Battery Acting Strange
 

Hey all, I've been having a recent issue with the battery and electrics of my car. There are times where I've unlocked my car (with my remote, meaning that the car as electric power) but when I stick my key in the ignition and turn it on, all power is cut off. No power at all, even when I turn it on the "On" setting.

This prompts me to open my hood, play with the battery connection a bit, then the car gets electricity back. I'm not sure if this is due to a loose connection, I doubt the connection can loosen just by me getting in the car, as this has happened multiple times already.

Another issue arises when I turn on my car, it seems a bit off. When I start driving for a bit, in the beginning, the car feels sluggish as if it was pre-tune. I think it is also important to note that I am tuned with the OFT, Stage 2 with the OFH. Is it just the ECU resetting or is it possibly a bigger problem? I can log if needed.

Thanks for all your help.

yeah sounds like a loose connection or your battery is bad. The ECU resets if it doesn't get power for a certain amount of time and that's why its sluggish as if fresh tuned. I would unbolt the battery connection and scrub the connecters and make sure its clean, then try to put it back on and verify that all connections are good :)

Also follow the cables from the battery and look for a loose positive connection or ground. If the + cable goes to a fuse box in the engine compartment check the connect to it.

Yes, it IS "...due to a loose connection".

Instead of "...play(ing) with the battery connection", why don't you remove the connector, clean the connector and terminal, then re-install and secure the connection? That will fix both of your problem.

Or if not comfortable doing it yourself just take it to pretty much any shop or (gasp...the horror) the dealer.

The strange thing is that how does the battery connector get loose just by me getting into the car? If it was a one time occasion I would understand but this happening a couple times really puzzled me. I always unlock my car with my remote which means there's power but when I stick the key in its gone. I'll try to clean the connector to see how it goes. Hopefully it's just a small problem like that and not a bigger one. Thanks for your responses.

Yep, as mentioned ...... clean up the battery connections.

If that doesn't fix it ...... I'd suggest you have the battery "load tested".

If it doesn't pass the test ..... time for a new battery (they don't last forever....;)).....I don't care what the bunny says.


humfrz

Could be the B wire on the Alternator or a bad voltage regulator. But starting with clean battery terminals is a cheap and easy fix

It isn't getting "...loose just by me getting into the car". Its already loose before you get in the car. It only takes a few milliamps to operate the lock solenoids, and even to light the instrument panel. And your loose connection can handle a few milliamps, even a few amps. But when you try to start, you're socking that marginal connection with 200-250 amp load, and the loose connection can't handle it.

Yes, it's just a small problem...clean and tighten all the primary connections and it will go away.