HELP please. Car not starting this morning :-(

[anonymousmoose]

Hi all, I hope someone here who knows a bit more about cars then I can help.

Yesterday (Sat) I went into the car (V8 Caprice 2003 WK). The car was resting from about 6:30pm Friday night until about 1pm Saturday. It didnt start right away, felt like a battery drain. But on second turn of the key it started fine so I thought nothing of it.

Now the car has been resting from 3pm Saturday and I tried to start it this morning at 10:50am. Wouldnt turn over. Feels like a dead battery. BUT then all my electronics went a bit crazy. My electric seats tried to move, my radio went on and off etc.

The battery is only 6 to 12 months old (sorry, really cant remember when it was done) so I dont think its end-of-life. What else could be draining the battery? Who is the best person to take the car to Monday. Mechanic or Electrician?

I'm going to get my brother to jump start it with his V8 ute after he comes back from Church today.

[nathanVY]

+1 for church lol.

take it somewhere that won't charge you to look at it, there are a few workshops around that will take a look at the problem for you or give you some advice. others will charge $40 or more.

If you have another car, try swapping batteries - if the caprice starts then the batteries your issue.
Unsure how to go about it on the newer models but try checking your error codes (this may have to be done with a scantool by a mechanic)

good luck!

[anonymousmoose]

Unfortunately I dont have another car and I think my bro will not want to swap his out. I will give a few places a call tomorrow. I just hope after a jump start, the car starts ok tomorrow.

Another thing, on Thursday when I went to lock the car. The radio did not turn off nor did the interior lights. I think something must be draining the battery as that was competently out-of-the-norm for my car. To fix it on Thursday. I had to unlock the car again, open the door and shut it.

[88GreenVN]

Sounds like you may be having some BCM issues. I may well need replacing. See if you can get a scan tool onto it with a local mechanic.

[anonymousmoose]

Sorry, what BCM? I'm into IT not cars unfortunately.

[88GreenVN]

Body Control Module. If it's having issues as you discribe it may be the BCM on the blink. It may spit out some codes if a scan tool is run over it. It may not - hard to say.

But if the lights crack a spaz as in not turning off it may also have other things still running stealing all the battery power over night.

[anonymousmoose]

But if the lights crack a spaz as in not turning off it may also have other things still running stealing all the battery power over night.

Thats what I'm thinking... I will charge it with my bro's V8, drive for 15 mins and see how it goes. Any other simple tests I can do without any tools until tomorrow?

[anonymousmoose]

It may be my electric memory seat. I went to the car just now and it moved into a strange position all on its own... anyone know how to disconnect the seat (if thats what it is)?

[88GreenVN]

are you using different keys?

[anonymousmoose]

are you using different keys?

No. Just the same one.

We are trying to start her now but she isn't jump starting either

[wortus]

How are you jump starting it? You should use leads with surge protection and you have to put the earth onto the engine not the battery terminal from memory.
You should check your battery terminal voltage with the motor running to see if the alternator is charging it properly and get your battery charged then load tested. Batterys can last 6 months or 6 years it's the luck of the draw. My VY just needed it's first new battery, it still had th eoriginal one in it from 2003.
With a good battery and the motor off you can connect the positive lead via an amp meter and see how much load is on the car but don't try to start the motor like that. There should be bugger all current being drawn if there is a lot you can start removing fuses to find the problem.

[Calaber]

There is a simple test you can carry out to see if there is a short-circuit somewhere in the wiring, although it won't tell you where the short is.

Make sure every single thing is turned off (except those you can't like the immobiliser and radio security.)

Disconnect the earth terminal from the battery, then lightly touch the terminal back onto the battery. If there is a short circuit, you will get a spark as the terminals touch. If you do get a spark, leave the earth lead disconnected until you need to drive the car and take it to an auto sparky.

Because the immobiliser and security system are permanently active, you should hear a very slight sound as the terminals touch but anything bigger will indicate that a problem exists.

[doobs]

If I were you, put your battery in your bros car, ensure its the issue. Check the batteries voltage aswell. With the seat moving and the weird stuff, it sound like the security system and the key are playing up. Each key should have a seat position memory, maybe if your key is on the way out the car is reverting to a default... its strange the a low battery would move the seat.

[doobs]

Also when you try start the car is the immobilzer light still flashing?