Battery dead - could the alarm drain it?

[she11ey]

Thanks, Wes... Let me tell you what I've done with it this afternoon (besides sweat in it).

The ignition killed itself again about lunch time, so my door switch bandaids apparently did no good to keep the security gremlin quiet. No amount of key jiggling would help reset the alarm (remember, my keys are wearing thin with age).

I popped the hood and noticed that the rubber boot is completely missing from the hood switch, too. I unplugged that switch.

I also unplugged the horn. Yes, the siren still goes off and the lights flash, but at least it can't HONK for two minutes.

I did a zulu spirit dance around the car three times, then jiggled the key in the door some more, and was able to reset the alarm about an hour ago. I drove it to the hamburger joint to console myself with french fries and to make sure the battery kept its charge.

I parked it, locked it with the remote... and the gremlin called me out of the house ten minutes later with the alarm siren again.

Shall I call a priest next?

- Shelley

[elwesso]

I suggest you get a 12ga shotgun, a sledgehammer and something large and heavy (55 gallon barrel should do) and I think that should fix it.. Liberal use of 4 letter words and gestures should scare the gremlins right out.....

Unfortunately, I looked at the FSM and theres a LOT of stuff, and quite a bit of it has to be done with a consult (checking the switches and such)... I will try and copy some stuff and attach it here....

[JT_MONEY_2004]

You're personality if fun shelly! Do you open and close the doors solely with the remote?What happens if you close doors but dont actually lock 'em. Does the alarm still go off or no?

[she11ey]

JT, I'm probably more fun in an online forum than I am at party! I can type what's in my head better than I can SAY it... I think. ;]

I always use the remote to lock/unlock the car. The only time I use the key in the door is when the gremlin is strangling the neck of the alarm between his teeth. Also, I [almost] always lock the car with the remote, but even if I don't, the car locks itself in less than a minute. (Aggravating when you're walking back 'n forth to unload a hefty cargo of groceries.) Either way, the alarm is psychotic.

Wes, I'm handy with a hammer or a nail file. Have you heard my favorite shotgun joke?

"I'd like to buy a rifle for my husband.""What gauge would he like?""I'm not sure. He doesn't know I'm going to shoot him."

About five minutes ago, I got a helpful email from one of your forum members. I had contacted him offline because in a separate thread that I searched, someone referenced him as a resource for mechanics in Houston. If he gives me his Okay, I will come back and post his emailed description of the "cascading problems" that have been handicapping my Q45.

You guys are da best!

- Shelley

[elwesso]

Post up that email and we'll see what we can do...

I have a feeling its one of those things you love the car but you feel like shooting it.. I had to use all of my will power not to kick my car after the 4TH TIME it locked itself with keys in!!! ARRRGH

[she11ey]

Credit for this goes to NICO member Nismo Freak, whose alter ego "Alan" has given me permission to post his wisdom delivered via email...

Basically you are having to put up with cascading problems.

In order:1. Door OPEN / CLOSE switch not functioning properly causing alarm to go off.2. Alarm goes off draining the battery.3. Alternator has to now re-charge battery fully which kills the alternator fast.4. Low alternator current drains battery (Diode testing like the one at Sears tests alternator charging patterns)5. Alarm now goes off because of low battery switching car ON / OFF due to low voltage.6. Battery drained further till it is dead.

See the pattern? It all eminates from the single problem of the door switch malfunctioning.

For the meantime I suggest supergluing a small penny or nut to the door switch until the light does not flash any more. At this point a 1 cent nut is the best starting block, hell you may want to glue 2 on there to make sure. I know 5 bucks is alot cheaper than alternators and batteries.

Makes sense to me! And it reflects the thoughts posted earlier by the Highway man.

So... even though I'm still not sure I've isolated the right switch that's tripping the alarm (door, hood, or trunk), the description of Step Five in the "cascade" helps to explain the mysterious security gremlin. What do YOU think, Wes, my knight in digital armor?

[Jesda]

Get some graphite in a tiny tube from home depot or a locksmith and squirt it on the key, then work it in and out of the door. That may help...

-Jesda

[elwesso]

I agree with this, and I guess its sort of understood thats what happening.....

I need to get my adobe acrobat working better so that I can post some stuff up here

[she11ey]

Jesda, I tried the graphite on the key and in the lock today. I also tried sewing machine oil. No luck.

