Battery failure - intermittent, severe

[James Scott]

Heh, I experienced the same type of sudden crazy "dead battery" syndrome again today!

Last time.. about 2 months ago... My SVX started.. ran ok cold for about 5 minutes.. then car started to STALL LIKE I WAS RUNNING OUTTA GAS! .. RIGHT WHEN TURNING INTO HEAVY FAST TRAFFIC!!! I HAD TO HAVE AAA JUMP ME TO START! [AND BREAK INTO CAR CUZ ELECTRICAL FAILURE FOLLOWED BY JUMP CAUSED REMOTE DOOR LOCKS TO LOCKUP! Ha!

NOW... Today I was stopped for speeding [fortunately although my Valentine 1 "failed" me (CHP turned on radar suddenly when I was driving remote country road ~ 70-75 ... no time to slow!).. I brought out the trusty American Federation of Police badge.. so dropped speeding for a no front license fix-it ticket... YEEAAAAAHHHH!]...

After the cop & I were done.. my SVX wudn't start.. acted like barely any juice left... barely turn slowly once or so... not close to starting! What the #&*@ (heck)!? The cop had to jump me! I just bot an alternator after the last incident a few weeks ago!

When I sat talking to the cop, I had my foot on the brake.. but that doesn't make sense to kill a good (Interstate $170) battery (which checked good during the last incident recently!... ???

Is it a short? .. a possible solenoid.. or starter?? Are either easy or hard to replace? I found it, but looked like hard access.. ??

Cud the solenoid or starter cause a rather sudden loss of battery amps??? YiKeS!

Thanks, Jim

[Cam]

The inhibitor relay is in line between the battery and starter, so it is possible that the relay could be the culprit. I would start by checking the remote wire (the one that clips on) on the starter solenoid. It should get 12v when the key is turned forward.

A voltage drop there would show that the circuit is having a problem somewhere (most likely ignition switch, inhibitor switch, or a short in the wiring). You can chase that down with a multimeter, simply looking for the source of the voltage drop.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, clean all the grounds, check the one just forward of the starter on the block, etc. Try shaking the large ground cable that comes off of your battery, and see if the problem goes away. If you are having ground issues, then the car will act as if it is not getting enough power.

Good luck.

[huck369]

I'd bet your Crank pulley is slipping....put a mark across the front face of it and drive it some and see if the inner and outer sections are staying lined up....if not, replace pulley, and your problem will be fixed (the SVX uses the same crank pulley as all 4-Cylinder Impreza, Legacy, Foresters)

[James Scott]

I should say that when the car wudn't start yesterday.. the system acted just like a dead battery! The alarm started to chirp automatically .. .

SO, not sure if crank pulley cud cause that.. ?? [I assume yur talking belt slip and alternator running too slow.. right?]

[Last time it did this (sudden battery failure).. the car got locked.. cuz I left the key in ON position when AAA guy jumped my battery. When the alarm got juiced back up..the alarm automatically locked the doors.. cuz it thot my car was running! Ha!]

Probably some elusive short.. . Help

I'll look at the wires.. like Cam suggests.. but


If it were a starter .. relay.. ground issue .. etc?? Then WHY WUD THE ALARM DIE LIKE A DEAD BATTERY???

ThAnKs, Jim

P.S. BTW.. I have a 7-point ground (2 OEM points + 5 OtHeRs!) Plus, when I checked battery during last incident, they said battery OK + I really cleaned all battery AND 7-point ground connections! Hmmm?

[Cam]

If it is the ground coming off of the battery, then it would be because the system was not grounded...or if it was your crank pulley (which is two pieces) then it would be that you killed your car trying to turn it over. The crank pulley will break down over time and the dampener on it will actually tear, allowing the inner portion to spin, while the outer portion stays in place. But if it starts as soon as you try to jump it, then it sounds more electrical...

[James Scott]

Just tell me exactly which wire came loose.. or is inadequate.. or is shorting.. So I don't have to spend time looking for it!

Ha!

Thanks, Jim

P.S. The wierd thing is.. my car AlWaYs starts well (except these 2 times!).. even if I make repeated stops/starts shopping etc... ???? [I guess very intermittent and special circumstance short.. ?? Once while driving, shortly after morning start.. and once during cop stop!... ???]

It does do a delayed start thing (does nothing when turned to start, but if held briefly (0 to 3 sec)..or if back to ON and then START.. it always starts [usually 1/2 to 2 second delay when held at START position.]

[LarryIII]

James,

Check the battery. I had a bad Interstate battery. It wouldn't hold a charge over night about two months after I bought and installed it. The local garage where I bought it confirmed that the battery was bad and put in a new one for free.

[James Scott]

I may just take it in again.. it checked out OK a month ago .. . ?? If it were a bad battery.. why wud it work 99% of the time.. . ???????

Thanks, Jim

[dragoontwo]

Did you check to make sure that the battery terminals and lugs are clean? You may have some oxidation that you can't see on them without taking them off. I have had this happen in my car, and just yesterday on my roommates car. If you can remember when it does the delayed start you describe, get out and put your hands on the battery terminals to see if one of them is warm or hot.

[Manarius]

Maybe your "7 grounds" extra wiring is actually causing a drain on your battery, causing it to die prematurely.

[huck369]

Originally Posted by James Scott

I should say that when the car wudn't start yesterday.. the system acted just like a dead battery! The alarm started to chirp automatically .. .

SO, not sure if crank pulley cud cause that.. ?? [I assume yur talking belt slip and alternator running too slow.. right?]

YES, a bad crank pulley CAN cause this, it is FREE to check, so why not at least check it to rule it out....Maybe it isn't the problem, but it very well could be....or you could start out buying parts hoping they fix it.....I myself prefer to try the free check first, but to each their own

[dannmarr]

Harbourfrieght has a battery/load tester for $15 on sale. Always good to have it in the trunk. At least you can check the obvious first.

[James Scott]

Originally Posted by dannmarr

Harbourfrieght has a battery/load tester for $15 on sale. Always good to have it in the trunk. At least you can check the obvious first.

Sounds good.. I'll look for that!

[James Scott]

BTW.. . Ever since I cleaned the smaller (metal snap connected) solenoid wire with electrical cleaner/lubricant.. . I haven't had any delay for starting.. ???

Maybe that was it.. but I'll wait to see of course .. .

Thanks, Jim

[Cam]

That would not explain the stalling while car is running. The starter has nothing to do with the car once it has started. Did you check for a slipping crank pulley? After re-reading your OP I think huck hit the nail on the head.