Battery Draining Over Time?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 03-16-2006
Posts: 217
From: Tucson Arizona
Battery Draining Over Time?
I replaced the battery in my 2010 HHR ten months ago. I began getting "service airbag and power steering" messages on my DIC when starting. I noticed this occurred most frequently when I did not drive the day before. Finally, after not driving for three days, the battery was totally dead. I took it back to Autzone (based on the suggestions from forum members) and they confirmed it to be a bad battery and replaced it under warranty in June of this year. In August I gave my HHR to my daughter. Today, after not driving yesterday, it would not start and had classic battery failure symptoms (cannot open hatch, key would not come out of ignition). They are taking the battery back to Autozone now to have it checked out. Could this be an alternator issue or something causing a voltage drain? I did not have the alternator checked in June because it was determined the battery was bad. Depending what they find out I will ask them to have Autozone check the charging system. I am just trying to understand what the issues might be, if it is not another bad battery.
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Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,523
From: Fredericksburg,VA
Could be a bad alternator or starter.
Has the throttle body been cleaned? That relevant because a bad or dirty or mis calibrated throttle position sensor can make the throttle seek for it's right position while the car is turned off, causing a battery drain. Not a huge probability, but possible.
Has the throttle body been cleaned? That relevant because a bad or dirty or mis calibrated throttle position sensor can make the throttle seek for it's right position while the car is turned off, causing a battery drain. Not a huge probability, but possible.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 03-16-2006
Posts: 217
From: Tucson Arizona
I am not sure but think that might have been done as part of 36K service? Quick update is both the battery and alternator checked out ok. My daughter said she did leave the hatch ajar a few days ago but shouldn't the battery protection feature have prevented a total drain?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 03-16-2006
Posts: 217
From: Tucson Arizona
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Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,043
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Leaving the hatch or the doors open for even a few hours can cause problems if the dome lights are on. I left the doors open for 3 hours or so while removing a broken door handle - and on starting the car afterwards all the warning lights went kinda wild as it wore the battery down a bit.
Leaving the hatch open would be my suspect.
Leaving the hatch open would be my suspect.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 03-16-2006
Posts: 217
From: Tucson Arizona
Leaving the hatch or the doors open for even a few hours can cause problems if the dome lights are on. I left the doors open for 3 hours or so while removing a broken door handle - and on starting the car afterwards all the warning lights went kinda wild as it wore the battery down a bit.
Leaving the hatch open would be my suspect.
Leaving the hatch open would be my suspect.
Platinum Member
Joined: 12-06-2009
Posts: 11,720
From: Alabama
Leaving the hatch or the doors open for even a few hours can cause problems if the dome lights are on. I left the doors open for 3 hours or so while removing a broken door handle - and on starting the car afterwards all the warning lights went kinda wild as it wore the battery down a bit.
Leaving the hatch open would be my suspect.
Leaving the hatch open would be my suspect.
You guys don't have that "time out" protection system on your HHR's ?
Last edited by firemangeorge; Sep 21, 2014 at 07:29 PM.
