Start Up Issue

[stevenroar]

Hey guys,

Have had my 06 ve omega for 4 months now, and have recently had weird warnings come up on the display like abs fault, contact dealer etc..

yesterday i was driving and visited a friend for a few mins when i got back in the car it would constantly go to contact dealer.. was confused so i thought id try start the car and it wouldnt start it would crank over very slowly..

I phoned holden and they where telling me about low voltage etc and im putting this issue down to my kicker sound system.. not sure??

anyone else had these problems and if so how did you get it fixed? oh and how do i find out what software my car has?

Cheers

 

[db_notso]

if the ignition voltage drops below a certain threshold (in most cars 10 volts)
while cranking it over you can store false codes
and it will set many lights on the dash
like if one computer hasnt got enough voltage to turn on the others go where is that guy hes late
and set codes

new battery (likely)
software update at holden for flat battery and an hour check over charging wiring at holden
(quickest solution)
if the car has only been doing it since you installed an amp etc check it turns off when car is off
and that its wired in correctly

 

[stevenroar]

cheers, notso. i've had the amp + sub + front splits installed since february and its only just started doing these weird things now, i had them wired by a professional so i doubt that is the issue, i was thinking it was that which was draining the battery.

i had battery world come out today to install a new battery and she is starting now, im just concerned with the codes it was coming up with. now when i turn the car on i let it do the start up and it comes up complete instead of contact dealer, but when i start it two codes come up first being stability assistance on and then ABS fault then they disappear and go to my speedo. does that mean everything is all good or do the ABS need to be checked out?

I havent actually checked before if the Amp turns off when the car is off.. going to look now.. cheers

 

[db_notso]

those two codes need a software update at holden.... i think

 

[HEXEM]

Fitting a larger capacity battery will only solve part of the issue. The alternator in the VE has a different charging characteristic to previous models. The charge rate to the battery is controlled by the cars ECU/BCM and will reduce the amount of charge (down to 12 volts) during times when the battery reaches "Full" (which is questionable) state while driving to save overal load on the engine and alternator. This is an aspect of their increased full economy figures.

Under normal circumstances this is sufficent for normal operations. Earlier in the peice (2006 - early 2008) the VE has a number of issues with batteries going flat due to system software and the cars BCM and other modules either not going into sleep mode or staying on once the vehicle was locked. This was "largely" retified with the release of software updates. Most of the vehicels produced from MY09 series should have the latest update from factory.

Its also another know fact that leaving you key in the ingnition will keep the system in an alive state thus drawing voltage from the battery potentially leading to either "Low Voltage" or flat battery problems. It is recommended that if you fit a larger capacity battery (which is what I did) you should have the charge rate or charactoristic should be changed. If you intend on running communications equipment or aftermarket sound systems which create an increased load on the battery, again a change in the charging behaviour. This can be achieved through the use of holdens tech2 and to set the charge rate to "Police Mode". This will maintain a higher charge rate (around 14.6volts) for a longer period. I had similar issues to you with my SSV and I run high powered communications equipment. The problem was fixed changing the mode over.

The warning your getting are characteristic of low voltage on start up as mentioned above. If your vehicle is an earlier model VE I would definately call in the holden and see if there is an update to address that specific issue (low battery problem). If it has ask them to change the charge charatoristic to the police mode and retest. You may also need to have any DTC (diagnostic trouble codes) cleared is the system have suffered very low voltage for a period of time.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Phil

 

[stevenroar]

Hi HEXEM,

Thanks for your post, I have changed battery today to a brand new century high performance battery. The guy said if i keep my car running while playing music it should be fine.
I will look at getting the charactoristics changed to Police Mode as my equiptment does require alot of power, which is why i thought my last battery died but the guy said it was the stock standard battery from 06, which im suprised lasted this long.

Is there any way I can see what software my car has?

Again, thanks for your in depth reply, i now know what to approach holden with.

Cheers
Steve

 

[stevenroar]

Hey hex, if I go to MY09 do I need to upgrade my fuel system or any thing else?

Cheers

 

[db_notso]

the software updates are done over at holden they can see if there is new software available in just a couple of minutes...

 

[stevenroar]

My guess is that there is as it's an early 06, but if I am able to upgrade will I have to get a new fuel system or what not to cope with the new software?

Cheers

 

[HEXEM]

My guess is that there is as it's an early 06, but if I am able to upgrade will I have to get a new fuel system or what not to cope with the new software?

Cheers

Nope. The software update will be matched to your VIN. If there is any updates (and there have been a few over the years) it will load up the latest. When I mentioned MY09 I was just referrencing the date that most of the issues experianced in the earler models should have been sorted by then.

You wont be getting a MY09 software update. Software for a MY09 can not be loaded into an earlier model VE (using holdens tech 2 anyway).

All the specific update (Police Mode) will do is change the behavoiur of the alternator charge rate.