|
|
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Versa09
User
Mar 14, 2024, 2:51 PM
Post #1 of 8
(8247 views)
|
|
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
|
Sign In
|
|
When I bought this car in summer 2023, an ABS warning light lit up on the way home and while I was trying to figure that out, I bought an Innova 5610 scan tool. I only say that because I spent a LOT of time with the scan tool hooked up and the key ON and don't recall any battery drain issues with the tool at that time.
My TPMS was showing no reading from the RR wheel, so I bought a set of OEM TPMS sensors online and had Walmart replace the RR sensor. The car picked up the new sensor automatically and the warning light went out.
A few weeks ago while chasing down a braking issue (pulsing/vibrating), I had Walmart balance all four wheels just to eliminate wheel balance as a factor in my braking issues. When they remounted the wheels, the RF TPMS sensor was showing no reading (TPMS was fine before the balance). I had them check the wheel sensor and they said it was dead, so I had them replace the three remaining sensors, at which time the sensors seemed to begin reading correctly on the ride home.
Unfortuntely though, the dash information display began throwing a "Check TPMS System" warning on startup. Clearing the warning with the steering wheel buttons brought up the 4-wheel inflation info display with nothing flashing (i.e. low pressure) and no TPMS idiot light. The DTC shown on my scanner is "C151D - Tire Pressure Sensor Location Undetermined." Clearing the code just makes it come right back again. It seems to throw the code when scanning the TPMS or WCM.
I'm almost ready to get to the point. Sorry about all the random info, just lining out what's been happening with the vehicle.
So a week or two later, I take it to another shop in for a brake job. When the guy finishes the brakes, the battery is completely dead and needs a jump pack to start. The mech says the battery is bad, but I dunno if he tested it. I assumed I'd left the lights on when I handed the car over to him. I also assume he used an OBD scanner at some point during the repair, but don't know for sure.
A couple weeks later, I'm still trying to figure out my TPMS problem so I take my OBD scanner out and fart around for 10-20 minutes. Next time I try to start the car, the battery is dead.
Walmart tests the battery (800CCA, purchased there 75 days ago) and says it's good. Also runs a deep test on the charging system, still no problem found.
So today, two weeks later, I'm still messing with the TPMS problem and use my ODB scanner for 10-20 minutes... after which the battery is completely dead again (reads 11.1 VDC, I can't test amperage with my meter).
So the only common factor seems to be my brand-new OBD scanner, but the scanner didn't seem to cause any problems when I used it last fall.
Any idea how I can troubleshoot this issue? I haven't tried to run a parasitic drain test on the battery but after Walmart said the battery was good, I started checking the DC voltage every day and readings were always between 12.86-12.44. Today with a dead battery it's reading 11.02 and clicking when I turn the key to START. I also have a couple of Autel OBD tools that I'm thinking about testing with to see if they cause a battery drain.
-
2011 Dodge Nitro SXT
SUV 4D (3.7L V6 SMPI)
Odometer: 100,800 miles
(This post was edited by Versa09 on Mar 14, 2024, 2:58 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Versa09
User
Mar 14, 2024, 6:16 PM
Post #3 of 8
(8231 views)
|
|
Re: 2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
|
Sign In
|
|
You're barking up the wrong tree blaming the scanner for this problem. This is the actual cause. I'm still messing with the TPMS problem and use my ODB scanner for 10-20 minutes. The key being on and all the components that went on at that time is what killed the battery. I'm surprised that 10-20 minutes of key ON will drain the battery, but would love to find out that I'm the cause behind the battery drain. Me, I can fix. My car, not so much! On your TPMS problem, it appears the computer cannot determine the locations of the sensors.
Use this procedure
Perform one of the following to make the system learn the new sensor ID.
a. Use the TPM-RKE Analyzer - with the Scan Tool to program the Wireless Control Module (WCM) with the tire pressure sensor ID. This is part of the TPM Diagnostic Verification Test See: A L L Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) > Verification Tests > Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) Verification Test
b. Once the vehicle has remained stationary for more than 20 minutes, drive vehicle for a minimum of 10 minutes while maintaining a continuous speed above 15 mph (24 km/h). During this time, the system will learn the new sensor ID. This is part of the TPM Diagnostic Verification a. I don't have access to a TPM-RKE Analyzer but I do have an Autel MaxiTPMS TS508 tool that will scan all the sensors, then write the sensor IDs into the ECU, which I've done, and verfied via the tool that all the sendor IDs in the ECU match the wheel sensors. I still get the "Check TPMS System" when I start the engine. b. I've driven a lot but can't swear to have followed this procedure exactly, mostly because I have to slowly drive country roads for a few minutes before I get to a stretch where I can keep it above 15 for 10 minutes. Do I need to park on the highway shoulder with the key off for 20 minutes so that when I start the car, I can go directly to 15+ mph and keep it there wihtout slowing for 10+ minutes? PS, my opinion is that Walmart is not the place to have any sort of auto repair done. I don't disagree but I live in a small rural market and they're literally the only game in town. They only accept no-brainer work like oil changes and tire rotations etc., so I try to balance the convenience of WM against the risk that they'll mess something up while working on my vehicle. Still, I always take your advice so maybe I'll check around and see if any local shops survived Covid.
