Deperately need help.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 265
Likes: 1
From: Derwood MD
St. Jude Donor '06-'09-'10-'11
Deperately need help.
Has anyone experienced this: open driver's door and immediately the chime is ringing. This always indicates (6 times since July!) that my battery is drained beyond recharging and, of course, that the car (2003 AE) will not start. I am on my third Optima in the past 5 weeks. The dealership, Criswell's in Maryland has been great in trying to fix the car and in their treatment of me. However, each time I get the car back they think that they have repaired it but the problem continues to rear its ugly head. Among other repairs the ignition lock cylinder and the BCM have been replaced. Tomorrow the chief tech is coming to my house to see the car in its broken state rather that have it towed in again.
Forum member, Bill Curlee, who is just great, tried to help me but he was unsuccessful. I am hoping that with the vast pool of knowledge on the Forum that I will get an answer. Please, if you have any ideas write to me:Jimbad@comcast.net.
Thanks, Jim
Forum member, Bill Curlee, who is just great, tried to help me but he was unsuccessful. I am hoping that with the vast pool of knowledge on the Forum that I will get an answer. Please, if you have any ideas write to me:Jimbad@comcast.net.
Thanks, Jim
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
I'm assuming the idea of a toasted alternator has already been explored and I'm equally certain that the parties doing the diagnostic are aware that you could have one diode out which would allow the alternator to charge but not enough to keep a full charge on the battery over a couple of weeks.
So, gotta be a short there somewhere. You're draining the battery. They SHOULD be able to put a meter on it and see a discharge even though everything is turned off. That would indicate a short in the system that somebody's going to have to track down.
So, gotta be a short there somewhere. You're draining the battery. They SHOULD be able to put a meter on it and see a discharge even though everything is turned off. That would indicate a short in the system that somebody's going to have to track down.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Jim
The car should go into sleep mode after a few minutes of battery draw with the ignition switch off. Current draw will spike up to 2-3 amps when the amp meter is connected to the battery and drop back down to sleep mode in less than 1 min is the door/s, trunk, hood ect are not opened.
Use the FOB and unlock the car. Interior light, parking lights should come on and if the car door is not opened, come the lights should go off in approx 30 seconds if the door is not opened.
Raise your hood and see if the hood light comes on. Leave the car un-attended and it should automaticly goes out in about 12-15 minutes. Mine went off in 13 minutes!
Have the dealership check the battery current draw. When it goes to sleep the current should be less than 1 amp. I believe my 98 was around .45 amps
If the chime sounds after you remove the key or when you open the door, the tech should be using the TECH II scan tool and running test (instrument Panel, Gauges and Console, Key-in Ignition Chime inoperative test. This will PIN POINT an ignition switch or BCM problem!
PLEASE let us know what they find wrong! This is kicking our a$$ too!
Bill Curlee
The car should go into sleep mode after a few minutes of battery draw with the ignition switch off. Current draw will spike up to 2-3 amps when the amp meter is connected to the battery and drop back down to sleep mode in less than 1 min is the door/s, trunk, hood ect are not opened.
Use the FOB and unlock the car. Interior light, parking lights should come on and if the car door is not opened, come the lights should go off in approx 30 seconds if the door is not opened.
Raise your hood and see if the hood light comes on. Leave the car un-attended and it should automaticly goes out in about 12-15 minutes. Mine went off in 13 minutes!
Have the dealership check the battery current draw. When it goes to sleep the current should be less than 1 amp. I believe my 98 was around .45 amps
If the chime sounds after you remove the key or when you open the door, the tech should be using the TECH II scan tool and running test (instrument Panel, Gauges and Console, Key-in Ignition Chime inoperative test. This will PIN POINT an ignition switch or BCM problem!
PLEASE let us know what they find wrong! This is kicking our a$$ too!
Bill Curlee
MONARTOR
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 249,712
Likes: 146
From: What I know, is dwarfed by what I pretend to know
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by Corvette SSX
6 times? I'd start thinking about lemon lawing this car. It certainly will qualify.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Do you have any aftermarket items?
Is anything mentioned, NOT turning off? (ie lights, radio, etc.)
