Trip Meter Resetting

[dondi]

I own a venture. Recently, I stopped using my car during the weekdays. And what happens is that, I travel about 150 kms on a Monday and park my car and re-start it on a Friday and travel again another 150 kms.

During the Fridays, I experience that the engine is hard to start (although I could start it in the first try) that the battery is weak. It sounds that there is difficulty with turning the engine. This is the only time that I experience it. Afterwhich, everything appears to be normal. I checked the charging system and battery. The voltage on system when the engine is running with all accessories on is 14.5 V while when the engine is not running is 12.5 V.

Related to this difficulty in starting the engine, the trip meter (both a and b) resets to zero including the clock in the radio. The information in the Driver Information Center does not move.

Does anybody have any idea what seems to be wrong with my electrical system which causes resetting of the trip meter? This worries me a lot.

[cdru]

Originally Posted by dondi

I checked the charging system and battery. The voltage on system when the engine is running with all accessories on is 14.5 V while when the engine is not running is 12.5 V.

Both numbers are correct for a normally functioning battery. The charge voltage has to be greater then the voltage it's trying to charge to. Even though those numbers are within spec, I wouldn't necessarily rule out a bad battery. Many autopart stores can test a battery to ensure that not only can it produce 12V, but also do so under load like when you are trying to start the vehicle.

Related to this difficulty in starting the engine, the trip meter (both a and b) resets to zero including the clock in the radio. The information in the Driver Information Center does not move.

With knowing that, I would really look at the battery. It also could be a poor electrical connection or ground as well.

[ypelchat]

Or you could have a parasitic load that drains the battery.

Yves.

[GregA]

Battery ... you could have a parasitic load that drains the battery.

"Abnormal" parasitic loads would drain the battery in a week. This could be anything from a dome light not turning off, or some extra accessory that you may have added.

If none of these are present, I would look into the battery condition, as mentioned above by cdru. At the very least, clean the battery posts and cable ends at the battery.

I have a 2001 with what I believe is the original battery, and it works fine after being parked on a long term basis (4-5 days).

Take Care,

[Glen_T]

Just a thought...next time you park it, take the negative battery terminal off. When you return in 5 days, reconnect it and see if it is sluggish to start. If not, that might be an easy way to verify you have a parasitic drain.....Glen

[cdru]

Originally Posted by ypelchat

Or you could have a parasitic load that drains the battery.

It's a possibility. However, it doesn't take much to retain the radio settings and trip meter. Since there is enough to start the vehicle, I'd think that there would be more then enough to power the radio's memory and trip meter.

Originally Posted by Glen_T

Just a thought...next time you park it, take the negative battery terminal off. When you return in 5 days, reconnect it and see if it is sluggish to start. If not, that might be an easy way to verify you have a parasitic drain.....Glen

You'd have to settle on removing the positive terminal. The negative is buried and not easily accessable. The positive is fairly easily accessed with a 1/4" ratchet wrench.

[dondi]

Thanks for all your inputs. I've read in some of the threads in here that the radio would be locked if I remove the battery and return it again and there is a password that is need to unlock it. Is this the same for my radio? Where could I get the password?

I am starting the car daily now and there is no problem.

Thanks again for all your help.

[Huney1]

You re'cd a bunch of good replies. Also could be the battery has about expended it's useable life and when the plates begin to corode away they settle to the bottom and build up then eventually completely short out.

Two tests: "LOAD" test where they put a load on the battery and test it's durability and/or strength. To test for parisitic leak, they put a VOM, Volt Ohm Meter, between the cable and battery and see if there is any electricity draining. Litle hint here: The battery is a natural born *witch* to replace so do it when it is convenient.

"Is this the same for my radio? Where could I get the password?"
Your GM dealer might be able to pull it up using your VIN but I was told by a Ford dealer if you lose it the radio has to go back to the factory to be reset. The light blinking on the radio tells any would be crook that it will disable itself if disconnected from electricity and noone can enable it again but the factory.

[cdru]

The password can be disabled. At least on my 98 it's that way. The procedure is in the front of a Haynes manual and probably is also in the owner's manual as well.

[Huney1]

Today I was at Mr Goodrenchs shop to get my fuel filter changed today and I asked about retrieving radio pass codes. Service wirter said the techincians knew how to do it but he didn't, so apparently they can do it in the GM shop.

[broughy84]

Go to this link in the Silverado forum. It will tell you how to get the codes in your driveway. It worked on my 98, give it a shot.