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power drivetrain failure . Towed to dealership where they advised the battery had failed while driving and shutdown computer(best guess). Replaced battery .
Amazing if battery failed while driving and why did all lights DVD continue to work.
When dealership opened next morning the battery was totally dead. :lemon:
jt
An iPod shouldn't drain your battery like that, much less the radio and interior lights. If the dealer is blowing you off, try contacting GM direct and ask them to open a case. Sounds like you have a parasitic battery drain somewhere since your battery checks out.
Anyone else?
Better hurry with a fix, football season is just around the corner!
First, I would not have thought that there is THAT much current drain which would drain the battery completely, so I agree thats omething is wrong or this is a dumb design.
Secondly, unless the battery is weak, I would expect that something of substantive current draw is on. A couple things that I would look at are:
- Daytime Running Lights/dome/courtesy lights
- auto leveling compressor/pump
- AC compressor clutch
- HVAC blower fans front or back
- elect radiator / ac fans
- heated seats, etc.
- defogger circuit, elect windshield washer fluid
- electric fuel pump?
- or something you have plugged into power outlets.
Try to figure out what might be on by listening to each of those, and whatever else I haven't thought about off the top of my head.
Third, if you can't find the drain culprit from just listening, then you'll have to put an ammeter on the battery to observe the battery drain, and then start popping fuses to figure out which circuit is causing the drain.
Fourth, if all else fails, you can always add a 2nd battery to the vehicle. Put in an isolator typical of marine multi-battery installations, where the start battery doesn't get depleted.
To the OP.....are you just running the radio, or do you have a bunch of things plugged in (like a portable refrigerator !!). What is it that you are purposely having "ON" while tailgating?
Given enough time, any draw of current will drain a battery. Are we talking minutes? Hours? Days?
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Suburban's have an interior lights override button, which allows you to select whether you want the dome (and the other interior lights) to stay on when the doors are open, or to be off. That allows you to have the doors open, and not wear down the battery.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Do you mean that the starter properly engages, the starter gear engages the flywheel, and the engine crankshaft turns....but the engine doesn't start?
or do you mean that the starter motor turns, but doesn't engage the flywheel and doesn't turn the engine?
If it's the latter, then replace the starter.
I checked out a friends Chevy pickup for the same problem and found when I put my meter on the battery the charge rate was good. Good amps and volts. I then checked the diodes with the same meter and found the diodes were shorted inside the alternator even though it was charging well.
Once the alternator was replaced he had no more problems. The shorted diodes were draining the battery.
I called the Chevy dealer where I purchase my vehicle new and they were certain the battery was dead and that would not be covered under warranty. They didn't even check it out, they just condemned the battery over the phone.
GM must know what’s going on but do not want to pay for a recall!
I will most likely change out my alternator myself.
Your thoughts???
Gary5265
I checked out a friends Chevy pickup for the same problem and found when I put my meter on the battery the charge rate was good. Good amps and volts. I then checked the diodes with the same meter and found the diodes were shorted inside the alternator even though it was charging well.
Once the alternator was replaced he had no more problems. The shorted diodes were draining the battery.
I called the Chevy dealer where I purchase the vehicle new and they were certain the battery was dead and that would not be covered under warranty. They didn't even check it out, they just condemned the battery over the phone.
GM must know what’s going on but do not want to pay for a recall!
I will most likely change out my alternator myself.
Your thoughts???
Gary5265
Or you use this vehicle all the time, and mysteriously once a month the diodes short out and drain the battery down?
Are you still signed up for the GM vehicle once a month call home function?
I have an 07 LTZ, which is used primarily for long distance travel (like vacations) or 6+ people hauling, so it sits unused a lot. I (knock on wood), have not had any issues with the battery going dead.
I know without a dought that I do not leave anything on.
The wipers have never worked properly and the transmition has been replaced.
Gary5265
Thanks
Gary
If the battery drains after only 20 minutes then take your car to the dealer, park it in a convenient place (like right in front of the showroom door), turn the engine off and run your iPod. 20 minutes later you can tell them it happened again.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Just trying to think of some intermittent thing that could be coming on (or staying on).
- if it calls home
- air leveling pump
- heated seats
- turn in mirrors
- auto tailgate close
- HVAC
- radio
- etc
I'd be pulling fuses, or taking care to go thru the same sequence of turning things off, looking for something out of oridinary.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Has anyone who has replaced the alternator successfully fixed the battery draining problem? If so, I may end up doing that myself as I suspect I know what my dealer will tell me, which is, "gee, we ran some diagnostics on the charging system and it all checks out, so you're on your own."
If those check out okay, then there is something that is draining the battery, and you will need to have an electrical shop test for parasitic current drain.
Anyway, here's a good tutorial on this sort of problem. I hope it's of help to you:
http://flashoffroad.com/electrical/Batteries/BatteryDrain.html
If you tell us a bit more, maybe we can give you advice that relates specifically to your model/year.
I am having the EXACT same problem. Just wondering if you have any new info? I am sooo frustrated!!
Good Luck!
I am from GM Customer Service. Is the vehicle still under warranty? Has the battery been looked at for its battery cell level? Have you taken the vehicle to a dealership to have it diagnosed? What is the VIN of the vehicle? You can direct message me if you prefer with your information. Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service
I am from GM Customer Service. I apologize that you have had problems with your vehicle. Please let me know how it goes at the dealership. Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service
"On two occasions the Tahoe failed to start. First it was because we ran the headlights with the engine off, and then we overused the radio on accessory mode. Each time the battery was solely in use for about 20 minutes. With the help of jumper cables the SUV started right up both times, but we found it hard to believe there was such limited juice in the battery."
So a brand new 400 amp hour battery would have enough stored current to drive a 20amp draw on it, for 20 hours....and it would be dead.
I don't know the draw by the starter, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's over 100 amps.
I know there are a couple people who have complained about battery life while running music. I personally have not experienced that problem, so haven't looked into it and diagnosed the problem. However if I did have the problem, the first thing I'd do is put an ampmeter in series with the battery, to measure the actual current draw when the audio was on. My guess would be, that there are a number of other things that powered while the DVD was on, things that might make the current draw much more substantial than the DVD itself.
Could be things like HVAC blower fans, auto-ride compressor, windshield rain sensor, engine/transmission/body computers, ONSTAR transmitter....who knows.
You then start unplugging fuses, until you see the current drop. Trouble shoot the problem from there.
But try calling the dealer service reps, and see if there is a TSB technical service bulletin or some dealer alert.
I do remember a post somewhere that referenced a problem with a 2007 Tahoe LTZ, that had a bad High Speed Bus Bar. It was a defective part which overheats, and simulates a fake dead battery. Battery is actually fine. They indicated there was a bulletin released in April 2009.
Good luck.
I am from GM Customer Service. Can you please email me to give me more information on your vehicle concern? You can click on our profile name, and it will give you my email address. Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service
the chevy service adviser statet that there is no servicebulletin out.
i helped myself with installing a 2nd battery right behind the headlight on the driverside-.but don't fool your self and hook it up to your electrical system, use jumpercable when needed and recharge the battery after 3-4 jumps. i know this is polish car repair but it does the trick when you are in a hurry and as long as chevy does not have a fix ?? what will you do ?
I'm surprised the battery was not at least "pro-rated"--I think it should be.