CAR completely DEAD ?

[Discod]

So just to be clear (the manual gives zero guidance) these are the positive and negative terminals?

 

[Sunbeam]

Mine has been replaced and the problems persist, so I would recommend you ask them to do more than just a battery test.

True. The technicans at the dealership should check at least the generator (output, AC ripple etc.) and the current if the car is locked.

So just to be clear (the manual gives zero guidance) these are the positive and negative terminals?

Red is always plus. Everything at the engine/body negative.

 

[Wlepse]

True. The technicans at the dealership should check at least the generator (output, AC ripple etc.) and the current if the car is locked.

I think the problem is most techs get paid per job, so they are less inclined to look past the obvious. Battery test bad...replace move on.

 

[Dorothea]

Did this happen to anyone else. Because of all this Covid-19 things I’ve not used my car much in last couple of weeks. It’s been sitting idle most of time. Last week I took it out and it felt like engine was stalling, it felt more like low battery and all sorts of system alerts blinking.
After driving for like 5-10 miles thing seemed to be okay, I put it back in driveway after two days I started car yesterday and it was battery dead, had to jumpstart the car. Took for a drive went around 10 miles and came back and parked car.
Today morning again took car out - it started file but was showing message of Service Transmission when I started the car.
Went and stopped at first set of lights around 2 miles from home, it felt like car literally restarted on its own - it was not ASS but more like someone turned car off by pushing power button and then pushed it again. Even the radio restarted and it showed the entry screen of select user. I drove further down to another mile and to next set of lights. And stopped at RED light. Car literally died within 30 seconds, everything shut-off on its own. No response trying to push the START stop button.
It happens right at the lights, I turned ON blinkers and called OnStar, got Police dispatch as car was on the road and wont move. Waited for toe to come in so I can take it to dealership, called my son to get next set of keys - assuming this one was low on battery and it might have problem turning car back on.
After half hour of waiting for tow truck I tried to PUSH power button and all of sudden CAR restarted. Was able to drive it although it felt bit weird in its overall drive, not as smooth as normal.
Tow truck arrived, I told him that car restarted and hence don’t need his help, drove to dealership and since its Saturday, they said to come back on Monday.
Anyone else had similar issue with their TourX where it literally died and then after half hour restarted ?
Also how long you can keep car sitting in driveway without driving ? Especially if you are living in colder climate.

I too am having the same problem. I got a new battery less than a month ago and it was dead today. I have not driven in a week. I have nothing attached. Nothing in the USB. They had to give me a new battery.

 

[Dorothea]

Sure but a car that can't last a week is useless. You couldn't safely park these at an airport for vacation and know it will start when you return. Besides... that cell connection is completely useless. Each time my car died it wasn't until after I got it jump started tat OnStar alerted me to the low battery, trans, engine codes etc. So if that thing is on all the time it is a complete waste since the alert you may think you have you don't.

I do not have anything set up in my car and this is the third battery in less than two years.

 

[mjoshi]

I too am having the same problem. I got a new battery less than a month ago and it was dead today. I have not driven in a week. I have nothing attached. Nothing in the USB. They had to give me a new battery.

Wow that's doesn't sound too reassuring

 

[Dorothea]

Wow that's doesn't sound too reassuring

I have had other models of Buicks and never once had this issue. I use to travel a lot and leave my car for a month at the airport and did not worry when I returned. The last time I went for a week and arrived at 1 am to a dead car. Not pleasant.

 

[mjoshi]

I have had other models of Buicks and never once had this issue. I use to travel a lot and leave my car for a month at the airport and did not worry when I returned. The last time I went for a week and arrived at 1 am to a dead car. Not pleasant.

Looks like buying portable jump start is mandatory with this car

 

[Wlepse]

Looks like buying portable jump start is mandatory with this car

I have two...one doesn't work on the TourX one does providing it isn't too far gone. So they are hit and miss and have a narrow window to function it seems.

 

[FavaBean]

Made a Costco trip today which is about 20 minutes from my house. I've had 0 starting issues so far.

