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I have an 04 base Impala that I hardly use and the old battery died but it came time for an emissions test so i bought a new battery and started driving around to pass inspection. The CEL came on but I fixed that issue but now it dies after it sits for 4 or 5 hours. So I cant do a drive cycle. I heard the car is suppose to sit for a certain amount of time to complete a cycle??? Obviously it’s not taking a charge. My first thought was alternator but after a jump I drove it around fine, thinking I was charging up the battery, I even shut it off and turned it back on real quick just to see and it started..then in the AM its dead…If it was the alternator wouldnt the car die quickly since I’m driving on the battery power?? I’m in the midwest and its single digits here now. Just 3 weeks ago it was starting all the time everytime. Maybe the cold killed off the alternator?? Or could the battery just be a lemon??But yeah now the plates are expired! Thanks for reading!
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So when you go to start the car, no lights appear on the cluster? Everything is blank? Do you hear any clicking when you attempt to crank it?
The battery light hasn’t come on while you’re driving? You can test the alternator first by check the voltage of the battery with the vehicle idling and all accessories turned off. Should be 13+ volts. Now, turn on all accessories. A/C, radio, lights, and then check the voltage again. It should not drop or raise dramatically. It kinda does sound like the battery isn’t being charged, or the CCA’s of the battery aren’t high enough for the cold temperatures. Was that the recommended battery for your vehicle?
Why was the CEL on?
The thermostat was the cause of the CEL. Yeah the dash lights and radio will work just wont turn over. Just clicks unless I jump it. Once I jump it, it drives for as long as I want. Sits for a few hours and its toast but lights, radio, dome light, headlight and chime works. I bought a AC delco battery from Menards.
Ok strangest thing just happend.. I went out to check the batteries CCA its 735 on the battery. I said screw it and tried to start the car and it started. Its 130am here about 10 degrees. Earlier at maybe 8ishpm it was 6 degrees and it didnt start. Wtf? Lol I didnt touch it since 8 no jump or anything.
You might be having a battery drain issue. After driving you can disconnect the negative terminal and put it back before driving next time to see if your vehicle is draining the battery. If it fires up without a problem then the vehicle is draining the battery, if the same problem happens again then the battery is bad.
Ok I will try that out. What I really need to do is pass that stupid emissions test. Then I can mess around with it all I want and drive it legally and test stuff out. Just need to get a couple drive cycles under my belt without it dying because the CEL went off when I fixed the thermostat.
[quote=”rahuljones” post=201241]You might be having a battery drain issue. After driving you can disconnect the negative terminal and put it back before driving next time to see if your vehicle is draining the battery. If it fires up without a problem then the vehicle is draining the battery, if the same problem happens again then the battery is bad.[/quote]
Though that will show if there is a parasitic draw..
Using a amp clamp on the battery cable and removing the fuses one at a time will pin point if you have a draw.The issue with removing the negative battery terminal…
It will reset the ECM and all monitors will reset as well.If your wanting to pass emissions test with your current issue.
Might suggest you set up an appointment to have it inspected.
Get up really early that day and take a long ( I mean really long 50 – 100 miles ) drive then go directly for the inspection.
That should set all your monitors.This^^
Once you pull the fuse for the circuit that’s causing the parasitic draw, you can start diagnosing from there. Good luck!
I just can’t win with this car… so after starting fine for a few days, I go back out and the car wont start again. It’s the strangest thing. The headlights, dome light, keyless entry and chime all work. But I’m getting absolutely no crank no dash lights no power windows. I took the battery to auto zone they charged it 100% and it showed a good battery.. WTF.
With a no crank, start by listening for the starter relay. If it clicks, look downstream – solenoid & wiring. If not, look upstream – relay, switch, neutral safety switch, wiring.
Does anything think this could be an ignition switch issue? The headlights, dome lights, chime. Keyless entry and door panal button locks work but anything that has to do with power while the key is in the ignition doesnt.. radio, dash lights, power windows.. the battery was tested and is tight. As far as I can tell everything else is tight.
About to upload a video to YouTube. Maybe someone here can send me in the right direction because honestly I’m thinking about getting rid of it now.
I found something similar in a 2001 Monte Carlo.
The vehicle would simple shut down while driving every couple of months.. No codes, no CEL but the dash was still functioning as if it were in the ACC position.
That did turn out to be a faulty ignition switch.
After removing it from the dash board and inspecting it you could see two of the contacts were burnt.
It’s about 30 – 45 minutes to remove the switch.
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