Trunk Latch

[KrisisOD]

I just drove my car home last night, and not feeling well I unloaded it (had a bag of things from my previous car in it, and a Christmas gift I'd purchased before trading in my old car) and went inside to bed. This morning I'm feeling better with a pep in my step walk outside to start my car and start fiddling with the radio settings when my car won't start.

The truck apparently didn't latch properly when I unloaded the car and killed the battery over night. I had a second car in my drive way and jumped it. I called the dealership to tell them about it and the salesman said "Oh yeah I had the same problem last night, we'll get that latch fixed for you."

I was quite irritated that they didn't mention it before I drove it home. I'm bringing it back in a few days to have some other things installed, they could have mentioned it so I could make sure I didn't kill my battery and fixed it then.

I'm really hoping this isn't an omen for the future of the ownership of this car.

Tell me someone else had latch issues and they were easily fixed?

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by KrisisOD

I just drove my car home last night, and not feeling well I unloaded it (had a bag of things from my previous car in it, and a Christmas gift I'd purchased before trading in my old car) and went inside to bed. This morning I'm feeling better with a pep in my step walk outside to start my car and start fiddling with the radio settings when my car won't start.

The truck apparently didn't latch properly when I unloaded the car and killed the battery over night. I had a second car in my drive way and jumped it. I called the dealership to tell them about it and the salesman said "Oh yeah I had the same problem last night, we'll get that latch fixed for you."

I was quite irritated that they didn't mention it before I drove it home. I'm bringing it back in a few days to have some other things installed, they could have mentioned it so I could make sure I didn't kill my battery and fixed it then.

I'm really hoping this isn't an omen for the future of the ownership of this car.

Tell me someone else had latch issues and they were easily fixed?

Really a few hours powering a tiny ass bulb and your battery died? I can start my car in -35C no issues but yet it can't power a small bulb? Seems like you may have a weak battery.

I have also left my dome light on overnight and had 0 issues starting the car the next day.

[KrisisOD]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

Really a few hours powering a tiny ass bulb and your battery died? I can start my car in -35C no issues but yet it can't power a small bulb? Seems like you may have a weak battery.

I have also left my dome light on overnight and had 0 issues starting the car the next day.

The salesman said when he left it open before he'd had to jump it, so it might not have been charged all the way back up due to his issue. I'm having them look at it when I bring it in for the other instillation's and I'll confirm they check the battery too.

It was just a bit anti-climactic for me to go out to my brand new car and only hear a click and not a pretty start up. Luckily I'd gone out early or I would have been late for class because of it.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by KrisisOD

The salesman said when he left it open before he'd had to jump it, so it might not have been charged all the way back up due to his issue. I'm having them look at it when I bring it in for the other instillation's and I'll confirm they check the battery too.

It was just a bit anti-climactic for me to go out to my brand new car and only hear a click and not a pretty start up. Luckily I'd gone out early or I would have been late for class because of it.

FYI the alternator in new cars is not there to charge a battery only maintain it. (it still charges up a little over many starts if need be) It charges up what is used for the startup and then runs the car. To charge a battery you need to hook it up to a charger, so make sure they do that for you.

[KrisisOD]

Will do. Running the car won't charge the battery some?

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by KrisisOD

Will do. Running the car won't charge the battery some?

No not really. It might help a wee little bit but not worth the gas.

[MisterSheep]

So you're saying that the dealership knew of this before they sold you the car, did they let you know about this flaw?

on a side note, welcome to the forum!

[KrisisOD]

I just meant if I were running errands it would charge the battery some so I don't have to worry about it dying in the parking lot.

I'll make sure they charge the batter when it's at the dealership so I don't have to worry about it. Thanks for letting me know. This is my first new car, and I never had a bad battery on my '08.

[KrisisOD]

Originally Posted by MisterSheep

So you're saying that the dealership knew of this before they sold you the car, did they let you know about this flaw?

on a side note, welcome to the forum!

Yep, I was a little irritated at them myself when they admitted it.

[MisterSheep]

Originally Posted by KrisisOD

Yep, I was a little irritated at them myself when they admitted it.

I would be too. They failed to tell you a defect of the car that they already knew about. They should have to fix it with no expense to you.

[lupindub]

My car had sat in the lot for quite some time before I bought it. Battery crapped out on me a week after I bought it. Battery was replaced under warranty. Seems like the same thing happening to you.

[soulreapersteve]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

FYI the alternator in new cars is not there to charge a battery only maintain it. (it still charges up a little over many starts if need be) It charges up what is used for the startup and then runs the car. To charge a battery you need to hook it up to a charger, so make sure they do that for you.

I always thought the alternator charges the battery while driving. Learn something new everyday. :3

[Impureclient]

Just a FYI. Open trunk and look at the bottom of the open trunk lid to the left and right of the lock. Those two rubber bumpers will keep it from latching easily unless you slam it shut. Remove those and it will not be a problem any further. I got tired of driving around with the lid closed but not latched from not slamming it. Removed those rubber bumpers and no more issue. Got the fix from here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96495
Just keep the grommets for later(throw them in the spare tire area) when the trunk gasket compresses some and actually needs those bumpers.

[TM]

Idling a car will not charge a battery. It may replace some of the charge used to start the car. But all the electronics in the car (HIDs, HVAC, etc) take a lot of energy. But when you drive, the higher the RPM, the more amperage the alternator will generate, which will push back charge to the starter battery. If the battery is deeply discharged, it may take around 30-60 minutes of driving to fully charge it back up.

And I'm also really surprised that leaving the trunk unlatched overnight can drain your battery to the point where you only hear a click when you tried to start your car. Signs of a bad battery?