2011 Dodge Nitro SXT
SUV 4D (3.7L V6 SMPI)
Odometer: 100,800 miles
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 14, 2024, 6:26 PM
Post #4 of 8
(8228 views)
|
|
Re: 2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
|
Sign In
|
|
I'm not sure about the Autel 508 because I've used the 608 but you should be able to access the stored data in the module and see if all the IDs match and are in the right position.
If you start with the left front and activate sensors clockwise, that should record them into the right position.
I gave you the initialization procedure copied from the manual so I don't know if the 20 minute period has to be immediately before the drive cycle.
On the battery all kinds of accessories turn on with the key like the AC clutch, blower, lights and numerous modules so it can run down the battery fast. It wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion on the health of the battery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Mar 14, 2024, 6:27 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Versa09
User
Apr 3, 2024, 6:11 PM
Post #5 of 8
(7977 views)
|
|
Re: 2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
|
Sign In
|
|
I'm not sure about the Autel 508 because I've used the 608 but you should be able to access the stored data in the module and see if all the IDs match and are in the right position.
If you start with the left front and activate sensors clockwise, that should record them into the right position.
I gave you the initialization procedure copied from the manual so I don't know if the 20 minute period has to be immediately before the drive cycle.
On the battery all kinds of accessories turn on with the key like the AC clutch, blower, lights and numerous modules so it can run down the battery fast. It wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion on the health of the battery.
I've been chipping away at these issues without any real progress. Setting aside the TPMS problem and looking only at the battery drain:
It took forever to drain the battery. I started with key ON for two hours (no OBD scanner), batt voltage still 12V+. I added the heater blower for a half hour, batt voltage 10V+ but the car still cranked. After adding headlights for another half hour, the battery was finally sapped (~6V). Turned the key to START, got a single click, then another quieter, semi-rapid clicking started up and I couldn't make it stop, even by turning the key to OFF. The clicks seemed to be coming from the rear of the TIPM, I thought at position 7 or 9, but didn't investigate further.
TIPM diagram
TIPM relay legend
Only when I jumped the battery and started the car did the relay stop clicking.
The only reason I mention all that is that I had tried in the past (per Google) to reset the ECU to clear the TIPM error by disconnecting the negative battery cable for 10 minutes. Didn't work. Then I got to thinking maybe I hadn't left it disconnected long enough so I pulled the neg cable on Monday and left it off for 40 minutes. When I hooked it back up, the car was cranking slower than usual and the next morning, the battery was dead again.
I can't imagine a connection between those two events, except that in both cases, the car seems to have been expending battery power when it shouldn't have been.
So at this point it seems like just leaving the key on while I fiddled with my OBD scanner for a little while didn't drain my battery. I don't really think the scanner did either, but I'll do some testing with the scanner plugged in and see what happens.
-
2011 Dodge Nitro SXT
SUV 4D (3.7L V6 SMPI)
Odometer: 100,800 miles
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 3, 2024, 6:21 PM
Post #6 of 8
(7973 views)
|
|
Re: 2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
|
Sign In
|
|
You really gotta stop with these crazy tests. Intentionally killing your battery down to 6v will do permanent damage to it.
They have testers that will tell you the health of the battery and there are tests to determine if you have a parasitic draw on the battery.
Testing the battery health is the first thing you need to do. The voltage reading is meaningless when determining the health of the battery. A good tester can tell you the actual CCA of the battery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 17, 2024, 6:43 PM
Post #8 of 8
(7808 views)
|
|
Re: 2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
|
Sign In
|
|
Well, one of those two things is wrong. Either the battery is bad or your parasitic draw test is bad.
They can't both be right. Either the battery is failing on it's own or something is killing it, assuming it's not just a bad connection somewhere.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
Drive Shaft Repair
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
