Battery, Alternator, or some other electrical system problem...

[Beancooker]

So I've been having really "cold" starts lately. I figured it was exactly that, the cold weather and ethanol that is now in our gas. This morning I realized it is something much more crappy...

It barely started. Like dead battery barely started. Once started it was great. So alternator is pretty much out of the picture. I figure had it been the alternator, the car would have been dead before I got to the top of the street.

Battery... I just put a brand new Optima Red Top battery in 13 months ago. It shouldn't be crapping out this soon.

Guess after work, I'll be checking/cleaning terminals and having a battery tested.

Nothing other than a grounding kit has been changed on the electrical system, and I don't think that is the culprit.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I don't know but the cold sux... It was in the 50's here in Tampa and I hate starting the car when it is cold!.....

But Boy does it love to drive in the cold... It is almost like i added 40-50lbs of TQ I drove my car for the first time in the cold with 100% Gas and I even had 4 people in the car and still wow!

Love that COLD air...

Keep us posted and good luck!

DJ

[Jacko3]

Yep! The G loves cold air---its a different beast when it is cold.

[zozoka1212]

It could be your terminals as you said. Also not sure if you noticed. 4drmadness had similar issue.

http://forums.g35club.org/zerothread/377613

zozo

[G_whizz]

It could be your terminals as you said. Also not sure if you noticed. 4drmadness had similar issue.

http://forums.g35club.org/zerothread/377613

zozo

Damn Zozo...beat me to it!

[zozoka1212]

Boohhaahahaaaaaa



zozo

[telcoman]

So I've been having really "cold" starts lately. I figured it was exactly that, the cold weather and ethanol that is now in our gas. This morning I realized it is something much more crappy...

It barely started. Like dead battery barely started. Once started it was great. So alternator is pretty much out of the picture. I figure had it been the alternator, the car would have been dead before I got to the top of the street.

Battery... I just put a brand new Optima Red Top battery in 13 months ago. It shouldn't be crapping out this soon.

Guess after work, I'll be checking/cleaning terminals and having a battery tested.

Nothing other than a grounding kit has been changed on the electrical system, and I don't think that is the culprit.

If the battery terminals are clean it could still be a defective battery?

Or even a poor ground? Could any of your ground connections loosened up?

Telcoman

[Beancooker]

The other suggestion from someone here at work is the starter. That is one I pray it isn't. Too expensive and definitely one I don't want to have to replace.

[smockers83]

It could be the alternator going bad as it isn't charging the battery. The car I had before I got my G had the alternator fail in the middle of a bridge. Towards the beginning of the trip, the volt light came on but there was no indication of anything wrong (too long ago to remember how well it started).

[marlin29311]

Someone just had an issue with the grounding wires lately - I don't remember which thread it was in... :-\

I would call party foul on the battery. You have an '04 - your starter shouldn't be crapping out already. The alternator should also be in good shape - generally speaking it's usually your battery that isn't up to snuff when it's hard to start in the cold. Does your new battery meet the same amount of Cold Cranking Amps as the first one?

Try cleaning up the terminals, and then possbily take it back to where you got it - batteries have warranties on them.

[Beancooker]

The Optima Battery is way more powerful than the stock battery.

I would think alternator, but the battery was so low, that it almost didn't start this morning. Had it needed one more crank, it wouldn't have started, but once it was started, it was fine. Had the alternator been crapping out, I would think that as low as the battery was, it would have died by the top of the street, or when I turned on the headlights.

I'll be checking all the grounding points, and whatnot this evening.

I might just pull the grounding kit and see if that solves the problem.

[Jacko3]

Beano:

I doubt this is an alternator or starter problem. Check the grounding kit or try replacing the battery again, eventhough you think that is not the problem. Ask the battery people to give you another battery under their limited warranty and see what happens. If you bought he battery form Autozone, or Advanced Auto Parts, they will gladly give you another battery even if you bought a new one form them, the day before.

[SteveTheTech]

So what exactly does it do when you crank it over?

If it cranks slowly, but still starts (you see the lights on the dash dim) I would say either the battery of high resistance in the cables somewhere. You can do a voltage drop test on your starter leads (if you are feeling adventurous). I would have the battery load tested.

If it cranks quick (normal) and just will not catch you have a power supply issue somewhere.

