newbie-dead battery
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 119
Likes: 48
From: Hartford Wisconsin
newbie-dead battery
Sunday afternoon, I start my newly bought '01. I noticed driver side blinkers blinking very fast ( the interior signal and rear lights). Went to start the car today (thursday) and nothing. No power of any kind. Battery is only 3 months old. Little po'd! Could this have anything to do with the blinkers? Maybe a short? I am trying to charge the battery and will try to start it after. Once I put the charger on, I heard a clicking from the front and back of the car. Maybe the fan and cd player? Don't know what the sound was. The lights now come on and the seat motors work. Any help would be appreciated. I do not know how to check any codes. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 119
Likes: 48
From: Hartford Wisconsin
more info
Ok, I got the car started. It reads 13.4 volts. Also figured out the blinker issue (should read manual!). The front drivers side is burnt out. I'm going to leave a float charger (battery butler) on over night. Still not sure why it went dead. Ok, now for the easy one, how do you change the bulb out on the front blinkers. That isn't in manual! I'm asking this b4 I leave for work and have not taken a look at the car yet to try and figure it out myself. Thanks again!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 7
From: Bucks County Pa
Turn signal front replace bulb
Hi, Below are the shop manual instructions for replacing the bulb. There are others on here that may have an easier trick to accomplish it.
As for why the battery died, there are a few gremlins that others have experienced, such as lumbar motor working, visor vanity mirrors not turned off, seat motor going on, mirror lights on, etc. This might involve some detecive work on your end, and it would probably be a good idea to do a drain test, there are some good threads on here about it. And of course you always start with verifying that the battery is in fact good, by having it load tested, and also that all the cables are clean and tight, at the battery, starter, alternator, and fuse block.
Good Luck
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Close Out Panel - Front Bumper Fascia Lower
Removal Procedure
Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
Remove the front fascia lower close out panel to wheelhouse panel bolts.
Remove the valance panel.
Remove the front fascia lower close out panel to fascia bolts.
Remove the close out panel.
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Park/Turn Signal/Side Marker Lamp Bulb Replacement
Removal Procedure
Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
Remove the front fascia lower closeout panel. Refer to Close Out Panel - Front Bumper Fascia Lower in Bumpers. SEE ABOVE
Release the brake caliper cooling duct from the front fascia, and position the duct aside.
Remove the appropriate socket from the lamp assembly.
Remove the bulb from the socket.
Installation Procedure
Install the bulb to the socket.
Install the socket to the lamp assembly.
Position the brake caliper cooling duct to the front fascia and press the duct toward the fascia to secure.
Install the front fascia lower closeout panel. Refer to Close Out Panel - Front Bumper Fascia Lower in Bumpers.
Lower the vehicle.
As for why the battery died, there are a few gremlins that others have experienced, such as lumbar motor working, visor vanity mirrors not turned off, seat motor going on, mirror lights on, etc. This might involve some detecive work on your end, and it would probably be a good idea to do a drain test, there are some good threads on here about it. And of course you always start with verifying that the battery is in fact good, by having it load tested, and also that all the cables are clean and tight, at the battery, starter, alternator, and fuse block.
Good Luck
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Close Out Panel - Front Bumper Fascia Lower
Removal Procedure
Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
Remove the front fascia lower close out panel to wheelhouse panel bolts.
Remove the valance panel.
Remove the front fascia lower close out panel to fascia bolts.
Remove the close out panel.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Park/Turn Signal/Side Marker Lamp Bulb Replacement
Removal Procedure
Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
Remove the front fascia lower closeout panel. Refer to Close Out Panel - Front Bumper Fascia Lower in Bumpers. SEE ABOVE
Release the brake caliper cooling duct from the front fascia, and position the duct aside.
Remove the appropriate socket from the lamp assembly.
Remove the bulb from the socket.
Installation Procedure
Install the bulb to the socket.
Install the socket to the lamp assembly.
Position the brake caliper cooling duct to the front fascia and press the duct toward the fascia to secure.
Install the front fascia lower closeout panel. Refer to Close Out Panel - Front Bumper Fascia Lower in Bumpers.
Lower the vehicle.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
Biggest trick is getting it up a little so you can get at the access panel. I bought a set of "Rhino Ramps" at my local NAPA store, and that did the trick. Just get ramps with a pretty long slope - the nose is really low, and the typical ramps don't work.
As a side benefit, with these and a floor jack, you can do oil changes and so on pretty easily. You need to floor jack to raise the back of the car, to level it for the oil to drain, but can jack from the rear diff jacking points just fine. My ramps cost me about $50, but have been a great purchase. Also allow an arthritic old man to change the oil on the wife's car, and on my DD GMC T15 Jimmy.
Congrats on the new car!
As a side benefit, with these and a floor jack, you can do oil changes and so on pretty easily. You need to floor jack to raise the back of the car, to level it for the oil to drain, but can jack from the rear diff jacking points just fine. My ramps cost me about $50, but have been a great purchase. Also allow an arthritic old man to change the oil on the wife's car, and on my DD GMC T15 Jimmy.
Congrats on the new car!
