Electrical Issues

[Valiant]

Hi my baby is having electrical issues. Symptoms began late 2021:

Auto hold stops working sporadically.

Heated seat button turns off by itself after a while.


Then in December 2021 the battery started dying. I thought dead battery. Put in new one. Worked fine for few months.

Now the symptoms started again. This time the instrument also started flickering. And the car just dies when I park somewhere and kill the engine.

What could this be? I've already spent about 500 getting new battery, jump starter pack and getting it inspected etc.

Could it be alternator? Or some of the belts or pulleys in the engine?

Any insight is of great help. Thank you.

 

[Gunkk]

to the forum. What engine/trim is your '11? Location?

Just curious, does the steering get stiff and headlights dim when you turn the wheel at <3mph with the HVAC, radio, headlights and seat heater(s) all on?

As to your problem, there are a hundred or so different things it could be. A common problem on the early year cars is a missing alarm switch stopper under the hood (symptom: flash but no beep when arming security system). Another might just be time of year driving habits: just using too much of the electrical drain stuff (HVAC, lights, seat heaters) on too many short trips that did not give enough time to recharge the battery properly. Electrical shorts, failed components, rat-chewed wires, etc. etc. etc. The list goes on. When the alternator fails, you'll get a red dash light and a periodic warning message on your radio/nav unit display.

Do you know how to check parasitic battery drain by measuring the voltage drop across a fuse? If not, there are youtube videos out there. Should be 10mA or less on our cars.

getting it inspected

What does "getting it inspected" mean exactly? A professional electrical diagnosis? If so, what was the result? If not, perhaps the next $250 you invest in your car would be best spent on a proper diagnosis by the best professional automotive electrician in your area. Firing the parts cannon at your car with more batteries, etc. will almost certainly not solve any problem other than the too much cash in your wallet problem.

Once you get it done, please report the result back here so others can learn from your experience.

 

[Valiant]

to the forum. What engine/trim is your '11? Location?

Just curious, does the steering get stiff and headlights dim when you turn the wheel at <3mph with the HVAC, radio, headlights and seat heater(s) all on?

As to your problem, there are a hundred or so different things it could be. A common problem on the early year cars is a missing alarm switch stopper under the hood (symptom: flash but no beep when arming security system). Another might just be time of year driving habits: just using too much of the electrical drain stuff (HVAC, lights, seat heaters) on too many short trips that did not give enough time to recharge the battery properly. Electrical shorts, failed components, rat-chewed wires, etc. etc. etc. The list goes on. When the alternator fails, you'll get a red dash light and a periodic warning message on your radio/nav unit display.

Do you know how to check parasitic battery drain by measuring the voltage drop across a fuse? If not, there are youtube videos out there. Should be 10mA or less on our cars.



What does "getting it inspected" mean exactly? A professional electrical diagnosis? If so, what was the result? If not, perhaps the next $250 you invest in your car would be best spent on a proper diagnosis by the best professional automotive electrician in your area. Firing the parts cannon at your car with more batteries, etc. will almost certainly not solve any problem other than the too much cash in your wallet problem.

Once you get it done, please report the result back here so others can learn from your experience.

I'm in Western suburbs of Chicago. The weather indeed is brutal. I don't have the flash no beep symptom. All my trips are at least 40 minutes.

Any recommendations for auto electricians in St Charles or Naperville area?

 

[joegr]

It is probably a charging system fault, and that fault is probably in the alternator. However, before throwing another part at it, diagnose it or get it diagnosed. Fifteen minutes or less with a voltmeter and you can know for certain if it is a charging system problem or not. Another fifteen or so minutes and you can know if that problem is the alternator or not.