The local dealer said a titanium replacement key is $132, and there are no cheaper options there. Yikes!

I see Q45 key blanks on ebay for $7. Can a locksmith really make a duplicate from an orginal key that's worn down?

So far, so good today on the alarm, though! It hasn't been set off by the security gremlin (at least I haven't HEARD it go off). If it's really "fixed" now, then I can use the remote entry and not worry about the door key. But yeah, I know I should get a new key anyway.

Thanks again, guys, for your patience and your extraordinary willingness to help.

[maxnix]

Call Joe for a new OEM key (~$100). The ebay ones are brass (not recommended as the primary key) and aluminum (a big no no). Search for McLock for a keysmith.

[she11ey]

Brian, I did call Joe at Scottsdale, but I spoke with Justin. He said they can't make keys that will be delivered out of state! Their price was $98.

One of the ebay keys was gold, I think.

[Q451990]

Surely someone in Houston can cut a new key... I know of one in Columbia, and it's a much smaller market. They can cut the key from the worn one...

Call a few locksmiths and tell them it's a "wafer" type key similar to BMW. They'll probably have the blank on hand too.

Heath

[maxnix]

Brian, I did call Joe at Scottsdale, but I spoke with Justin. He said they can't make keys that will be delivered out of state! Their price was $98.

One of the ebay keys was gold, I think.

McLock can cut a blank. AZhitman can probably pick it up and ship it to you if it is paid in advance.

[natsoundup]

You need to have one cut from the infiniti key code on your car...

I had one wear out years ago... paid the ridiculous amount for a dealer one... then got a cheap blank as a backup..both have worked fine....

[Q451990]

I had one that was worn so badly that it would stick in the ignition switch or not go in (don't remember which) and they still were able to copy it at the dealership. The local dealership would make copies of the keys rather than requiring you to order the OEM one... costs about $35 if I remember correctly.

I bet Joe could ship the key if you could fax enough information... copy of title, driver's licence, insurance, etc...if you wanted to go the OEM route.

Heath

[she11ey]

Hello, new friends o' mine...

I promised to post a Status Report, which I hope will increase the "archival" value of this thread.

Since I disconnected the hood switch (and did one more jump-start on the battery), I have had NO MORE TROUBLE with the alarm, and NO MORE TROUBLE starting the car. Hooray! And thanks so much for all of your help.

I'll be back to post another question regarding the A/C soon, I'm afraid. Or to request advice for selling this car (for parts??) because Jesda (et al) was right about the ongoing repair and maintenance costs... which my budget can't accomodate at the moment.

You guys are the greatest!!

- Shelley

[elwesso]

Definitely keep us posted on what you want to do... Hell I'll take it off your hands REAL CHEAP and make it real nice like..

Honestly I think that fixing it up and making it a real nice car will be a LOT cheaper than dumping it off and getting some other (and inferior) car that will need a lot of repairs as well!!!

[she11ey]

Wes, if I decide to sell it, you're the first NICO Hero I'll be in touch with....

[elwesso]

Why not start a thread and we can discuss some of the issues your having, now that the car starts every time and the alarm isnt blaring!!

[she11ey]

Dadgummit... I had a FEELING that if I posted my Status Report here my Q would defy it. The alarm just serenaded the neighborhood spontaneously again.

If it's not bad karma (or Qarma?), it must be the alternator's diode patterns. Ratz!

No additional advice necessary, guys. I'm just ranting.

[JT_MONEY_2004]

<<back to the door <<

[she11ey]

JT, I'm afraid I don't speak Punctuation.

Can you elaborate?

[pito11213]

Hey shelly did you try Jt's recommendation on putting the rubber plug on the door to see if you have a bad door open sensor. You should seek further info from seeing as he went through the exact same symptoms ultimately leading to the failure of his alternator.

[she11ey]

Pito, I did glue a "plug" to the door, but now I'm not sure I positioned it correctly. I put some ink on the door switch today, and it doesn't make an impression on the plug at all. I guess I need to scrape it off and start over.

On another note... it looks like the alarm tripped again earlier today. I haven't had a new key made yet, so once again I was out in the afternoon heat trying to get the original key to turn in the jammed door lock. (Both the driver's and passenger's door are hopeless.) Then I tried it in the TRUNK lock. It worked! The alarm recycled (or whatever you call it) and the killed ignition came to life at last.