VE SSV flat battery

[cmatkin]

Well this morning(Thu) i woke up to a flat battery in my VE SSV. YEY!!
I have had it 4 weeks now. all has been good until today.

On Tuesday I got installed the Sat Nav, Roof DVD and Reverse Sensors.
Is it possible that one of these drained my battery?
Does the DVD Player turn off like the radio after 45mins?

Regards
Craig

[CalaisRider]

Well this morning(Thu) i woke up to a flat battery in my VE SSV. YEY!!
I have had it 4 weeks now. all has been good until today.

On Tuesday I got installed the Sat Nav, Roof DVD and Reverse Sensors.
Is it possible that one of these drained my battery?
Does the DVD Player turn off like the radio after 45mins?

Regards
Craig

Whilst I have all the accessories you speak of except the Satnav. The only time I have flattened my battery was when I have left the key in the ignition overnight and most of the next day. Aparently leaving the key in keeps the cuircuits live.

Another thing that you may need to watch is - Last week my engine warning suddenly came on whilst parking, then went into massive limp mode, runing rough as buggey. The error codes threw up Low Battery Voltage. They tweaked the altenator output (how I duno) and al has been fine since.

Bloody technology is great when it all works but geese there are lots of things to go wrong!!

Pete

[mustanger]

Here you go Craig . A bit of reading for you :) and there is a fix for your problem, Cheers John Australian LS1 and Holden Forums (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=75189)

[GODSMACK]

I got a flat battery in my VE 2 days after i picked it up.. They were going to hook my battery up to a slow battery charger, but opted for a new battery instead..

[cmatkin]

Umm,
After spending the last 4 hours with holden.. the computer already had the updated software to combat the charging problems.
They are at a loss. battery is good, charging well.

Something drained it over night. I think it was the DVD, though holden says that if you lock your car 30seconds later ALL accessories get powered off..

Bugger.

Regards
Craig

[Janus]

There is already a 6 page thread on the battery problem, with many people giving their experiences, what has been done to apparently fix it and what they think and have been told is causing it.

Link to thread. (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=75189)

It was on page 3 of the General Auto section so I won't give you crap about not seeing it.

Having had my $65k Calais V not start 4 times in 2 weeks I understand your annoyance. There seem to be all kinds of funny little things wrong with various aspects of the VE electrical systems. The worst thing is the dealers have no idea what is wrong and even less of an idea of how to fix it all until Holden HQ sends them something.

Since I had the BCM update done I have not had another flat battery but I have still been getting warning messages like "check engine" and "ABS fault" come up when I turn the car on sometimes, which they told me was because of the battery issue so it makes me wonder if it is really fixed.

I am also having strange problems with my sat nav that they finally understand (after spending 25 minutes in the car showing the tech and then showing him how it didn't happen on the Senator with sat nav then also had in the shop) and they are getting a tech out from HQ to go through my car when I book it in.

[cmatkin]

I read all of that thread.
Should have posted in there.. Opps.

My came with all of the software upgrades (BCM update...). I am at a loss as to why it went flat.

I just hope that this does not happen again. Does any one know how to get into these thing when the electrical system is dead?

regards
craig

[Janus]

You have to call the road side assistence to open the car up for you. Trust me, it takes them less then a minute which is a little off putting with all the modern day security they still basically stick a coat hanger down the door.

The first time mine went dead it was so dead that the door would not unlock as so I called the RAA saying that I couldn't get into the car. By the time I looked out my window and saw that the guy had arrived he had already opened the car and knew the problem was the battery....as he has done a couple in the last few weeks.

[EfiJy]

its bluddy disgracful. a good car let down by annoyuing faults. :vpo:

how did holden test the electivcs on ve?

[cmatkin]

They tested the battery as normal then connected a current meter in line with the battery, locked the car then found that the car was drawing 15-20ma from the battery.
At this rate it would take weeks to go flat.

I hope to play with it tonight and watch the current draw. I want to check that the DVD player turns off like the radio.

Regards
Craig

Yey.. I think that I have found the fault with the car.
My car is a SSV with Sat Nav (Holden Version), DVD and Reverse park sensors.

If I am in the car and have parked and turned the car off, key out.
Turn on either the radio, DVD player (needs radio on) or the two little DVD spots (any accessory).
Then get out of the car and lock it.
ALL ACCESSORIES STAY ON!!:vpo::vpo::vpo:

The only way to turn them off is by unlocking the car and manually turning each accessory off, or by starting the car and turning it off.

Should the accessories turn off after some time?

Regards
Craig

I also found that if i unlock and then lock the car without opening a door the center red leggo lights stay on for ever..
:vpo:

[blackduck]

check the boot light as well. I had a problem with the boot lock, now replaced, and the boot light was staying on. think the wiring is in the same switch.

[BadMac]

They tested the battery as normal then connected a current meter in line with the battery, locked the car then found that the car was drawing 15-20ma from the battery.
At this rate it would take weeks to go flat.

