Car dying randomly when parked
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: Evansville, IN
Car dying randomly when parked Well this has happened 3 times since Ive owned the car now. The first time the battery was dead (had 42 CCAs) and the other two times I just connected jumper cables and the car started right up with more than ample voltage (around 13-14).
So Im having trouble figuring out what is. Ive done the autotrix passenger side window fix but 2 of the times it did it BEFORE I had that done. The battery is about 3 months old and the last time I got the alt checked and it was completely fine and charging no problem at all. I also checked for corrosion in the cables and there is nothing noticeable there.
What happens is Ill go to unlock the car with the FOB and the car doesnt respond. I open the doors and nothing happens. So Ill "jump" the car. What happens then is Ill connect the cables and as soon as the car gets a little bump in voltage the driving lights pop on and off and then I can start the car. The radio stations and time is saved also.
I searched and didnt find any threads that fit my problems at all.
Any help out there??
So Im having trouble figuring out what is. Ive done the autotrix passenger side window fix but 2 of the times it did it BEFORE I had that done. The battery is about 3 months old and the last time I got the alt checked and it was completely fine and charging no problem at all. I also checked for corrosion in the cables and there is nothing noticeable there.
What happens is Ill go to unlock the car with the FOB and the car doesnt respond. I open the doors and nothing happens. So Ill "jump" the car. What happens then is Ill connect the cables and as soon as the car gets a little bump in voltage the driving lights pop on and off and then I can start the car. The radio stations and time is saved also.
I searched and didnt find any threads that fit my problems at all.
Any help out there??
Sound like you have some bad cables or connections at the battery.
Check for a voltage drop from the battery to each battery cable. Anything of .05 is BAD for a cars electrical system. Sometimes you cant see or even believe that is bad, but it is.
also, when your old battery was tested, was that with the battery cables connected or was it straight to the battery terminals?
Check for a voltage drop from the battery to each battery cable. Anything of .05 is BAD for a cars electrical system. Sometimes you cant see or even believe that is bad, but it is.
also, when your old battery was tested, was that with the battery cables connected or was it straight to the battery terminals?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: Evansville, IN
Both of the battery screw in terminals are new. I always replace them when I get a new battery because they are so cheap.
How would I test for the voltage drop? Just leave the cables plugged in and test on each of the terminals and then without them plugged in?
The battery was tested with them unplugged.
How would I test for the voltage drop? Just leave the cables plugged in and test on each of the terminals and then without them plugged in?
The battery was tested with them unplugged.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: Evansville, IN
Well it did it again this morning. It has a brand new battery (about a month old). Nothing else is plugged into the car when its off and I just drove it yesterday. No warning lights. Im running out of ideas on this one.
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start checking grounds there are more than the ones on the battery, there are the 2 behind the headlights one on the back of the passenger side cylinder head, 2 on the fenders one behind teh battery and one behind the fuses under the hood. on the inside there are some under the dash panels on the bottom will have to take out your kick panels to see them but they are close to the door hinges.
if the vats was out it wouldnt let you start the car it wouldnt act like the battery was dead if i remember correctly (had mine about 5 years ago)
whitebird my chime in and know something i dont but i would make sure some of the grounds arent loose
if the vats was out it wouldnt let you start the car it wouldnt act like the battery was dead if i remember correctly (had mine about 5 years ago)
whitebird my chime in and know something i dont but i would make sure some of the grounds arent loose
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: Evansville, IN
Thats the first thing I checked. All the grounds are solid and clean. Only ones I didnt check were the ones under the kick panels.
If the VATS was acting up would just putting jumper cables on it make it start right up? I mean Im talking I just got to get juice to the battery and I can start it right up.
If the VATS was acting up would just putting jumper cables on it make it start right up? I mean Im talking I just got to get juice to the battery and I can start it right up.
no the vats will disable the key selonoid, basically everything works fine till you try to start it, turn the key and it goes dead everything shuts off (vats thinks you are trying to steel the car and shuts the power off). the minute you release it it all comes back on. trying to jump it didnt work for me as the it had plenty of power which is why i suggested the grounds.
another thing that happend to me was i switched positive terminals for a aftermarket one and the starter wire came loose and at first it wouldnt start till i wiggled it a little, then it started to die at low rpm, have you checked where the positve wire goes into your under hood fuse panel, might have some corrosion there and that would cut off several important relays.
the only way i know to test the vats would be at the dealer, cause if it malfunctions i dont think it throws a code might be wrong though
another thing that happend to me was i switched positive terminals for a aftermarket one and the starter wire came loose and at first it wouldnt start till i wiggled it a little, then it started to die at low rpm, have you checked where the positve wire goes into your under hood fuse panel, might have some corrosion there and that would cut off several important relays.
the only way i know to test the vats would be at the dealer, cause if it malfunctions i dont think it throws a code might be wrong though
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: Evansville, IN
Well my radio wont even work. The antenna tries to go up, makes it about halfway and then it just quit. Power locks wouldnt even work. I had to use the key to open the door.
Also, check the under hood fuse box and its clean as hell.
Also, check the under hood fuse box and its clean as hell.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: Evansville, IN
Yea, no. It shouldnt be doing it with the stock wires so Im not going to bandaid the issue.
BTW the car has about 46k miles on it.
