My Car Went Dead
 

It has been about 4 days since I last drove in my car. I parked it in the garage the last time a drove it and when I came home today and tried to start it everything was dead. So im like ok.... my lights where not left on ..... the doors were open (does that matter)?.... wtf!?

So my buddy was nice enough to give me a jumpstart, this of course after pushing the car out of the garage. So I hook everything up, and the tach goes to 9k like it always does on start up, then when its coming back down it stops and goes back to 9k then finally starts with the engine cranking at about 5k. Then the revs chop down, like in steps 5/4/3k, to 2k where it normally is on cold start. I notice DSC OFF is flashing and the car sliding led is on. I could not turn DSC back on until actually driving the car.

Now my question is why did it die? Nothing was on in the car except that one red led with a picture of a key on top of a car. Is that on for everyone? Even so, would that drain the battery after 4 days of no use?

You said you left the doors open?
That would keep the interior lights on for 4 days. Probably killed the battery. You need to charge it up, and clear the ECU (I think the procedure is in the manual).

Theres a DSC reset procedure you need to do too. involves full lock on the steering bot directions but manual says all the ins and outs. Not difficult.

Yeah, the interior lights drained your battery. I've had that happen to me after only a 2-day weekend. Unless they're programmed to turn off after a certain length of time with the doors open...

I'm thinking that he meant that the doors were unlocked... but...

I think my car turns off all the lights after a while if left on. I am pretty sure anyway....

Yup, I thought so. pg. 6-37 of the manual states...

"Illuminated Entry System
When the illuminated entry system operates, the overhead light (switch is in the DOOR position) and the courtesy lights turn on for:
• About 30 seconds after the driver’s door is unlocked and the ignition key is removed.
• About 15 seconds after all doors are closed.
• About 15 seconds after the key is removed from the ignition with all doors closed.
The light also turns off when:
• The ignition switch is turned to the ON position and all doors are closed.
• The driver’s door is locked.

NOTE
If any door is left opened, the light
goes out after about 5 minutes.
The light turns on again when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position, or when any door is opened
after all doors have been closed."

The NOTE tells me that they should have gone out after the first 5 minutes & not drain the battery. This should go in the "Little Things" thread, but it leaves the question here without an answer.

Does this apply even if you turn the overhead light to "Door" mode. (The overhead light might not be considered part of the Illuminated Entry System).

Might need to experiment. Too bad my RX lives outside in the rain, I can't try it.

d

argh i should have been more specific, i left my doors unlocked.

Btw, must be something in the air my house just lost power.

¿EMP?

Doh!

Well, I'm takin my last post to "Little Things". Think I'm kiddin? :D

ah ok still don't know why it went dead but at least the uneven rpm's are explained in the manual.

BAH! the manual also says not to hook up the negative terminal on the jumper car thats just bully.


NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to
charge the battery, uneven rpm occurs
and the ABS warning light comes on.
This is due to a weak battery, not a
malfunction.
Recharge the battery.

so your battery went dead not your car. thats sort of good news.

Do the headlights turn themselves off in our cars after the key is out of the ignition?

Presumably you could leave the side lights on if you wanted to... for parking...

Re: My Car Went Dead
 

i dont remember my tach spiking to 9k ever on startup.

Me neither. In fact, it's not erratic at all.

As for the headlights, I think they won't turn off. Wish they did...

go start your car..... it not your engine that does it... just the tach

however my engine started at 5k when i jump started which was what worried me.

edit: wait i may be getting confused let me start my car