It don't make a lot of sense to me as these cars can sit in the dealers lot for months without any problem.
It happened again. A dead battery. This time to my other 2014 Cruze!
As some of you may remember, I had a dead battery (as discussed in this thread) after my 2014 Cruze sat parked in the garage for 8 days. After a visit to the dealer, everything checked out. As an experiment, I then let the car sit for 8 days again, and this time it started up fine. I chalked it up to an unexplained fluke.
Some folks in that thread mentioned that perhaps these vehicles can’t sit that long because of various parasitic drains. I asked (rhetorically) what happens if you go on vacation for a week or more? Will you be stranded at the airport?
OK you know what’s coming (sort of)….
I actually own two 2014 Cruzes. I took the Cruze that had the original battery failure to the airport when we went on vacation this week. Luckily, it started back up fine at the airport. So far so good. However, when we returned home, the other 2014 Cruze now has a dead battery. This time the period between starts was only 7 days. As with my other Cruze, it started up fine after a jump.
Anyone else experience similar issues? I will be taking this Cruze to the dealer too and will report back my findings. It’s worth noting that when the second Cruze failed to start, I did a thorough inspection and no accessories were plugged in, no doors were ajar, shifter was in park etc. The temperature in my garage was about 40F so you can’t blame the cold either.
Some folks in that thread mentioned that perhaps these vehicles can’t sit that long because of various parasitic drains. I asked (rhetorically) what happens if you go on vacation for a week or more? Will you be stranded at the airport?
OK you know what’s coming (sort of)….
I actually own two 2014 Cruzes. I took the Cruze that had the original battery failure to the airport when we went on vacation this week. Luckily, it started back up fine at the airport. So far so good. However, when we returned home, the other 2014 Cruze now has a dead battery. This time the period between starts was only 7 days. As with my other Cruze, it started up fine after a jump.
Anyone else experience similar issues? I will be taking this Cruze to the dealer too and will report back my findings. It’s worth noting that when the second Cruze failed to start, I did a thorough inspection and no accessories were plugged in, no doors were ajar, shifter was in park etc. The temperature in my garage was about 40F so you can’t blame the cold either.
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However, they may be in "transport mode" in the dealer's lot.It don't make a lot of sense to me as these cars can sit in the dealers lot for months without any problem.
Have you added any aftermarket equipment?
Otherwise send 'er back to the dealer and let it sit there for a week. They'll do a parasitic drain test.
Otherwise send 'er back to the dealer and let it sit there for a week. They'll do a parasitic drain test.
Makes me wonder should I leave my Cruze sit at the airport for 2 weeks when I go to Vietnam in February or take my wife's car? I have not had any charging/starting problems with it in the 3 years I have owned it.
My 2014 failed to start on me when i got out of work at 2am about 3 months after i bought the car. I wasn't sure what would have caused it, but i got a jump start and all was fine...for a few days. It did it to me again a few days later in a walmart parking lot. This time i called GM roadside assistance, but after learning it was going to be 2 hours for them to come get me/get the car started, i ended up going into walmart and purchasing a Booster pack, which luckily had enough power to start the car up. I took it to the dealer the next morning (after i had to boost it yet again), and it turned out the battery had a dead cell (which i suspected). Battery was replaced and has been ok since (about a year and 3 months now). I don't think Delco batteries are as good as they used to be anymore.
I think I'd put it in transport mode.Makes me wonder should I leave my Cruze sit at the airport for 2 weeks when I go to Vietnam in February or take my wife's car? I have not had any charging/starting problems with it in the 3 years I have owned it.
I think I'd put it in transport mode.
OK How?
Cruzes do this for some reason, On my 2012 the dealer blamed it on Battery cables,bad batterys, ect.. But it happens still after these fixes...The problem is these dealer techs don't know how to fix anything, unless an idiot light go off pointing them in the correct direction...
I told them it doesn't matter if you have a hair dryer hooked up, everything should turn off automaticly after 10 minutes...The dealers are always trying to blame you for everything...
RE: Have you added any aftermarket equipment?
Nope. It's factory equipment only for both Cruzes.
My suspicions are on the OnStar system. Although I no longer have the full OnStar package, I still have the free "limited OnStar". I wonder how much power that uses over a weeks time reporting various data, listening for an unlock command via a cellurar signal etc.
Nope. It's factory equipment only for both Cruzes.
My suspicions are on the OnStar system. Although I no longer have the full OnStar package, I still have the free "limited OnStar". I wonder how much power that uses over a weeks time reporting various data, listening for an unlock command via a cellurar signal etc.
Correct. They're not made by Delco anymore. They're made by Johnson controls and are still OEM quality - but not like the old Delco freedoms.I don't think Delco batteries are as good as they used to be anymore.
