Battery died when trying to fix window!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Battery died when trying to fix window!
Oh my.. This is getting ridiculous. I was trying the "tab motor while pressing down" method. It somehow drained the battery. I tried to jump it with my DD, but even though power is going through, it's not charging it and starting. I waited like 15 minutes before I tried.
As soon as I opened the door, there's a motor noise coming from the passenger footwell, it's like a whining sound. Then if I put in the key and turn, the lights all do dim and won't start.
What is going on???
As soon as I opened the door, there's a motor noise coming from the passenger footwell, it's like a whining sound. Then if I put in the key and turn, the lights all do dim and won't start.
What is going on???
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cycling the windows with ignition off puts quite a load on the battery. If it was weak to start with I guess its no surprise it died.
What type of battery do you have? If its an AGM (Optima or 01-03 AC Delco) chances are its dead. That type of battery doesn't like beig discharged. If its a lead acid type you may recover it.
Try an overnight charge and it may come back to life. If it does, check the voltage across the terminals regularly to make sure its holding its charge.
Bottom line is that once it starts to go South theres a risk it'll leave you stranded. For the $$ involved I'd now fit a new one.
What type of battery do you have? If its an AGM (Optima or 01-03 AC Delco) chances are its dead. That type of battery doesn't like beig discharged. If its a lead acid type you may recover it.
Try an overnight charge and it may come back to life. If it does, check the voltage across the terminals regularly to make sure its holding its charge.
Bottom line is that once it starts to go South theres a risk it'll leave you stranded. For the $$ involved I'd now fit a new one.
CF "Young" Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Cupertino CA
St. Jude Donor '12
I just drained the battery last night while installing my HID's. Dug out the battery charger, set it to Engine Start, and waited about 5 minutes. First time or two it didn't want to start, but it finally fired over and ran strong. Only irritation was that the settings on everything were gone. 
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Cycling the windows with ignition off puts quite a load on the battery. If it was weak to start with I guess its no surprise it died.
What type of battery do you have? If its an AGM (Optima or 01-03 AC Delco) chances are its dead. That type of battery doesn't like beig discharged. If its a lead acid type you may recover it.
Try an overnight charge and it may come back to life. If it does, check the voltage across the terminals regularly to make sure its holding its charge.
Bottom line is that once it starts to go South theres a risk it'll leave you stranded. For the $$ involved I'd now fit a new one.
What type of battery do you have? If its an AGM (Optima or 01-03 AC Delco) chances are its dead. That type of battery doesn't like beig discharged. If its a lead acid type you may recover it.
Try an overnight charge and it may come back to life. If it does, check the voltage across the terminals regularly to make sure its holding its charge.
Bottom line is that once it starts to go South theres a risk it'll leave you stranded. For the $$ involved I'd now fit a new one.
I'm trying to fix the window problem.. and now I might need a new battery.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
I'm just glad to know the noise is nothing but battery issue (still sucks.. there goes another $100) I thought it was the computer going to explode
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Haymarket VA
Smart battery charges can return a bad battery code on a dead battery and refuse to charge them. They need to see some residual voltage in the battery to work. A older style "manual" battery charger will charge a totally dead battery where a smart charger won't.
Don't ask me how I know...
Don't ask me how I know...
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
you don't have to order one, just pick one up from walmart or somewhere local.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Chicago IL
I'm not paying like $40-50 for one though.. I'll look for something decent for a decent price.
Tech Contributor
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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If I were you I'd buy the cheap charger from Harbor Freight and hook it up overnight. Chances are that the battery will recover as you know why it suddenly died. I'm guessing your daily drive is a short distance? Thats also heavy on the battery. At $7, if the charger works it's the cheapest fix and you have it in the garage for the future.
Last edited by DeeGee; Mar 22, 2009 at 02:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
From your description it's not an AGM battery which in this case is good.
If I were you I'd buy the cheap charger from Harbor Freight and hook it up overnight. Chances are that the battery will recover as you know why it suddenly died. I'm guessing your daily drive is a short distance? Thats also heavy on the battery. At $7, if the charger works it's the cheapest fix and you have it in the garage for the future.
If I were you I'd buy the cheap charger from Harbor Freight and hook it up overnight. Chances are that the battery will recover as you know why it suddenly died. I'm guessing your daily drive is a short distance? Thats also heavy on the battery. At $7, if the charger works it's the cheapest fix and you have it in the garage for the future.
I'll buy the HF charger monday though (I'm out of town tomorrow). I can't see the battery completely dying, as the date sticker shows 11/07, hasn't even been 2 years.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Chicago IL
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Oh it's not a daily driver. I've only had the car for 2 weeks. I drove it ONCE and it was like a 15 minute drive. I have the windows problem on the passenger side, so I've been wanting to fix it. The whole passenger side door panel is off right now.
I'll buy the HF charger monday though (I'm out of town tomorrow). I can't see the battery completely dying, as the date sticker shows 11/07, hasn't even been 2 years.
I'll buy the HF charger monday though (I'm out of town tomorrow). I can't see the battery completely dying, as the date sticker shows 11/07, hasn't even been 2 years.
My Optima Red Top was great as a daily driver in Vegas. My Vert shipped to England and when it arrived 8 weeks later it was dead. Wouldn't hold a charge after that but thats not unusual for an AGM battery. In comparison, my son's Camaro (also fitted with a Red Top) shipped on the same boat, started up first time and is still running strong.
The more I hear, the more I'm sure a recharge will solve it without spending $$ on a new battery.
BTW, you have my sympathy. I spent the whole day yesterday fitting a new window motor to my son's Camaro. What a PITA
Last edited by DeeGee; Mar 22, 2009 at 03:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
That would also explain it. Not driving for 2 weeks and then cycling the windows. You wont know what use the car has had before you bought it. It may have sat around for months not being used. At rest this car has a small drain so its not unusual for batteries to die if the car is left for a while.
My Optima Red Top was great as a daily driver in Vegas. My Vert shipped to England and when it arrived 8 weeks later it was dead. Wouldn't hold a charge after that but thats not unusual for an AGM battery. In comparison, my son's Camaro (also fitted with a Red Top) shipped on the same boat, started up first time and is still running strong.
The more I hear, the more I'm sure a recharge will solve it without spending $$ on a new battery.
BTW, you have my sympathy. I spent the whole day yesterday fitting a new window motor to my son's Camaro. What a PITA
My Optima Red Top was great as a daily driver in Vegas. My Vert shipped to England and when it arrived 8 weeks later it was dead. Wouldn't hold a charge after that but thats not unusual for an AGM battery. In comparison, my son's Camaro (also fitted with a Red Top) shipped on the same boat, started up first time and is still running strong.
The more I hear, the more I'm sure a recharge will solve it without spending $$ on a new battery.
BTW, you have my sympathy. I spent the whole day yesterday fitting a new window motor to my son's Camaro. What a PITA
I think my motor is either stuck or gone... I've tried the tapping method already. I see a rebuilt motor on e-bay for $45. I might try that. Thanks for all the help. I'll keep you updated on what happens!
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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