Battery Acting Strange

[mrxchris]

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.

[fantah]

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

[stevesnj]

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.

[billwot]

Originally Posted by mrxchris

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.

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.

[Tcoat]

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

[mrxchris]

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.

[humfrz]

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

[stevesnj]

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

[billwot]

Originally Posted by mrxchris

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.

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.