead. For a few weeks I would put the key in and turn it usually nothing happened the 3rd or 4th cycle it would start right up and the car would be fine. Today radio stations presets all gone and I turned the key 10 times with nothing I shifted my Automatic into Reverse and everything lit up and the car started 1st try. The HID always goes back to the default and the DIC is not cycling back to what was up last. Alt says volts are charging fine.
Sounds like a new battery should fix it.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
From: Littleton NC
Do what Z06ster said. Check the cables and make sure they are tight. If they are you can always go somewhere and get the battery checked but I would be willing to bet a new battery would fix your problem.
