Weak Battery (low voltage)

[harryctsv]

Originally Posted by LLXLR

I am having the same issue but drive the car every day. I have had to jump the car 4 times in a week. The car had 19 mules when I got it last week and now has 190. I am taking in next week and will post out what I learn. It seems that something is clearly draining the battery and its somewhat random. This usually happens when sitting in the garage overnight but not always. This morning the car started fine. I drove about 10 minutes. Parked for an hour and it would not restart. This is after carefully making certain that nothing was left on in the car. Please advise if anyone has had this issue and resolved it.

Hi LLXLR, there`s something in your electrical system or the battery itself!

Even if I´m somtimes for a couple weeks out of my country (Germany) come back start the car - I´ve never had any problems.

I would say your dealer should try it out with a new battery first.

Good luck
Hans

[LLXLR]

My issue was bad battery. Problem solved. All is fine now but they really should check this before selling a new car.

[lnicols]

I bought an '04 XLR. The battery was dead on the showroom floor (1st clue). I brought it to three Cadillac service centers before I found an actual XLR service expert. He found the problem right away. The Onstar system was draining the battery 24/7. Since I don't subscribe to it, they shut the Onstar system down. Now I can let it sit for weeks and it will crank right up. A high dollar car like the XLR should not need a battery tender, disconnected battery, etc. Hope this helpd anyone else with battery issues!

Larry

[ccclarke]

With 23 onboard modules, the XLR is the most electronically-dependant vehicle on the road today. Lots of good advice here.

I travel frequently for 3-4 weeks at a time. The first time I let the car sit for three weeks, I was greeted by a dead battery. I immediately bought a Battery Tender and have never had a problem since. The inline connector makes it a snap to connect. There's another similar product called a BatteryMinder that looks pretty good too.

1) Do use a Battery Tender if you aren't going to drive your car for two or more weeks.

2) If you have still have charging issues, replace the battery.

3) Ensure your car has the latest software updates. There is a Service Bulletin (that affects battery life/performance) regarding a 30mA draw from the RCDLR (Remote Control Door Lock Receiver) module when set to Passive Locking mode and the vehicle is parked for extended periods (>2 weeks.) It involves a reflash of the module with updated software and affects 2005-2007 XLR/XLR-V models. This may have been the parasitic draw you've heard about.

4) Always make it a practice to operate the top with the engine running. 3-4 cycles using just the battery will more than likely drain it.

CC

[z06bigbird]

(My version) History of parasitic effect on ALL cars (generally speaking).

Since about 1990, our cars have many electronic devices on them. These devices constantly draw down the battery, no matter how big or good the battery is.

The manufacturers want the dealers to have an employee start each car on their lot on a regular basis. If this solution can be well documented, then the manufact will provide the dealership with a free replacement for any battery on NEW vehicles that fail prior to the actual sale of the vehicle.

If the dealership cannot validate proof of this process (of starting cars). the manufact will not give a free replacement for a new car battery before the vehicle is actually sold.

That is why, when a customer buys a new vehicle and the battery is weak, the dealer will charge the battery and send you home with the new car. Dealer does not want to have to eat the cost of a new battery. The next morning, the customer calls the dealer re the car not starting. Dealer then provides a new battery under warranty.

Bottom line is almost no dealers start their cars on a daily basis.

BTW, if your battery runs low, DO NOT recharge the battery by idling or driving car for xx minutes. That eventually will ruin the alternator/regulator.

Trickle charger is the best route to go. Trickle charger itself will last 20 or 30 years. Look for a quick-disconnect trickle charger where you actually bolt the little wires to the battery terminals/cables. Those short wires then plug into another wire on the trickle charger. You leave the little wires on the battery (forever). They certainly can be used on your next battery.