Dead Battery - Avalanche

Nuts · May 8, 2009

So, I came out to my Avalanche at noon and it would not start. The battery was dead, not even the dash lights would come on. It was like the battery was disconnected ? I got a jump from one of the others in the office and after about 2 min of charging she started right up. I went straight to the Dealership and they tested and after about 3 hours, said; there is nothing wrong with the charging system or the battery ??? They said, maybe I left the radio on !!! I said, that I could have left the lights on for 2.5 hrs and it should still start, if the battery was good...

I talked with a friend of mine who works at a parts store and he said, he's heard of that problem before with GM vehicles. Anyone else had this problem and what is the fix ???

Thanks

Bill

svensk · May 8, 2009

So, I came out to my Avalanche at noon and it would not start. The battery was dead, not even the dash lights would come on. It was like the battery was disconnected ? I got a jump from one of the others in the office and after about 2 min of charging she started right up. I went straight to the Dealership and they tested and after about 3 hours, said; there is nothing wrong with the charging system or the battery ??? They said, maybe I left the radio on !!! I said, that I could have left the lights on for 2.5 hrs and it should still start, if the battery was good...

I talked with a friend of mine who works at a parts store and he said, he's heard of that problem before with GM vehicles. Anyone else had this problem and what is the fix ???

Thanks

Bill

There are electronics on the new trucks that will drain the battery if you do not start it in a week. When was the last time you drove it for more than a few miles?

alaska511 · May 8, 2009

So, I came out to my Avalanche at noon and it would not start. The battery was dead, not even the dash lights would come on. It was like the battery was disconnected ? I got a jump from one of the others in the office and after about 2 min of charging she started right up. I went straight to the Dealership and they tested and after about 3 hours, said; there is nothing wrong with the charging system or the battery ??? They said, maybe I left the radio on !!! I said, that I could have left the lights on for 2.5 hrs and it should still start, if the battery was good...

I talked with a friend of mine who works at a parts store and he said, he's heard of that problem before with GM vehicles. Anyone else had this problem and what is the fix ???

Thanks

Bill

Try Searching. There is quite a bit on this mystery.

Nick The Great · May 8, 2009

So, I came out to my Avalanche at noon and it would not start. The battery was dead, not even the dash lights would come on. It was like the battery was disconnected ? I got a jump from one of the others in the office and after about 2 min of charging she started right up. I went straight to the Dealership and they tested and after about 3 hours, said; there is nothing wrong with the charging system or the battery ??? They said, maybe I left the radio on !!! I said, that I could have left the lights on for 2.5 hrs and it should still start, if the battery was good...

I talked with a friend of mine who works at a parts store and he said, he's heard of that problem before with GM vehicles. Anyone else had this problem and what is the fix ???

Thanks

Bill

Try Searching. There is quite a bit on this mystery.

There's a lot of discussions, but no fix. Mine was at the dealer 3 times for this problem from December to end of January. It all started when I put a new battery in, since my old one wouldn't start in the -20° temps.

I don't know what fixed it, but the last time they said they pulled off and inspected all the cables to and from the battery. I always suspected it was a bad connection somewhere I couldn't see.

Does yours start up if you 'wiggle' either of the battery cables? Mine usually would.

Here's some light reading on it. http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=88383

Good luck

Nuts · May 8, 2009

There are electronics on the new trucks that will drain the battery if you do not start it in a week. When was the last time you drove it for more than a few miles?

The truck is normally driven daily for work. It had only been sitting for 2.5 hrs, when it wouldn't start. There were no warning signals on the dash and the gauge indicated a good charge.

I have let her sit in the garage for more than 2 weeks and she started right up. There must have been something that drew the battery down. I believe one of the module stayed on or woke up to bring it down.

Bill

georgecdisc · May 8, 2009

The truck is normally driven daily for work. It had only been sitting for 2.5 hrs, when it wouldn't start. There were no warning signals on the dash and the gauge indicated a good charge.

I have let her sit in the garage for more than 2 weeks and she started right up. There must have been something that drew the battery down. I believe one of the module stayed on or woke up to bring it down.

Bill

Battery cable isn't shorting out is it?

http://www.camaroblog.com/blog/1020496_201...ery-cable-issue

What a wonderful first recall for the Camaro.

I'm not sure how the interior lighting works in the new trucks, but I have heard cases of glove box lights staying on to drain a battery. Myself, I left a dome light on in my '98 K1500 and killed the battery. Didn't leave one of these items on in the morning did you?

ZZ327 · May 8, 2009

ive heard of it too, I think it has something to do with the Battery rundown protection feature they have. I came out to a dead battery and even touching jumper cables from one car to the other would make it start right up.

trplxl2 · May 9, 2009

All 3 of the Silverado's I have owned in the past had that problem, and the dealership was never any help. In each case I just put a battery disconnect like they do on the race cars, and I haven't had a battery go dead on me for the last 3 years. I had always suspected something to do with my On-Star, because it is always on technically because of the satellite always tracking where your vehicle is. I don't think we'll ever figure that mystery out, good luck your gonna need it!