Another DBS ?

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Aug 11, 2006 | 10:10 AM

fredl11

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 3,704

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From: Davie Florida

Another DBS ?

OK We have had our C6/A6 for about 3 months now and yesterday we got the Keep Speed Under 80,Service Engine Soon, and unable to start problem.

We got the car to dealer and they have come to the conclusion that there is a Computer draw down and are looking for the one that is doing the draw. Needless to say this is a time consuming method and I am not sure it is going to accomplish anything.

From what I have been seeing here, this problem has been around from the get go and they have no permanent solution.
There seem to be around 13 computers that are working , some if not all, even when the car is off and their finding of the culprit is going to be replaced with a like computer and nothing is going to be accomplished. Is the dealer spinning his wheels or are they on to something?

I noticed a couple of people have replaced their batteries with the Optima, is this a better solution? Are the factory batteries unable to keep up with the new generation of computer controlled cars?

Any information will be appreciated.

Aug 11, 2006 | 10:17 AM

dbradley

Pro

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 672

Likes: 1

From: Sapulpa Oklahoma

"IF" you could open the door without using the manual release, it wasn't DBS.

Aug 11, 2006 | 10:21 AM

fredl11

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 3,704

Likes: 70

From: Davie Florida

Yes

wife had to use the manual release next to the driver seat. She was locked in and it took a few seconds for her to remember about the release.

Aug 11, 2006 | 10:35 AM

fredl11

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 3,704

Likes: 70

From: Davie Florida

Hmm

I just spoke to dealer and they have noticed that while tracking down the offending computer they pulled the fuses for the radio and it was still on i.e. the screen was still active. Now they are wondering if radio is bad or if there is something somewhere that is keeping the radio active.

Aug 11, 2006 | 11:30 AM

Landru

Race Director

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 10,461

Likes: 1,148

From: Wayne Township WI

I've read dozens of accounts of "DBS", fred.
Given the official definition of "DBS" it sure doesn't sound like your's case of "DBS" to me.

What it does sound like is a defective module.
One that's satying sctive when it should be "asleep"; thereby, sucking the juice out of your battery 'till it's dead.
In which case it wouldn't matter what kind of battery you had, of course.

If it were me I'd just let the dealer figure it out, find & fix the issue and let it go at that.

Why-oh-why GM hasn't developed a diagnostic piece of software that'd quickly & efficiently diagnose these kinds of bugs that're known to crop-up with the (complex) electrical systems they seem to insist putting in their autos, is beyond me.

These things have to be costing GM Chevrolet a bloody fortune in dealership labor on warrenty repairs.
Go figure.

Good luck.
Hope they can isolate/ID the issue & get ya back on the road.

Aug 11, 2006 | 01:06 PM

Hoonose

Team Owner

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 53,516

Likes: 77

From: Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredl11

OK We have had our C6/A6 for about 3 months now and yesterday we got the Keep Speed Under 80,Service Engine Soon, and unable to start problem.

From what I have been seeing here, this problem has been around from the get go and they have no permanent solution.

I noticed a couple of people have replaced their batteries with the Optima, is this a better solution? Are the factory batteries unable to keep up with the new generation of computer controlled cars?

This isn't DBS, and '06 A6 dead batteries are not really a problem:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...d+battery+poll

There have been some early '06 OnStar problems draining batteries.
Also Lojack and other aftermarket stuff. Most people do fine with the factory delco. If you have reocurring battery failure for some reason, and the situation can't be diagnosed, then a prioritystart module would be a better choice. An optima may be better/stronger than delco, but it would just delay another dead battery episode, not prevent it like the prioritystart.

Aug 11, 2006 | 04:15 PM

Wingrider

Burning Brakes

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 793

Likes: 0

From: Wheaton Illinois

I have had the same problem twice (2006 A6). First time, the dealer thought it was a defective battery and replaced it. The second time, about five weeks later,...no one knows for sure. The other posts are pretty much on target. My dealer thinks some module is either not going to sleep when it should, or is not turning off when it should causing a battery drain. The tech said that it is virtually impossible to find it unless it does its evil thing right in front of him. They are going to talk to GM and see if there is some way to deal with this. In the interim, I have installed a Priority Start, so at least I will probably be able to avoid the tow truck. If your dealer comes up with any different answer, please be sure to let us know.