This is why I'm switching to Odyssey battery when the time comes. Odyssey builds a no-compromise design. And when it comes to starting I'm a no-compromise kind of guy.
Does Transport Mode disable the security system? If not this would be very useful for long term airport parking.
I don't know. All I know is what the blog says. It does say "content theft deterrent and exit lighting timers are reduced" which suggests that it's still on.Does Transport Mode disable the security system? If not this would be very useful for long term airport parking.
As promised, I have an update on my second Cruze with a dead battery. The dealer checked out the car and the battery and everything is once again within spec. This is quite a disappointment to me. I own two almost identical 2014 Cruzes, both having the exact same failure (and no resolution). Sigh….
If you recall from the other thread, I tried to recreate the battery failure by parking my Cruze again for 8 days. That time, the battery did not fail. When I did that experiment, I locked the Cruze. My reasoning was that a locked car will have a larger parasitic draw because the theft protection will be engaged.
On my original battery failure, the first 2014 Cruze was parked in my garage for 8 days and it was unlocked. When my second Cruze battery failed, it also sat unlocked. Perhaps an unlocked Cruze actually has a greater parasitic draw than a locked Cruze?
I would like to try this experiment again (this time with an unlocked Cruze) but unfortunately I no longer have the flexibility to leave one of my Cruzes parked for a week.
Thanks again everyone for your responses.
If you recall from the other thread, I tried to recreate the battery failure by parking my Cruze again for 8 days. That time, the battery did not fail. When I did that experiment, I locked the Cruze. My reasoning was that a locked car will have a larger parasitic draw because the theft protection will be engaged.
On my original battery failure, the first 2014 Cruze was parked in my garage for 8 days and it was unlocked. When my second Cruze battery failed, it also sat unlocked. Perhaps an unlocked Cruze actually has a greater parasitic draw than a locked Cruze?
I would like to try this experiment again (this time with an unlocked Cruze) but unfortunately I no longer have the flexibility to leave one of my Cruzes parked for a week.
Thanks again everyone for your responses.
This one kind of fascinates me.....two cars, same situation.
1.Are both cars LTZ's w/pushbutton start?
2.Verify that the vehicle batteries have only died while parked at home.
Rob
1.Are both cars LTZ's w/pushbutton start?
2.Verify that the vehicle batteries have only died while parked at home.
Rob
Both vehicles are LT. Neither has pushbutton start.
Both vehicles died when parked in the relatively warm/insulated garage. The temperature was never below 35 F. Neither vehicle was locked when the the dead battery incidents occurred.
As I said previously, one time I tried to recreate the problem by leaving the vehicle parked in the garage for 8 days. That time I locked the car. That's the only difference. The battery did not die that time. I would try the experiment again, but I no longer have the ability to leave one of my Cruzes idle for a week. (Everyone has to get to work every day.)
Both vehicles have around 12K miles.
Both vehicles died when parked in the relatively warm/insulated garage. The temperature was never below 35 F. Neither vehicle was locked when the the dead battery incidents occurred.
As I said previously, one time I tried to recreate the problem by leaving the vehicle parked in the garage for 8 days. That time I locked the car. That's the only difference. The battery did not die that time. I would try the experiment again, but I no longer have the ability to leave one of my Cruzes idle for a week. (Everyone has to get to work every day.)
Both vehicles have around 12K miles.
Hey The_nik,Both vehicles are LT. Neither has pushbutton start.
Both vehicles died when parked in the relatively warm/insulated garage. The temperature was never below 35 F. Neither vehicle was locked when the the dead battery incidents occurred.
As I said previously, one time I tried to recreate the problem by leaving the vehicle parked in the garage for 8 days. That time I locked the car. That's the only difference. The battery did not die that time. I would try the experiment again, but I no longer have the ability to leave one of my Cruzes idle for a week. (Everyone has to get to work every day.)
Both vehicles have around 12K miles.
I can definitely understand how frustrating this may seem, and I am here to help if needed. I would be more than happy to get in touch with the dealership on your behalf or locate another in your location for a possible second opinion. Feel free to send me a private message here along with your VINs, current mileage, contact information and preferred dealership. Looking forward to your continued updates and response!
Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care
Nuts!
I was hoping they were LTZ's
To the pushbutton start gang, this can occur if the key fob is within about 30ft. or less of the parked car.
The reciever 'sees' the fob signal and the electrical system stays 'live', waiting for the car to be entered.
OP....I'll keep thinking on this one.
Two cars, doing the same thing........interesting to me, aggravating to you.
Rob
I was hoping they were LTZ's
To the pushbutton start gang, this can occur if the key fob is within about 30ft. or less of the parked car.
The reciever 'sees' the fob signal and the electrical system stays 'live', waiting for the car to be entered.
OP....I'll keep thinking on this one.
Two cars, doing the same thing........interesting to me, aggravating to you.
Rob
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