strange starting / battery problem - any thoughts

[bpratt]

I'm having an odd, intermittent problem with my 2011 M56S and thought I'd see if any of ya'll have any suggestions. See below for details, and if you have thoughts chime in. I'm very puzzled, so even crazy ideas are welcome!

Details:
Note: Car is daily driver. commute to work M-F is ~10 miles each way. The smart key is not anywhere near the car when it is parked (>50 feet away at home and >100 feet at office, other locations listed below). I did check out this thread but didn't see anything directly on point (car-not-starting-due-to-a-dead-battery- ... 00121.html).


problem began in February/March, car had to be jump started a couple of times. didn't think too much of it initially, just thought I was somehow leaving headlights on or something, even though headlights are always on auto setting. After being jumped car would run fine for a few weeks before problem occurred again

reported problem when car was in for oil change earlier this year. Dealer (Peninsula Infiniti) checked battery and said it was fine.

Problem re-occured in mid-May, after driving 10 minutes to grocery store car had to be jump started after being parked for ~10 minutes. Jump starting was very difficult, other car had to be rev'd very high for a while before the M56 would start. After this incident, driver's side window would no longer roll up automatically, so it lost that bit of programming since auto-up is not the default setting for the car

Problem then occurred again Monday June 1 at lunchtime. Drove 3 miles to lunch spot, spent 20-30 minutes eating, car wouldn't start afterwards. Jump starting was slightly difficult but car did eventually start. Drove back to work 3 miles, parked, and after work car started fine.

Car also started fine Tuesday morning (twice), while driving to lunch on Tuesday, driving home Tuesday evening, and then driving to work Wednesday morning.

Wednesday evening, car wouldn't start after driving 10 miles and then parking for 5 minutes. Jump starting was VERY difficult, but eventually car started after being hooked to other car for ~10 minutes. Drove car 90 feet (to get out of road and backed into a parking space. Went to event for 1 hour, came out, and car started up immediately. Drove home 4 miles.

Thursday morning (today) car wouldn't start. Hooked to battery charger, showed 48% charge, after 1 hour charging car started right up and drove to work.

[Debonair]

I just replaced the original battery in my 11 M56 for this same type of behavior. Had to jump start and/or charge the battery several times over the last several months. Just this last weekend I took it to a full service car wash (10 mi. drive). After they vacuumed it (4 guys so it was quick) it would not start or jump. It needed a 10 minute charge and it barely turned over and started. I took it home, removed the battery, and then went and bought a new one. The car starts noticeably easier now in addition to always turning on in general which is a good thing.

[Larz]

That is great advise. As we all know, our cars will do all sorts of weird things just from having a lose terminal connection. Assuming you have had the electrical system checked (to rule out alternator or fuse issues) replacing the battery is the way to go. Mind you, changing the battery in our cars is true to form with most DIY jobs for Infiniti. It's a royal pain. I had one replaced by the dealer and if I remember, it was just over $100 with labor (and if you do it yourself, you'll see there IS actually labor, LOL).

[bpratt]

Thanks for the thoughts. The original battery was replaced in Nov 2013, so it's less than 2 years old, and the behavior now isn't what I was seeing when the original battery was dying. But I don't know what the dealer did when they "checked it" this spring and said it was fine, so it is a possibility for sure.

And I agree, changing the battery yourself is a serious pain, the way it's tucked partway underneath a lip. Definitely worth paying someone to do it.

I'm taking it to the dealer tomorrow so we'll see what they say, but one suggestion they made today is that apparently there is a known problem where having a USB cable plugged in (no device, just the cable) can sometimes prevent the car from going into "sleep" mode and drain the battery rapidly. I've unplugged my iPhone cable and we'll see if that makes a difference, although I have had the cable plugged in since the car was new and only started seeing the problem the last 4-5 months.

thanks,
bob

[Debonair]

The battery looks worse then it is to change. I think it was just 7 clips. Once they are out the two plastic trim pieces are easy to remove. Took me under 10 minutes to get it out for the first time with no instructions.

[SwissCheeseHead]

Testing the battery and alternator to see if both are operating is fairly easy with a multimeter.
http://www.wikihow.com/Check-an-Alternator

I would start there. It sounds like an alternator issue.

If not there, then I would continue troubleshooting for a power drain somewhere in the system. Do you have any additional current draw, like a amp and sub? An aftermarket DVD/Bluray player, etc?

[bpratt]

Thanks, SwissCheeseHead (OK, that felt odd to type).

The car is a completely stock M56S, there are no after-market mods or anything.

I'm going to let the dealer test it, but I certainly hope they start with the alternator and the alternator connections to the rest of the system. Since the engine was taken out twice to replace a stretched timing chain shortly before the problem started, I could certainly see the alternator being affected by this, or failing independently.

Thanks,
Bob

[bpratt]

Well, the dealer says the problem was caused by having a USB cable plugged in, and this preventing the car from going into "sleep" mode when shut off, thereby draining the battery. There is a TSB on this issue, although I don't know the number.

Anyway, they applied the solution specified in the TSB (included updating the ECM, not sure what else was part of it).

I'm picking it up in the morning, hopefully that will really fix the problem. Given the intermittent nature, I won't know for a few weeks if it really worked or not.

Fingers crossed,
Bob

[mynerd]

Well, the dealer says the problem was caused by having a USB cable plugged in, and this preventing the car from going into "sleep" mode when shut off, thereby draining the battery. There is a TSB on this issue, although I don't know the number.

Anyway, they applied the solution specified in the TSB (included updating the ECM, not sure what else was part of it).

I'm picking it up in the morning, hopefully that will really fix the problem. Given the intermittent nature, I won't know for a few weeks if it really worked or not.

Fingers crossed,
Bob

Its not the alternator. I had same issue and started a thread you saw. Just replace the battery bro...every 2 years ..unless u get a pricey pricey one and it may give u 3 years....i got mine from auto zone with 7 yr warranty, ill just replace it when i see signs again..

[mynerd]

I just replaced the original battery in my 11 M56 for this same type of behavior. Had to jump start and/or charge the battery several times over the last several months. Just this last weekend I took it to a full service car wash (10 mi. drive). After they vacuumed it (4 guys so it was quick) it would not start or jump. It needed a 10 minute charge and it barely turned over and started. I took it home, removed the battery, and then went and bought a new one. The car starts noticeably easier now in addition to always turning on in general which is a good thing.

yup, new battery and my car is back to normal also...had the same issues.