The car doesn't die on its own, it only dies if I try to shift into reverse or drive immediately. If I let it idle for 4-5 minutes it shifts without killing the engine.
As for letting it run for 20 minutes and see if it dies... I let it idle for 2 hours and it sat there purring like a champ... it would run until it runs out of gas.

I am confused, because if the alternator wasn't charging properly... ultimately I would have a dead battery and be unable to start the car. Even when the car dies on me.. I am able to re-start it immediately (although takes a second longer) which shows that the alternator is charging the battery. (but to what extent when cold?

 

Should load test it first thing when its cold, because that is only when the problem is occurring.

Start the vehicle, don't shift out of park, load test it and see what happens

 

if thats the case with it running for a while and working perfectly now, theres not much to do. Check if the Positive & Negative on the battery are not loose...if not and it still consits, take it to the dealer and ask them to diagnose it, i think they charge an hour labour..

 

There is no more load on the electrical system when the car goes from P to D. RPMs go down as the torque converter loads the motor. There is a good chance it is the alternator but if it were me I would inverstigate it further since the problem is easy to duplicate.

 

Voltage regulators - part numbers as per your VIn
Bosch - 003-154-97-06
Valeo - 003-154-17-06

 

I like to try this out since no voltmeter but confused...so turn key to first position here's where I'm confused this miles view is what exactly? the reset button is what the black button on left of the speedo right?

 

Turn it to position 1.

Change display to where it shows total miles and your trip miles.

Hit the reset button 3 times fast (yes left of speedo/steering wheel).

 

still can't


key in position 1
press reset button 3x fast and nothing.

 

hmmm, interesting...I don't know if maybe it's different that yours is the pre-facelift model. I can't help further at this point

I guess I would say invest in a voltmeter, you will want one for other things anyway. IMO, it's definitely a tool you want to have in your toolbox.

 

I bought a voltmeter but won't arrive in time...it's ok my friend has one he'll help me on weekend...thanks

 

ok Guys here's my dilemma


Battery dies overnight

when I jump car it charges battery and will stay charged from morning thru night but next morning dead.

unplugged both TODAY plugs under seat I believe 1 is seat control and other is seat heater. I even pulled out fuse from rear sam to turn off overhead console. Hopefully this identify drain issue.

when I jump car and charge battery off alternator it has 12v constant when I turn car off..when car is on it's 13.8 thru as high as 15 with load.

Battery/alt warning still shows after plugs unplugged and overhead console turned off.

when I drove car yesterday all sorts of warning like turn signal don't work, srs, batt/alt workshop etc. What's really weird is car even though on auto wouldn't shift thus stay on 1st gear also warning car temp....

the battery is brand new....

do you guys think my Bosch alternator is also going bad?

 

I just checked car and still has power...I turned alarm on and honestly don't recall seeing this light before blinking but it was blinking when alarm on and when alarm off it wasn't blinking. Is it meant to blink when alarm on?

 

Well checked battery this morning and car dead even with though over head console, seat control and heater element unplugged. Now with all these devises unplugged I fail to understand why battery dead though car turned on from battery no problem last night...now I'm wondering if it is possible if alternator bad even though car off that somehow it's causing enough draw to kill battery overnight??

EDIT over head console fuse pulled not unplugged

 

I would use the voltmeter when it arrives as a Amp meter. Pull the positive battery cable and put the Amp meter in series with it. Don't try to start the car with the meter connected this way. If it shows a current draw of more than say .05 amps then there is the excessive draw. Then start pulling fuses until the draw goes away.