Priority Start... not working properly?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Priority Start... not working properly?
Has anyone else installed a Priority Start module to protect their battery from drain down? If so, have you actually tested it or did you just install it? I tested mine and have problems with it.
First, it seems to be cutting off early. If I leave the lights on, it shuts down when the battery voltage reaches about 12.08 volts instead of the advertised 11.9. Not a big deal I guess, as maybe this will protect the battery even more: as long as it doesn't shut off under normal operation.
Second, the brake tap sequence doesn't work to reactivate it and reestablish power. Have you guys with Priority Start modules tried this? I tried the lights, the horn, the brakes, the ignition switch, seat controls, and nothing will turn it back on. I have to pop the hood, disconnect the little black ground wire, and plug it back in to get power reconnected. I guess if that's what I have to do, I can live with it. It's better than being stranded I suppose.
Anyone? Other than these things, it does work. You'll never have a dead battery due to current draw with this thing.
Thanks,
Mike
First, it seems to be cutting off early. If I leave the lights on, it shuts down when the battery voltage reaches about 12.08 volts instead of the advertised 11.9. Not a big deal I guess, as maybe this will protect the battery even more: as long as it doesn't shut off under normal operation.
Second, the brake tap sequence doesn't work to reactivate it and reestablish power. Have you guys with Priority Start modules tried this? I tried the lights, the horn, the brakes, the ignition switch, seat controls, and nothing will turn it back on. I have to pop the hood, disconnect the little black ground wire, and plug it back in to get power reconnected. I guess if that's what I have to do, I can live with it. It's better than being stranded I suppose.
Anyone? Other than these things, it does work. You'll never have a dead battery due to current draw with this thing.
Thanks,
Mike
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Orange County CA
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
Second, the brake tap sequence doesn't work to reactivate it and reestablish power. Have you guys with Priority Start modules tried this? I tried the lights, the horn, the brakes, the ignition switch, seat controls, and nothing will turn it back on. I have to pop the hood, disconnect the little black ground wire, and plug it back in to get power reconnected. I guess if that's what I have to do, I can live with it. It's better than being stranded I suppose.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,449
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
itch, seat controls, and nothing will turn it back on. I have to pop the hood, disconnect the little black ground wire, and plug it back in to get power reconnected. I guess if that's what I have to do, I can live with it. It's better than being stranded I suppose.
,
Mike
,
Mike
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by need-for-speed
Couldn't you "extend" that ground wire into the cabin and put a switch on it?
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,529
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
I thought about it, but if it happens (most likely at home), I already have to hang upside down like a bat from the seat of my ATV behind the car in the garage, "break in" with the old fashioned key, pull a cable in the hatch area, drag the door open, get inside, and push the cigarette lighter. So I figure popping the hood and pulling a connector isn't much more to do.
Mike
Mike
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by Hoonose
Are you losing your settings each time the unit does its thing?
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,529
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
It depends on the amount of time it is disconnected. I left it disconnected for about an hour and I couldn't detect anything that I lost. Another time I let it go for two hours and everything was retained except the mirror positions memorized on seat memory #1. It's kinda screwy. The settings seem to drop off slowly, one by one over a period of hours. I never did lose any of my station presets or anything on the NAV. Maybe if I let it go for days being disconnected I would?
Mike
Mike
I'm still considering it.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Did some more testing today. It looks like my old digital voltmeter might be off a bit. I selected another range and it said 11.9 volts when it shut down (like it should). Also, I found out that the cigarette lighter does kick it back on just as you said (and Priority Start tech support also suggested), so I'm happy. If any type of drain at all is present, this thing will shut off power completely to the battery not allowing it to drain down past 11.9 volts. Then when you notice that the door is dead when you try to enter, pop the hatch and open the door from the hatch area, then get in and push in the cigarette lighter. Voila! Power is back, you start up, and drive away.
Now here's hoping I never need it anyway, but it feels good knowing it is there. I've tested it several times now and there is no way your battery can drain down with this thing attached, even if you (or some "mandatory" valet) accidentally leaves it in a gear other than R. It is working exactly as advertised! I can pop a pic or two up here showing it attached to the battery if you like.
Mike
Now here's hoping I never need it anyway, but it feels good knowing it is there. I've tested it several times now and there is no way your battery can drain down with this thing attached, even if you (or some "mandatory" valet) accidentally leaves it in a gear other than R. It is working exactly as advertised! I can pop a pic or two up here showing it attached to the battery if you like.
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,529
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
Did some more testing today. It looks like my old digital voltmeter might be off a bit. I selected another range and it said 11.9 volts when it shut down (like it should). Also, I found out that the cigarette lighter does kick it back on just as you said (and Priority Start tech support also suggested), so I'm happy. If any type of drain at all is present, this thing will shut off power completely to the battery not allowing it to drain down past 11.9 volts. Then when you notice that the door is dead when you try to enter, pop the hatch and open the door from the hatch area, then get in and push in the cigarette lighter. Voila! Power is back, you start up, and drive away.
Now here's hoping I never need it anyway, but it feels good knowing it is there. I've tested it several times now and there is no way your battery can drain down with this thing attached, even if you (or some "mandatory" valet) accidentally leaves it in a gear other than R. It is working exactly as advertised! I can pop a pic or two up here showing it attached to the battery if you like.
Mike
Now here's hoping I never need it anyway, but it feels good knowing it is there. I've tested it several times now and there is no way your battery can drain down with this thing attached, even if you (or some "mandatory" valet) accidentally leaves it in a gear other than R. It is working exactly as advertised! I can pop a pic or two up here showing it attached to the battery if you like.
Mike
Now, I wonder how often you'll be doing the hatch dance?
And, how often the options will need to be reset? I would think if it happens, like weekly, something else needs to be corrected. Monthly I think I could live with.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Bridgewater New Jersey
Great
For what it's worth, my stepping on the brake turns mine back on, but the lighter is a good option to know about. I've lost all or some of my presets in my testing of the unit as well, they seem to have no specific sequence or time, some just go and others stay. I have used the PS on my Jeeps and other vehicles for years and they have saved my butt many times.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by Hoonose
Pics would be nice.
Now, I wonder how often you'll be doing the hatch dance?
And, how often the options will need to be reset? I would think if it happens, like weekly, something else needs to be corrected. Monthly I think I could live with.
Now, I wonder how often you'll be doing the hatch dance?
And, how often the options will need to be reset? I would think if it happens, like weekly, something else needs to be corrected. Monthly I think I could live with.
Mike
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Orange County CA
Good to know the gadget works as advertised, thanks for the test results. Like a guy at work is fond of saying, "it's best to learn to shave on the face of others", not the greatest english but you get the idea 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,348
Likes: 0
From: Franklin, Tennessee NCM Life Member #1631
Cruise-In VI, VII & XII Veteran
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
The PS sounds like great insurance for those of us who have had the DBS. Thanks so much for posting your results. Please post where you purchased yours from and price if you don't mind. Pics would be geat when you get a chance. Thanks,
Bob
Bob
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
I got the regular (not pro) version from here. It was $64.95. A good investment even without DBS. For those of us who let the car sit for a month in cold weather, as the battery gets older and weakens, it will also prevent going out to a dead battery due to normal parasitic drain over long periods of sitting.
Mike
Mike
