[-=SpeedFreak=-]

Went out to go to the store and my car would not start. Dead. no lights, no click, no nothing!

Called Chrysler 24-hr and got the car started within 1.5 hours. Needed a jump as the bat was completely dead.

heres the question: Why? - there were no doors left open, no trunk left open, a/c and radio was off (not that they should matter)

Any guesses out there?

thanks

 

[HEMMISSEY]

Freak man, check this thread I made http://www.300cforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5857
My car did the same thing, called the Chrysler 24hr service tow thing, and brought it back to the dealer. The problem, loose battery connection and loose cables. They replaced everything (including battery :wink1: ). My car never had a dead battery since.. Good luck

 

[300sea]

What kind of mileage do you guys have on your cars? Just wondering if this is something we all need to be aware of or just an odd random occurrance.

Hmmmmm

 

[glenn4dde]

Is this maybe related?

Recall Number: 04V334000
Dates Manufactured: JAN 2004 to APR 2004
Number of Vehicles Affected: 20060
Date Owners Notified On: JUL 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BATTERY CABLE FASTENERS AT THE BULKHEAD STUD MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED.
Consequence of Defect:
A LOOSE FASTENER CAN CAUSE AN INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.
Corrective Action:
DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE BULKHEAD STUD BATTERY CABLE FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

 

[HEMMISSEY]

What kind of mileage do you guys have on your cars? Just wondering if this is something we all need to be aware of or just an odd random occurrance.

Hmmmmm

i believe mines started @ 1700miles :guilty:

 

[ChromeTailfins]

I remember when Hemmissey had that problem, it was nice to not be alone.

Happened to me too--they said it was a bad cell in the battery, here's that thread: http://www.300cforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4266

If you have a picture, add it in!

 

[frank29]

Any guesses out there?

Well, if a Martian heard about your problem and spent any time reading our media, he would think it was George Bush's fault. (Tongue in cheek; however, not firmly planted!)

The previous posts about loose connections seem likely; however, check one thing before proceeding.....you're probably aware of the "time out" feature for lights (if interior lights activated via switch or open door, lights will turn off after 10 minutes and will stay off until lights activated again); however, there are at least two lights not controlled by this feature: the trunk light and the map lights. I know you said the trunk was closed; but, how about the map lights? I know from experience they have no time out and they are easy to leave on. How long to your car sit before you tried to start it? Assuming a fully charged battery and the map light(s) were left on, it would take at least a day to discharge the battery.

 

[-=SpeedFreak=-]

Map Light

Frank29;

When the tow truck came to jump me, and power was restored there were no map lights on so I don't believe that was the issue. I parked the car around 9pm and went out about 5pm the next day and it was dead. Strange thing was the clock in the dash kept the correct time.

I have about 6900 miles on the car now.
I'll have the dealer check the cables when it goes in next week for other things.

thanks

 

[frank29]

Strange thing was the clock in the dash kept the correct time.

Make sure you tell the dealer this.....might be a big help in finding the problem....

 

[jeepgrady]

You are incorrect about the map lights. I left mine on by mistake. The following day after closing the door after entering, they would not go off until I threw the switch. No dead battery either.

 

[frank29]

You are incorrect about the map lights. I left mine on by mistake. The following day after closing the door after entering, they would not go off until I threw the switch. No dead battery either.

I am confused.....nothing in your post counters anything I stated.

 

[jeepgrady]

Frank- You stated that the map lights are not controlled by the auto off feature. What I'm stating is that you are incorrect. I left mine on overnight, after I was looking for something while the car was in the garage.

When I got in the car the following morning they were not on until I opened the door. I realized that I left them on after I closed the door and started driving. They did not go off automatically.

Thus I am stating that the previous night they timed out by themself and my battery did not die.

 

[frank29]

Frank- You stated that the map lights are not controlled by the auto off feature. What I'm stating is that you are incorrect.

Well, I don't know.....what I do know is when I turn on the map light via pushing the lens so just the map light is on (versus turning the dimmer wheel which turns on all interior lights, including map lights), mine do not time out.....the 2005 owner's manual (page 101) warns you that activating the map lights (not interior lights) sidesteps the time out feature......all this aside, I wish mine did time out; because, I have mistakenly left mine on for hours.

 

[jeepgrady]

Frank- Not to beat a dead horse, but I checked my owners manual. It is somewhat ambiguos. Under the Map light section it states " The lights will remain on until the switch is pressed a second time, so be sure they have been turned off before leaving the vehicle".

Then, under the Interior Lights heading, it states, " The interior lights will automatically turn off 10 minutes after the ignition switch is moved to the LOCK position if they are switched on manually, or if a door is left open to protect the battery. This includes the glove box, but not the trunk."

Well, after reading this, I was really confused. I sat in the car. Pressed one of the map lights and exited the car. Closed the door, the theater lighting turned off all the lights except the one map light I pressed. Came back about 20 minutes later, and the map light was off.

Try it. I assume yours will do the same.

 

[frank29]

Try it. I assume yours will do the same.

Well, it does..said in a very sheepish voice.

Man, I just don't understand...several months ago, I had to go outside in the middle of night to turn off the map light....must of been another of my vehicles.

You were/are correct. or like the Fonz would say: "I was wr..wrr....wrrrr...wrrrrr.....wrrrrroonn.....wrrrooooonnngg"