04 Z06 electrical troubleshooting/battery drain
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 51
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From: Columbus OH
04 Z06 electrical troubleshooting/battery drain
After letting my Z sit out the snow, no problems before I parked her. I went to bring her to life, and found the battery dead. It's a red top Optima, 6 years old. Took it to Autozone, where they did a very slow charge (40+ hours, it was @ 4V!). They ran the load test on it, it checked out fine. I brought it home and reinstalled it. Engine started on the first crank.... then all hell broke loose. The column suddenly locked, gave me the dreaded column lock error. When I pulled the codes, I got that one, as well as a bunch of HVAC codes which I stupidly didn't record. But the kicker is, the blower continued to run after I turned the key off!
I got that stopped by turning off the auto mode. Disconnected the battery, waited 15 minutes, reconnected it. Car started and ran fine, column still locked. Didn't really think anything of it, figured the column lock finally caught up with me, ordered the CLB from Houston.
It came in, now my battery is deader'n xmas. Any suggestions? Also: I know the battery needs replaced. New Optima? Or a standard battery?
This is my daily driver for a 30 mile one way commute,(50,000 miles) my SUV is eating me out of house and home! HELP!
Thanks in advance,
Bill
I got that stopped by turning off the auto mode. Disconnected the battery, waited 15 minutes, reconnected it. Car started and ran fine, column still locked. Didn't really think anything of it, figured the column lock finally caught up with me, ordered the CLB from Houston.It came in, now my battery is deader'n xmas. Any suggestions? Also: I know the battery needs replaced. New Optima? Or a standard battery?
This is my daily driver for a 30 mile one way commute,(50,000 miles) my SUV is eating me out of house and home! HELP!
Thanks in advance,
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
If your wanting a reliable daily driver C/5, your going to have to have your car on a maintaince charger when car is not in use...regardless of which battery you decide to purchase.
In your case I would get the highest CCA battery that will fill out the
battery compartment. Sear's Die Hard Platinum comes to mind.
Good luck.
In your case I would get the highest CCA battery that will fill out the
battery compartment. Sear's Die Hard Platinum comes to mind.
Good luck.
Last edited by bumble-z; Mar 12, 2011 at 12:46 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek N.C.
Im suffering from this as I type this. Mine has been on a trickle charger for the last 3hrs. My battery is getting drained also so I look forward to seeing some more replies. I didnt get any codes or anything abnormal. Just a dead battery. Mine is a Optima Red Top that I put in last summer. Good luck!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Dont panic
The battery died because of inactivity and a cold soak.
Everything that you've seen fits with a dead battery including the column lock.
Fit a new battery as the recharge hasn't worked. Its up to you on type of battery and I'd suggest a search as its often discussed. Clear the codes and then see where you are. All should be well once you have a solid 12.66V going through the wires.
The battery died because of inactivity and a cold soak.
Everything that you've seen fits with a dead battery including the column lock.
Fit a new battery as the recharge hasn't worked. Its up to you on type of battery and I'd suggest a search as its often discussed. Clear the codes and then see where you are. All should be well once you have a solid 12.66V going through the wires.
Last edited by DeeGee; Mar 12, 2011 at 12:59 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Im suffering from this as I type this. Mine has been on a trickle charger for the last 3hrs. My battery is getting drained also so I look forward to seeing some more replies. I didnt get any codes or anything abnormal. Just a dead battery. Mine is a Optima Red Top that I put in last summer. Good luck!
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
Cant beat a regular olé WALMART replacement battery. It will work just fine! Believe it or not, you don't need a fancy $130 battery to make you car run.
If you have abnormal current draw when the car is shutdown, purchasing a $500 battery wont solve the issue. Its still going to go dead.
Ive said it dozens of times in past post and I will say it again. Your car should be able to sit for easily 30-40 days without being on a tender or charger and still be able to start the engine. Believe me. Ive done it numerous times. Went to Guam for 35 days. When I returned, the car cranked right up without issue. Your BCM is designed to draw minimal current in sleep mode (0.020 amps)
Check your sleep mode current draw and see what it is. If its high, you need to figure out whats drawing current when it shouldn't be..
BC
If you have abnormal current draw when the car is shutdown, purchasing a $500 battery wont solve the issue. Its still going to go dead.
Ive said it dozens of times in past post and I will say it again. Your car should be able to sit for easily 30-40 days without being on a tender or charger and still be able to start the engine. Believe me. Ive done it numerous times. Went to Guam for 35 days. When I returned, the car cranked right up without issue. Your BCM is designed to draw minimal current in sleep mode (0.020 amps)
Check your sleep mode current draw and see what it is. If its high, you need to figure out whats drawing current when it shouldn't be..
BC
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: New Baltimore Michigan
Steve
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 491
Likes: 2
From: Arlington Hts. IL
Here is a good article on howw to bring a red topback to life http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/g...ery/index.html give it a shot before trashing the bat.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: New Baltimore Michigan
Here is a good article on howw to bring a red topback to life http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/g...ery/index.html give it a shot before trashing the bat.
Steve
