I drive a 2.5 year old Saturn with 42,000 miles. Until now it’s given me no problems and I always have the oil change and other routine services done timely.
Last week I went into a restaurant for lunch and when I came out the car wouldn’t crank. I thought perhaps I’d left a light on or whatever and the battery had died, though it seemed a very short time for it to totally lose its charge. I called a friend for a jump-off, but by the time she got there it started on its own.
Yesterday I was listening to NPR on the way to work and wanted to hear the end of a story so when I parked I cut the engine off and continued listening to the radio. Usually I can do this for some while before it drains the battery, but yesterday after about a minute the car went dead.
When I went to lunch a few hours later, the car cranked on its own power (i.e. didn’t need a jump off), but the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light came on and has been on ever since. This morning it was hesitant to crank, but did crank.
So… I know that I need to take the car to have it looked at, but I hate to go in seeming as totally ignorant of possible problems as I actually am. Any ideas what the problem could be? (I’ve wondered if it’s just the battery, but 2.5 years and 42,000 miles in a southern climate would seem a short life for a battery.)
Insert the usual “I hold nobody liable for any misinformation given in answers” etc yada yada- this is just to help me seem a bit more armed when I take it in for servicing later (so I can be all butch and say something like “I think it might be the defibrillator iconic thermal detonator valve”).
I have had batteries at or near death act really weird like that. I think it is a short or something. After installing a new battery, all would be will. Could be your battery cables as well. Is the postive battery lead all junky looking? I would guess the Service engine soon light is just coincidental. If it is the Check engine light it means the OBDC II computer captured a problem and you can find out what it is.
I think it’s your battery, but when you take it in have them test the charging system too. It could be that it’s just a bad battery or the charging system might be out of spec. and shortening its life.
Sampiro, I had similar symptoms in my Nissan pick-up last year. A new alternator and a battery recharge cured all. Take Venus Probe’s advice and ask that both the battery itself and the alternator be tested.
Most discount auto parts stores will test your battery and alternator for free. My bet is either on your battery, or a very corroded terminal that needs to be clean. People you need to clean your battery terminals every so often!
I have seen people replace perfectly good batteries when all they needed to do was scrub the terminal with a wire brush for 30 seconds.
I don’t think much arming will be necessary in this instance unless the tech comes out and tells you it something outside the electrical system :rolleyes: nothing I can add here I think the person with the “at or near death” answer nailed it on the head personally. Could be serious, but 1) saturns are pretty decent cars and 2) 42,000 isn’t even that close to your first timing belt/water pump change over, which isn’t normal for any modern-day vehicle. So what i’m saying is, worst case scenario, it’s your alternator (which I don’t believe it to be).
This is the easy stuff:)…once you decide you’re married to her that’s when the fun begins… caliper change-outs, suspension replacements, bushing…lol anyway, don’t sweat it chief.
Thanks for all advice- turns out it was just the battery. (The fellow at the auto store said the factory battery was cheap and that they frequently give out almost as soon as their warranty expires (which in this case was 2 years).
I wish I had the same luck fishing as I do with these message boards.
