4themasses

I left work yesterday, drove about 15 miles to pick my kids up. I had started the car with keyless go. Get to their house and hit the button to turn the car off and my radar started beeping like it was just starting up (passport/escort hard wired) and the clock on the dash started going backwards!! It finally stopped and went forwards. Freaked me out.

I drive another 40 miles home. Start the car again a few times here and there and then late last night I went to put it in the garage, hit the keyless go start and it was like it blew a breaker. Completely dead in an instant.

It was like sticking a hairdryer in an outlet and then blew a breaker.

Car is dead, no lights...nothing. I can't get key fob to unlock anything. Key won't go into ignition to turn it.

I'm at a loss. If the main batt was dead wouldn't I still be able to get key in the ignition and turn it? It won't....

Any ideas or is this just a dead batt? I'm trying to get the trunk open and the key is working. It turns but trunk lid won't pop.

4themasses

Figured out the trunk. Didn't realize there was a handle there to pull. My CL is a "twist and push" lock. Started car on charger on and all lights came on.

Off to get new battery. AMAZING how it died like flippin a switch!!!!

4themasses

Replace battery, brought old one in. They tested it and it seemed to test normal even though it would not start the car and kill the electronics if I tried to start it. It some kind of "mat" battery. They're thinking something in the battery may be bad but can still test out ok.

Came home tested the new batt in the car (13.1/13.2) and while running (14.0/14.1).

So I'm thinkin if the old and the new both bench test the same but one works and one doesn't....what gives??

See how it goes.

testknight

thanks for the follow up on your issue. So, the new battery is working ok?

4themasses

So far no issues. I'll update if this doesn't work. Very strange deal.

Dublinoh

Are you sure that the battery cables were tight on the battery? I've had cars that would not start, then just tightened the cable and all was good.

sexyxe

What kind of amperage could you pull off the old battery?

rapidoxidation

^this. It is rare that a battery will suddenly and dramatically fail. A bad connection, OTOH, can make itself obvious quickly with no warning.

This issue messed with me while miles from home on my Ducati. Sometimes the starter would engage, but sometimes not. Pulled the side panel, tightened up the clamps on the terminals, good to go.

4themasses

They were tight and all the way on. Wasn't easy to turn off with the ratchet. This issue was all while using the push to start. Not saying that was the issue but so far all is good although I've been using the key.