I hope to play with it tonight and watch the current draw. I want to check that the DVD player turns off like the radio.

Regards
Craig

Yey.. I think that I have found the fault with the car.
My car is a SSV with Sat Nav (Holden Version), DVD and Reverse park sensors.

If I am in the car and have parked and turned the car off, key out.
Turn on either the radio, DVD player (needs radio on) or the two little DVD spots (any accessory).
Then get out of the car and lock it.
ALL ACCESSORIES STAY ON!!:vpo::vpo::vpo:

The only way to turn them off is by unlocking the car and manually turning each accessory off, or by starting the car and turning it off.

Should the accessories turn off after some time?

:vpo:


I thought after you turned off the key, you can turn on the stereo (for people left in the car waiting) by pushing power, it then stays on for either 45 mins or 1 hour, then turns off. Can be turned on again by pushing power, its all in the manual. How long did you wait after you turned on stereo/dvd?

[cmatkin]

We some good and some not so good news.
This afternoon the car was flat. not as flat as yesterday but flat enough not to start. After making holden listen and testing various scenarios with locking/unlocking accessories on/off etc it was found that occasionally when the car locked that the computer system (Not the accessories) was drawing just over 2 amps.
The recommended specifications is 40ma MAX. Mine was 100 times more.
The current fix for now as i need the car over the weekend is that holden has supplied me with a jump start battery/charger.. Since my battery was flat they replaced it with a brand new one from an r8.
On Monday it looks like all of the computers (BCM..) are being replaced and also the DVD player.

Regards
Craig

[fastestls7]

question for the tech heads here.

I just had my 15k service done and holden wanted to do a software upgrade to prevent the battery going flat like other rides on here, which i declined because my rides had a tune done.Very next day my battery goes flat.

Question is can i have the holden software upgrade done and the reflash my tune and still have use of the holden upgrades

[SLE355]

question for the tech heads here.

I just had my 15k service done and holden wanted to do a software upgrade to prevent the battery going flat like other rides on here, which i declined because my rides had a tune done.Very next day my battery goes flat.

Question is can i have the holden software upgrade done and the reflash my tune and still have use of the holden upgrades

Yes, they will be reflashing your BCM, not the ECM.

[planetdavo]

Yes, they will be reflashing your BCM, not the ECM.
This answer perfectly highlights why the multiple asking of the same question wastes everones time.
There are a fair few threads now all asking about VE flat batteries, and one of the other ones already said that the PCM doesn't get touched, only the BCM. This subject would best be served by having just the one thread, keeping it simple for everyone that owns a VE.
PS: Thanks to SLE355 for answering it in this particular thread.

[fastestls7]

sorry if i apperently wasted anyones time
This answer perfectly highlights why the multiple asking of the same question wastes everones time.
There are a fair few threads now all asking about VE flat batteries, and one of the other ones already said that the PCM doesn't get touched, only the BCM. This subject would best be served by having just the one thread, keeping it simple for everyone that owns a VE.
PS: Thanks to SLE355 for answering it in this particular thread.

[cmatkin]

I don't think that any thread is wasting any ones time.

My problem is not on other threads. Yes, battery issues have been discussed, but these are all pre my car.

My car has a serious electrical problem. Has no warning lights or errors in any of the computers. All computers have the latest updates.
Though when my car gets turned off (locked) it occasionally draws excess power and drains the battery.

Since I am going interstate next week I have given my car to Holden to fix. They have seen the fault first hand and hopefully be able to fix it.

Regards
Craig

[chev]

Hope you (Holden) find the problem Craig. Must be bloody frastrating to hop in her and not to start

[Baggy67]

I have a Senator, and i ve had my battery go flat a couple of times. This is fairly common, with the VE models especially with SATNAV etc. If you don't drive constantly, the computer, satnav etc, will still draw power from your battery, as will any after arfter market alarm system.

Just get yourself, a calcium based battery charger and give her a boost once in a while, i do mine every month just to keep her topped up.

[planetdavo]

I don't think that any thread is wasting any ones time.

Unless you have 36 hours per day, perhaps not....
Feel free to argue with the moderators if you like. They regularly keep telling people to find the search button!
The BCM flash cure has been very well discussed now, as have several other electrical issues regarding current draw possibly from electronic additions.
Since three quarters of each separate thread have the same answers, why not just merge them!!!

[cmatkin]

Good news.. Battery drain now fixed.

It was a faulty BCM.. It has been replaced, and a new battery thrown in. The dealer is giving me the 15k service for free and paid for all taxi's while they had the car.

Please all not that the BCM had the updated charge rates for the battery (as per other threads). The BCM controls the power to all of the accessories and randomly left them on.

The car when locked, with all holden fitted accessories should only draw a max of 40ma. The SAT NAV, DVD play all get turned off fully. The drain for these accessories for the memory backup is under 1ma.

I cant fault the dealer and would be happy to deal with them again.

[Wonky]

Great news!