I gave my 06 DTS a break while I drove another vehicle for a couple weeks. When I went to start it today, everything was dead. No interior lights, auto-lock, couldn't even pop the trunk. If my battery is completely drained, is there something that typically continuously uses power when the car is off? I've yet to locate the battery, but heard its in the trunk, is it easy to remove?
06 DTS sat for 2 weeks, now completely dead
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Battery is not in the trunk. It's under the rear seat. Start here
Is there an ideal way to get to it?
Lift out the rear seat cushion. If the car has heated seats there will be an electrical connector to open - most likely under the passenger side. The battery, probably a Group 79, has a special cell vent cover and a vent manifold that goes through the floor pan. Make SURE that vent system is properly in place.
Under the hood, at the fuse/relay box, there is a positive battery jumper connector and on the engine nearby is a black ground tang for the other alligator clip.
Owner's manual.
If the battery is the original it's at least 4 years past due.
Yes, these cars have a 15 - 25 mA parasitic discharge - cold weather, more than 2 weeks of no running for at least a half hour - easy to kill an iffy battery. BatteryMinder ???
Under the hood, at the fuse/relay box, there is a positive battery jumper connector and on the engine nearby is a black ground tang for the other alligator clip.
Owner's manual.
If the battery is the original it's at least 4 years past due.
Yes, these cars have a 15 - 25 mA parasitic discharge - cold weather, more than 2 weeks of no running for at least a half hour - easy to kill an iffy battery. BatteryMinder ???
Thanks. Unfortunately I didn't get an owners manual when I bought the car. I know there are some pdf versions floating around somewhere. I'll look for one. I'm familiar with the jumper connectors under the hood, but I figured since everything was dead there was no point in attempting to jump the car.
You could hook up a "smart charger" of at least 6 Amps output - use the posted jumper connections. Let it charge for a day or so. The original battery is around 60 - 80 Ah and about 800 CCA rated.
BUT - a dead battery WILL freeze, so you need to check things out. In a discharged battery the sulfuric acid is deposited on the lead plates as lead sulfate gel. If the battery sits dead for a period of time the sulfate gel turns crystalline and NO amount of charging will save the battery. Proper timely charging drives the lead sulfate gel back into solution, raising the electrolyte specific gravity and lowering the freeze point well below 0 F. In a dead battery the "electrolyte" is almost 100% distilled water - it WILL freeze and most likely burst.
BUT - a dead battery WILL freeze, so you need to check things out. In a discharged battery the sulfuric acid is deposited on the lead plates as lead sulfate gel. If the battery sits dead for a period of time the sulfate gel turns crystalline and NO amount of charging will save the battery. Proper timely charging drives the lead sulfate gel back into solution, raising the electrolyte specific gravity and lowering the freeze point well below 0 F. In a dead battery the "electrolyte" is almost 100% distilled water - it WILL freeze and most likely burst.
Based on my experience, you can give your DTS a break for little over couple of weeks (~18 to 19 days) during the summer and about 10 to 11 days during the winter while the caddy is parked in the garage.
I should know as I had to call AAA couple of times for jump starts.
Other folks can share their experiences!
I should know as I had to call AAA couple of times for jump starts.
Other folks can share their experiences!
2016 XTS4, 2010 DTS (gone), '07 STS4 (gone), '03 DHS (gone)
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If I go away for more than 9 or 10 days I will have one of my kids come over and start the car up after a week, and have it fast-idle for 10 minutes, precisely to prevent the OP's problem. There is a parasitic charge that'll drain your battery in 10 - 14 days (depending on temperature) that you cannot avoid.
I guess she didn't like being ignored for a couple weeks. This car reminds me more and more of my ole lady everyday, lol. Sad part is my jumper cables are in the trunk. Is there anyway to get into the trunk w/o power?
Hey Cadillac_Lawer;
Become a AAA member & get free towing/car starting services or better yet spend few $s and get the local towing services to get your Caddy jump started!!!
If you don't want to spend $s then you can try this:
There is a pass-through door that provides access to the trunk from the rear seats.
Become a AAA member & get free towing/car starting services or better yet spend few $s and get the local towing services to get your Caddy jump started!!!
If you don't want to spend $s then you can try this:
There is a pass-through door that provides access to the trunk from the rear seats.
Now we know why there's always a HD battery charger close by the display lot of any car dealer ................. modern cars NEVER "turn off". Even the 8 new ones that rolled off the delivery truck last Friday afternoon.
............ and that's one reason for the popularity of a "Battery Minder".
............ and that's one reason for the popularity of a "Battery Minder".
Can the battery be charged from the posts under the hood while its still in the car or will that damage something?
Use the + and - connections under the hood. That's what they're for. Invest in a good "smart charger" - You connect it to the charging tabs, THEN turn it on. A smart charger will begin at its maximum rated output amperage until the battery nears about 90% of full charge; it then ramps down charging voltage and amperage until the battery is fully charged and excessive gassing stops. It then ramps down to the barest trickle amperage and about 13.2 volts to maintain the battery at full charge, regardless of the parasitic drain of the car systems.
The older ferroresonant chargers never fully shut down and would easily boil a battery dry.
For background, read through the technical papers in the Xantrex and Guest battery charger sites. Battery charging and maintenance theory in the Rolls, Surrette, and East Penn battery sites.
The older ferroresonant chargers never fully shut down and would easily boil a battery dry.
For background, read through the technical papers in the Xantrex and Guest battery charger sites. Battery charging and maintenance theory in the Rolls, Surrette, and East Penn battery sites.
Wow, I'm still amazed at how both of my DTS's have have sat for months at a time and always start, (with the remote). Last time was just under three months.:noidea:
It will probably die now just because I said something lol :suspect: Murphy's law.
It will probably die now just because I said something lol :suspect: Murphy's law.
My STS can sit for over a month (garaged) with a good battery and then start instantly. (but ...........)
Put a charger on the post(s) under the hood for a few hours and it cranked right up. Thanks for the input guys:thumbsup:
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