brandnew battery dies overnight since jumpstart

**CCAddict** · 06-04-11, 06:30 PM

Hello,

2001 convertible got jumpstarted with a powerpack. Brandnew battery is now draining (constant drain on battery.) I'm disconnecting the battery when not using the car, and it remains charged. If I do not disconnect it, I have to recharge it.

We have detected a strange noise, a clicking noise at the right front headlight motor, which is heard once upon connecting the battery. And another noise somewhere between the same headlight and the radiator area. Cannot determine exactly where this sound is coming from, but may be related. Both noises are heard once when reconnecting the battery.

How do we troubleshoot the cause of the short and its location?

**ßill** · 06-04-11, 11:39 PM

I would start with the easy stuff first.
You've already done step one, try to locate by ear.
Next I would try pulling each fuse one at a time and listen to see when the noise stops. hopefully this will help locate the problem.

**CCAddict** · 06-05-11, 07:40 AM

Thanks Bill. Will give that a shot. It's tricky, because the noise is heard only once. It does not continue once the battery is reconnected.

**gmjunkie** · 06-05-11, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by CCAddict

Hello,

2001 convertible got jumpstarted with a powerpack. Brandnew battery is now draining (constant drain on battery.) I'm disconnecting the battery when not using the car, and it remains charged. If I do not disconnect it, I have to recharge it.

We have detected a strange noise, a clicking noise at the right front headlight motor, which is heard once upon connecting the battery. And another noise somewhere between the same headlight and the radiator area. Cannot determine exactly where this sound is coming from, but may be related. Both noises are heard once when reconnecting the battery.

How do we troubleshoot the cause of the short and its location?

The noise is coming from the Headlamp Control Module mounted on rt wheel well behind the front bumper,C5's all do it connecting the battery! As far as the drain,Have your alternator checked!~!!My guess the jump caused a diode in it to short!~!! Electronics on C5's don't like power surges, But I would think it would throw a Code or a Charging System Warning on your DIC!~!!

**CCAddict** · 06-10-11, 07:32 PM

Thanks GMJunkie, that was good advise.

I googled DIC and found a list of the codes and how to get to them. The manual does not show this stuff. Indeed, a bunch of codes came up and now we have to figure out what these things mean.

Meanwhile.... there is another problem that boggles me.

**Junkman2008** · 06-15-11, 12:57 AM

By chance, does your roof leak a tad bit when you wash the car? Does the water end up on the seats?

**CCAddict** · 06-15-11, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

By chance, does your roof leak a tad bit when you wash the car? Does the water end up on the seats?

Junkman, thanks for your responses.

As for the roof, it leaks now on the driver side and water makes a puddle on the seat. It did not leak before. The door had to be repaired when someone scraped it and the shop insisted on replacing the door, rather than molding the original (shops apparently dont like to *repair* fiberglass, as it may show in the future.) He did not do what he was paid for, however, and the roof is now leaking because he never adjusted the window properly (need to fix that). He also did not match up the replacement shell with the original trim and tumbler (left the used modules of the replacement door in), so I could not even use my key! There is a word for people like that....

But yes, the roof now leaks.

**Junkman2008** · 06-15-11, 09:54 AM

Okay, I did a write-up that you can use to replace that tumbler or you can have the tumbler re-keyed. Do you still have the old one? If so, I can help you out with removal and replacement.

The window on that door needs to be readjusted. That's another thing I can help you with. Don't adjust your top unless you know for a fact that it was adjusted for this repair. I can't believe that they didn't just fix the other door. I had fiberglass work done on mine at the dealership and you can't even tell it was ever touched.

Here's what I am thinking is draining your battery. This is very common. The seat controls on the driver's side of the car have gotten wet from you washing the car. The bad thing about this is that it takes those controls a week or better to actually dry out if you live somewhere really hot like Florida, longer if you live somewhere cooler. What you could do is either unplug the seat control (you will need to remove the handle and panel that covers the seat controls), or remove fuse #4 (10A) in the passenger's side foot well area. If you remove the fuse, verify that the power seats no longer have power. If that is the case, try plugging the battery back up and monitor it hourly with a volt meter. See if it is retaining its charge. Make sure that you note the battery's voltage when you first stop the car to insure that the alternator has put a full charge on it to begin with. Also, make sure that your battery terminals are properly torqued to 11fp.

If you have ever sat inside the car with nothing on in a very quiet area (like inside your garage), you may have heard a slight and quiet noise that intermittently happened from time to time. That would be your shorted out seat controls that have gotten wet.

**CCAddict** · 06-15-11, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

Okay, I did a write-up that you can use to replace that tumbler or you can have the tumbler re-keyed. Do you still have the old one? If so, I can help you out with removal and replacement

That's a great article. You spent some time putting that together!

**Junkman2008** · 06-15-11, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by CCAddict

That's a great article. You spent some time putting that together!

Thanks. That was one of my more simple write-ups. I've got another that took me two days to write!

**c4c5specialist** · 06-18-11, 09:00 AM

HI there,

Just as a sidebar, I would suggest making sure that the battery terminals are correctly torqued with new bolts.

If you have a bolt that is stripped, you will have these exact symptoms as the electrical connection comes and goes. This will wake up modules and create battery drain.

Allthebest, c4c5

**Junkman2008** · 06-18-11, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by c4c5specialist

HI there,

Just as a sidebar, I would suggest making sure that the battery terminals are correctly torqued with new bolts.

If you have a bolt that is stripped, you will have these exact symptoms as the electrical connection comes and goes. This will wake up modules and create battery drain.

Allthebest, c4c5

Good to know!