Starters and alternators are pretty uncommon failures.

[tollboothwilley]

you do have a stereo also don't you Bean?

Is it possible that you had some accessory on? The gel cell batteries have a long reserve where you could have a rough start but still get it going in the morning if something was pulling a light load for a 8 hr period of time.

Doesn't sound like Alternator, points to battery.

What grounding wires are you using??

[SVTCOBRA]

I recently replaced the DEAD A$$ battery in my 04 coupe. I noticed that the date on the battery made it about 1 year old.It was a Walmart battery, so I just assumed it was junk and replaced it.

Read some where about an 04 Coupe eating batteries after a year!! I hope my problem was the brand....

[tollboothwilley]

SVT

buy yourself an optima battery so you can have the 4 year warranty

[SteveTheTech]

Have you ever had a charging system test performed?

I would say if you are really curious you can do a parasitic draw test to see what you amperage is at when the computers go to sleep.

[SVTCOBRA]

SVT

buy yourself an optima battery so you can have the 4 year warranty

I'll stick with checking my consumer reports & mechanic buddy's and buying accordingly.(I read mix reviews on the optima.)

[SVTCOBRA]

Have you ever had a charging system test performed?

I would say if you are really curious you can do a parasitic draw test to see what you amperage is at when the computers go to sleep.

So, there isn't a known problem with 04's or any coupe 'eating batteries'??

[SteveTheTech]

I would not say there is an issue with the 04 or any year eating batteries.

Nominal draw is ~.05mA and that is not enough to kill the battery. I do not personally prefer crap batteries, I only use Interstate and have never had problems.

[Beancooker]

Bought it at Batteries Plus. An Optima (for those who don't know) is one of the best batteries available. Full 100% replacement warranty.

I don't have a multimeter, or I would do some testing...

Didn't feel up to it, but will probably be heading into the garage in a minute, to pull the grounding kit. What a PITA...

Cranks slow, but dash lights don't dim (I don't think)...

Stereo is bone stock. I am not fond of ICE. Waste of money for the amount of time I spend in my car. Plus it weighs too much. I have a sportscar, not a VIP.

Never had a charging system or paratisitic draw test done.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

y don't you buy a new battery and see if it helps... if it does then you can take the new one back and have them exchange it for a new one?

DJ

[SVTCOBRA]

I would not say there is an issue with the 04 or any year eating batteries.

Nominal draw is ~.05mA and that is not enough to kill the battery. I do not personally prefer crap batteries, I only use Interstate and have never had problems.

Will check with my mechanic buddy about doing a test!! Thanks!!

[infinitgkid]

Yep! The G loves cold air---its a different beast when it is cold.

+1

The cold weather here in VA is different from that of the cold weather in SC...

and that's not a good thing...

[Beancooker]

y don't you buy a new battery and see if it helps... if it does then you can take the new one back and have them exchange it for a new one?

DJ

I'll be taking the car over to Batteries Plus today and have them test for dead cells.

If that's not it, the only other things I can think of is a loose drive belt (car smelled like burning rubber after sitting at idle at the doughnut shop, but could have been any one of the 6 cars in the parking lot).

If it's neither the drive belt, or the battery, it will be going in to Nissan, so this crap can get sorted out.

[G_whizz]

Yikes!

Good luck Beaner I hope it's a super cheap easy fix!

How's the eye btw??

Aaarrgghh...

[SteveTheTech]

How much belt deflection do you have ? You would notice a sqeeling noise more than a smell unless the belt is off one of the ribs. Before you start really freaking out get the system tested. Get a print out and let me know what your numbers are and maybe I can help you out.

Good Luck.

[BrandAidDesignG35]

Beener... Sorry to hear that you're having starting problems

I don't think it would be the belts myseff, can you see them shaking or jumping? Did you get the battery tested yet? Keep us posted, We'll try and point you in the right direction before running to the stealership.

[SteveTheTech]

stealership.

Hey we're not all here to rob you blind.

[Beancooker]

Hey we're not all here to rob you blind.

$42. an hour is highway robbery.

There isn't much if any deflection. They feel tight, and there is no squealing at all.

The eye is all good. A minor scar on the cornea, and it looks like a small dirt spec on your glasses, that will never go away. Hard lesson learned.

Battery test will be done as soon as I'm off work.