The power has to be going somewhere. The only thing I can think is maybe a bad ground causing a short? Check the main grounds (in the engine compartment on the pass. side) and any other. If the power was a moving river, it would have to be flowing into something? I hope something helps you. I went thru similar circ's in Sept.! What a freakin' PITA! Let us know how it turns out! Good luck.
This is CA Law, but hopefully you can find your state through the 800#, if you have to go that route.
Definition of the Lemon Law.
Under California's Lemon Law, a new vehicle which is leased or sold with a manufacturer's written warranty may be returned to the manufacturer for a refund or a replacement if it cannot be repaired.
Consumers can receive a copy of "Lemon-Aid for New Car Buyers" in English or Spanish by calling (916) 323-7239 or the toll-free number at 1-800-952-5210, or writing to the Department of Consumer Affairs at:
DCA Publications
401 S Street, Suite 100,
Sacramento, CA 95814.
I hope Evil-Twin and /or Patches can come in and save the day! Those guys have the info /know-how.
Is anything mentioned, NOT turning off? (ie lights, radio, etc.)
The power has to be going somewhere. The only thing I can think is maybe a bad ground causing a short? Check the main grounds (in the engine compartment on the pass. side) and any other. If the power was a moving river, it would have to be flowing into something? I hope something helps you. I went thru similar circ's in Sept.! What a freakin' PITA! Let us know how it turns out! Good luck.
This is CA Law, but hopefully you can find your state through the 800#, if you have to go that route.
Definition of the Lemon Law.
Under California's Lemon Law, a new vehicle which is leased or sold with a manufacturer's written warranty may be returned to the manufacturer for a refund or a replacement if it cannot be repaired.
Consumers can receive a copy of "Lemon-Aid for New Car Buyers" in English or Spanish by calling (916) 323-7239 or the toll-free number at 1-800-952-5210, or writing to the Department of Consumer Affairs at:
DCA Publications
401 S Street, Suite 100,
Sacramento, CA 95814.
I hope Evil-Twin and /or Patches can come in and save the day! Those guys have the info /know-how.
Last edited by MyVetteDream; Nov 11, 2004 at 02:48 AM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 568
Likes: 0
From: Orange Park FL
It sounds as if the button that your key pushes in your ignition lock cylinder is stuck. I had this problem when I first got my car, sprayed a little WD40 into the ignition lock cylinder and it solved my problem. Six years later and no problem. Only takes a second and may solve your problem.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
There is no car that can't be fixed... Gm warrantys the car for three years 36000 miles.. They have resources all over the country.. Tech's that are specialized in every phase of this car..The Dealer has to request this service. if under the remote chance the car can not be fixed Gm is bound by their warranty to replace the car...I cant believe the dealer cant zero in on this.. they have enough resources. You cant have five bad batteries,,, something is draining that battery while the car sleeps... Question,
Are you getting a Charging system fault display?
You made no mention of this in your initial post..
If not, then I suspect your alternator is ok..
I suspect a short while the car is in sleep mode.. draining the battery..
But this is just a guess. It's tough to diag an electrical problem without a lot of support data. I would press GM that you want your car back without fear of being stuck.. even if it takes a replacement..I would atleast lay the groundwork for this with the Tech that is coming to your house..And with the dealer...
Are you getting a Charging system fault display?
You made no mention of this in your initial post..
If not, then I suspect your alternator is ok..
I suspect a short while the car is in sleep mode.. draining the battery..
But this is just a guess. It's tough to diag an electrical problem without a lot of support data. I would press GM that you want your car back without fear of being stuck.. even if it takes a replacement..I would atleast lay the groundwork for this with the Tech that is coming to your house..And with the dealer...
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,338
Likes: 66
From: Whittier California
I would find an auto electric repair shop and let them take a look at it. I have one of these in my hometown and when the dealers have a problem they can't solve they take it to him. Good luck. Let us know what you find out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 0
From: Drivin' and Divin' in Seattle
Originally Posted by Corvette SSX
6 times? I'd start thinking about lemon lawing this car. It certainly will qualify.
Hopefully not too many Vette owners.