Solved Battery/Charging problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 886
Likes: 87
From: Largo FL
Solved Battery/Charging problem
I bought my 98 C5 about 10 months ago. It had a fairly new battery in it, but it would go dead after about 3 days of sitting. I traced it down to a stuck power seat switch and everything seemed ok until last night. Of course, it had to act up while away from home, at Clearwater Bch with girlfriend. There had been a few warnings but nothing major - voltage would fluxuate from 13.2 to 14v all the time, my headlights would not always pop up first try, car would sometimes start slow, and all lights would flicker at night as if something was turning on and off. I felt like these were all voltage related but thought since I had a new battery, voltage was over 12v and car was starting, then maybe it was all normal. Last night it just clicked when I tried to start it - and then nothing, I first thought dead battery but decided to try a quick clean and tightning of battery connections. It cranked right up, voltage steady at 14v, headlights popped up first time and no more flickering - solved 4 or 5 problems at once.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Good Work!
Electrical issues can be the bain of ones existence as a motorsports enthusiast. And, loose battery connections are very often the actual culprit. Thank heavens you were able to nip this in the bud, good buddy. Thanks for sharing. Now, go out and take a long scenic and enjoyable drive down the coast. Enjoy.
Best Wishes,
eden
Electrical issues can be the bain of ones existence as a motorsports enthusiast. And, loose battery connections are very often the actual culprit. Thank heavens you were able to nip this in the bud, good buddy. Thanks for sharing. Now, go out and take a long scenic and enjoyable drive down the coast. Enjoy.
Best Wishes,
eden
Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Dead Battery
Since you had luck in trouble shooting a electrical problem maybe you can give me some advice on my problem. I have a 2000 C5 with a automatic. I have had a ongoing problem with the passenger door and liftgate unlocking itself after the car sits for a while. I will park my car, and lock the doors. Anywhere from 1/2 hour to a couple of days later I will come out to my car to find that the driver door is unlocked and the liftgate as popped open?? I have had it to the dealer on multiple occasions. They have replaced the liftgate switch, reseated the connections in the drivers door, replaced the FOB and have even replaced the BCM. None of these actions have fixed my problem?? Also, I have the problem where the battery is going dead after sitting a few days. I have replaced the battery twice and I still have this problem. Any ideas??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Oldbruce...
My wife's Acura would lock and unlock its driver-side door while sitting in the garage from time to time (70k miles). (I actually heard it and thought someone was surely playing with me!?) When I mentioned it to the dealer, he said they had an issue with some of the door lock solenoids shorting inside and if we changed it out all would be well. He happened to have a solenoid in stock so I bought it and switched them out (pretty easy) and never had the problem again.
If you run out of ideas and can get a hold of a solenoid, it might be worth a try. I know it doesn't explain the hatch, but this car never ceases to amaze me on how things, especially electrical, interact.
GUSTO
My wife's Acura would lock and unlock its driver-side door while sitting in the garage from time to time (70k miles). (I actually heard it and thought someone was surely playing with me!?) When I mentioned it to the dealer, he said they had an issue with some of the door lock solenoids shorting inside and if we changed it out all would be well. He happened to have a solenoid in stock so I bought it and switched them out (pretty easy) and never had the problem again.
If you run out of ideas and can get a hold of a solenoid, it might be worth a try. I know it doesn't explain the hatch, but this car never ceases to amaze me on how things, especially electrical, interact.
GUSTO
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Escondido CA
Originally Posted by Oldbruce
Since you had luck in trouble shooting a electrical problem maybe you can give me some advice on my problem. I have a 2000 C5 with a automatic. I have had a ongoing problem with the passenger door and liftgate unlocking itself after the car sits for a while. I will park my car, and lock the doors. Anywhere from 1/2 hour to a couple of days later I will come out to my car to find that the driver door is unlocked and the liftgate as popped open?? I have had it to the dealer on multiple occasions. They have replaced the liftgate switch, reseated the connections in the drivers door, replaced the FOB and have even replaced the BCM. None of these actions have fixed my problem?? Also, I have the problem where the battery is going dead after sitting a few days. I have replaced the battery twice and I still have this problem. Any ideas??
If your 2000 has the PASSIVE feature, try sliding the "PASSIVE" switch on ALL your keyfobs to OFF to see if that has any affect. I also think there may be some related "configuration items" on the DIC, that may be set to something you don't want. Check out your users manual.
If you know how to read the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) using your DIC, this may give you some more clues.
Another possibility is that you are getting some "stray" signals from somewhere in the vicinity of where you park your car. It might even be a bad light bulb in your garage, or your garage door opener that is transmitting some stray RF. I know these may sound a little strange, but if you can't find any "normal" reasons for the problem, start looking for the "weird" stuff.
Good Luck
Last edited by Don Lindeman; Aug 24, 2005 at 01:27 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
My original thought was it had something to do with the FOB so I removed that form the equation by taking the batteries out of it. Didn't help. As for RF, this problem happens no matter where I am. I have parked in empty parking lots in several locations and the door and liftgate still open themselves. Also, when I am driving the car the solenoid in the door cycles trying to continually unlock itself. I think it is possessed. Anyway, I went out and bought the complete set of service manuals and plan on starting to shoot this bug using the wiring diagrams.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Escondido CA
Another stab in the dark Oldbruce....
You mentioned that you removed the batteries from the FOB. My car came new with two FOBs. Could there be another FOB stashed away in the car somewhere? Maybe under a seat, or in one of the rear compartments.
Don
You mentioned that you removed the batteries from the FOB. My car came new with two FOBs. Could there be another FOB stashed away in the car somewhere? Maybe under a seat, or in one of the rear compartments.
Don
Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
yeah, I also pulled the batteries from the second FOB and same results. In looking at the wiring schematics for the keyless resceiver I noticed that the liftgate and LH door lock are on totally seperate circuits for which the only commonality is the keyless receiver (i.e. sends a signal to DCM for door and BCM for liftgate). This weekend I am going to make sure all of the connections coming out of the receiver are good. Hopefully I simply have a loose cable coming from the receiver.
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
In regards to checking the receiver, in the service manual it states to 'simply' remove rear compartment insulator which covers the receiver. Well it looks like this plastic insulator strip may be glued up there? Anyone ever have to take this off? Is it glued?
