[ORDDFW]

We have a 2012 LT, purchased from Hertz in June with about 53k miles on it, now has about 62k. Long story short, we’ve had various warning lights, etc. go off, had a bit of fluctuation at idle, then lately started to stall when sometimes in idle, and finally the battery was dead when going to start it a couple mornings ago. As for the long version:

A couple months ago, the check engine light went on. Noticed some very slight RPM fluctuations at idle. Took it to AutoZone to have the code read, came up with something similar to my truck related to the MAF sensor…bought some cleaner, but didn’t really do much more checking into it. A couple days later, we had the coolant light go off. It stopped blowing hot air, and eventually started to overheat. We put some DexCool in, brought it to a shop who basically guessed that it had a bad thermostat. They also said that about eight codes came up. Ordered the part, and while waiting, started driving it a little and it never overheated again, so the part went back.

Started noticing that the fluctuations at idle were getting a little more pronounced…nothing as severe as what I’ve seen in some YouTube videos, but enough where we were just a tad concerned that it would stall after one of them. Then had the TPMS light go off…but after checking, nothing was wrong with the air pressure. Went along like this for a couple weeks, then other random notifications would come on, like the power steering and StabiliTrak lights. Then the radio would start cutting out and the headlights would flicker at the same time while driving on a few occasions.

Then about a week ago, went on a couple-hour cruise at night, with the fluctuations at idle getting a little wilder. Radio cut out a couple times on this drive. When we pulled up at home and put it in park, the car died. Happened again when parking after a normal half-hour or so drive. A couple days later, died at idle while waiting at a red light. And finally, it was completely dead when going to start it a couple days ago.

Do these symptoms sound the same or similar for anyone? Thanks!

 

[ORDDFW]

jblackburn, thanks so much. If it might not be a matter of the battery being drained (or is it?), is it no use trying to jump it? Would I just have to have it towed there?

brian, born and raised in Oak Brook, lived in Downers Grove for a while, then in Logan Square the last couple years until this summer...now down in Dallas and walking around in a t-shirt today lol (but would rather be driving the Cruze with the AC on!).

 

[ORDDFW]

Ok, so the car was completely dead, wouldn't crank/click/anything. I had a guy come to tow it to the dealer...he said it was likely just a bad battery, even though I explained to him the symptoms that pretty much matched up with the special coverage (this one: http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/25-s...al-coverage-14311-negative-battery-cable.html).

Ended up hooking up the jumper cables, and lo and behold, it started. That said, would you still bring it into the dealer? I was going to just take it to AutoZone to have the battery tested and probably buy another...but at that point, would I just be delaying the inevitable if it indeed is the terminal that needs to be replaced?

 

[ORDDFW]

Will do, thanks again.

brian, hope you're liking Elmhurst, I've spent quite a bit of time there (also hope you're not often stuck in that traffic on 83 going south around North Ave. or so). I definitely love the weather, but have a fiancee who's nuts and misses the snow, so who knows where we'll end up.

Hopefully this will be resolved soon and I can start diving into the board for pleasure and start reaffirming again that this car has been the best auto decision we've made!

 

[ORDDFW]

Here's my take: It sure sounds like you have a bad battery to me. But I'd have it tested since a bad cable can imitate a bad battery.

And it wouldn't surprise me but what a bad battery can imitate a bad cable. Take care of that "dead" problem and the others just might go away.

Makes sense...appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning at the dealer...free battery test, and if they find something wrong with the cable, no diagnostic fee, so nothing lost but a couple hours.

 

[ORDDFW]

Hopefully it's just the cable. Does Hertz give you a maintenance history of the cars when you buy them or did you get this from a dealership and on inspection you found the Hertz oil change sticker on the door or under the hood?

Bought it right off the Hertz lot...unfortunately, no maintenance history was provided.

 

[ORDDFW]

Well, the Cruze is at the dealer as of yesterday morning - got a call back from the service advisor saying that it WAS the negative battery cable and they had to order the part, so they'd need it overnight until today. The nice thing is that they also said that if the battery was bad, that special coverage would cover that as well. Just in case, I had bought one from AutoZone and stuck it in the trunk before I dropped it off, so that'll be nice to return.

The only disappointing thing to hear from the advisor was that she said that, even though I called and initially brought up the symptoms and the special coverage, she didn't want to put any of that on the initial filing and instead just start with saying I brought it in for a battery check. She said that even though the special coverages are able to be seen by the public, GM more often than not denies the claim if it's mentioned from the outset. Wasn't too pleased to hear that...but glad she was honest with me.

 

[ORDDFW]

Well, this is a bit disappointing so far. Picked up the car today...the advisor I'd been working with went home sick, so someone else who had no clue about my car signed me off and sent me on my merry way. The receipt says that they replaced the negative battery cable per the special policy (they said the battery was good, so they recharged it), completed a multi-point vehicle inspection, and per the recall, inspected my coolant level and refilled. As for the last part, doesn't seem like that's recall work, but I'm open to being corrected.

So I get in the car, start it, and what do we have...the check engine light still on. Great. So I get to a stop light...minor fluctuation at idle. Even better. So I go to AutoZone to return the battery I bought in case it was needed and have them run the codes...they came back with P1101, P0171, and P0106. Does this mean that my initial problem might not have been related to the cable? And even if so, how can they write that they completed an inspection and not mention anything about codes coming up?

Hoping this doesn't become a nightmare...

 

[ORDDFW]

Well...third time starting it, and what greets me? Service StabiliTrak and service traction control...here we go...

 

[ORDDFW]

Should you ever have this lamp come on after picking your car again, turn around and give them the car back for repair (again)
Right now, all they know is you are gone and your car is repaired.

You should be at the door, when they open Monday morning, with the full expectation of a loaner.......be annoyed....you have the right.

Rob

Well, I brought it in yesterday morning, spoke to the advisor about what had happened, and she basically told me that she could have the guys recheck the work, but the special coverage does not cover the CEL, so that's not something they would have even looked at when it was taken in (unless I paid the diagnostic fee). So even though the service StabiliTrak/traction control notifications came up (only once over the weekend), unless they came up while they looked at it, they couldn't do anything further about it.

I guess that makes some sense to me, even though some acknowledgement of the CEL and my options from that point on upon pickup would have been nice. So I guess I just have to decide whether I want to use that dealer again for the diagnostic, or look elsewhere...