Battery Connection/voltage issues? Start/glitch, etc? Check this out.

[Easy]

While there is a thread or two here @ genesisowners.com related to this, this is my short story.
2013 Genesis sedan 91.7k miles.
Bought car 9 days ago and came home with it same day I found it.

Segue fwd. to this past Sunday when grocery shopping and had a fail to start.

Gauges went glitchy, on/off/on/off. . .erratically akin to a strobe light and no pattern. Push button off, push button on several times then a start and drive home 7 miles no issue.

Get home, check battery @ solid 10.5v. Door open / door closed comes back to 10.5v. sustained.

As I'm checking the battery terminals find that even though the Positive battery harness is well bolted to the wheel well, the terminal itself is loose to the touch. Unbolting the harness from the wheel well pull positive terminal off easily.

Replaced battery and check for drain. See the normal voltage draw that reduces over small segments of time. Didn't test further than 5 minutes. was @ 00.16 amps.

Next Morning. Check batt voltage first thing. Check it under hood= 12.37 volts. Same I left it with the afternoon before.

Have driven each day since for short run errands without doing any further checking and have NOT experienced further issues.

Today first thing, 4 days after battery change-out, pop trunk check battery voltage, 12.5v solid. 12.47 at hood. Doubt I have a drain. But plan on taking time to leave the leads out next week as time allows to just see how much it does drain and for how long.

So, had a loose connection at the positive terminal that didn't show it's hand until 5 days after purchase. I suspect loose connection had existed awhile and killed A cell on the AC Delco battery that was in there. Not proof-positive, but highly probable IMO.

And *just a guess* that the owners who had owned it from new traded it because of this issue (Paper work dating the owners included with car).

YMMV; Mr. Wrong-Wrench Strikes again!

E

 

[EdP]

So, had a loose connection at the positive terminal that didn't show it's hand until 5 days after purchase. I suspect loose connection had existed awhile and killed A cell on the AC Delco battery that was in there. Not proof-positive, but highly probable IMO.

And *just a guess* that the owners who had owned it from new traded it because of this issue (Paper work dating the owners included with car).

YMMV; Mr. Wrong-Wrench Strikes again!

E

Good that you found it. Previous owner found a $30,000 solution to a $20 problem by trading.
Years ago I bought a car like that. Fixed a long term problem previous owner had for just a few buck. Drove the car a year and previous owner offered to buy it back for the same price. I got a year of use for about $5 and a little time.

 

[Easy]

Solid Copy & agreed.

Yet, I hate it for owners left to the devices of mechanics that do a crap job.

 

[G-848367]

I have a 2009 genesis, same issue dead car battery test is 2 points lower always when off. But as soon as I get to the battery in the trunk jungle the positive connection it turns on most of the time. Sometimes I really have to use a jump start. It’s so annoying. I’ve been to dealers/mechanic shops and nobody knows what the issue is I’m just waisting my money on other smaller minor issues that don’t solve this dead car problem.

 

[G-502100]

Power on until you hit the button/turn the key = Faulty connection at the battery or elsewhere. NOT a big deal. Ever.