Departing trip:
Before starting - 12 volts
Idle immediately after start approx 30 sec - 13.5v
Most of the ride - 14.5v

Return trip:
Before starting - 12.2 v
Immediate idle - 13.5v
Most of the ride - 14.3v

ASS works whole time. Evidently, I need to drive it more. But since I see improvement, I'm not going to worry about the battery being compromised at this point. I agree with @Sunbeam that constant high charging will shorten battery life, especially these AGM's.

Looks like buying portable jump start is mandatory with this car

I carry one using the larger Velcro straps on the hatch (instead of emergency kit).

 

[Wlepse]

In case anyone cares....this is the one that has worked for me several times: JumpSmart – Portable Vehicle Jump Starter/Flashlight/Power Bank with 37000 mWh - Limitless Innovations

But I have had to jump it a few times when this didn't have enough to make it happen. Though I suspect it was something with the car because each time I had to jump it did other weird stuff. Like one time I was able to open the door with the prox key on the passenger side to put my backpack in, but after walking away to bring the garbage down the driveway, as I came up it started making this really weak siren noise. Nothing seemed to stop it until I got in and tried to start it. Then everything was lighted inside including the HMI but nothing happened. After jumping I got the email from OnStar that my battery was low and I had transmission problems among others.

 

[D2R]

So just to be clear (the manual gives zero guidance) these are the positive and negative terminals?

Assuming you are charging the vehicle.
Positive terminal is correct.
Ground is on top of the strut tower located on the driver side.
Do NOT connect the negative terminal on the one you identified there.
That will screw up the battery sensor.

 

[Ctrcbob]

Assuming you are charging the vehicle.
Positive terminal is correct.
Ground is on top of the strut tower located on the driver side.
Do NOT connect the negative terminal on the one you identified there.
That will screw up the battery sensor.

Ditto DITTO.
This is one of the first things my sales rep showed me.

Positive under the RED plastic cover.

Negative is the stud on top of the strut tower.

I think it also shows on on the owners manual. Anyone ever read the manual? I do.

 

[D2R]

It IS on the manual with pictures. I highly recommend to download the pdf version from Buick.
That way, we can just Ctrl + F (or command + F for the Mac users) to find whatever keyword.

 

[Discod]

Thanks, for some reason we couldn’t find it in the PDF version. Put the clamp on the correct spot anyhow and charged with no problem.

 

[D2R]

The keyword I used to search was "Jumping".

 

[-Regal-]

One wonders why Buick didn't have two batteries installed if necessary, with one specifically devoted to starting and the motor.

 

[Anaduff]

For what it's worth (and this info is free)--actually got around to hooking-up an ammeter between the negative post on the battery & the recently connected clamp; the 'resting' current draw fluctuates between 200 and 300mA. The initial draw was 5 amps, dropping to 2.5 amps after about 1 minute, and then dropping again after another minute to the resting current--probably the infotainment module drawing pictures on the touchscreen & providing info to the DIC. If you have OnStar, that should add another 75 to 100 mA. Overall, 300mA isn't that much of a draw, so if there is an issue with battery life I'm guessing the fault may be in the charging profile (and/or a dodgy battery).

 

[FavaBean]

Colder morning than we've had in a while (35 degrees) so checked battery status.. BEFORE starting, DIC read 11.6v but car started up with no issues. While riding around, it read solid 15v. No ASS the entire time.

Only after a bit over an hour of driving, DIC started reading 14.2 -14.5v. Oh, and ASS started working again.

So either my charging takes a bit longer than I expected or I may be looking at a future issue myself. A this point, I probably just needed a thorough charging, but will continue to monitor.

Moral of story? If your ASS stops working, watch your DIC (double entendre NOT intended).

 

[Wlepse]

I finally got to do some driving in mine and forgot to check voltage prior to start but right after start up mine was at 13.6V and then steadily went up to 14.5-14.6V for the duration of the drive. No ASS functionality in months.