PV1
Well-known member
On both of my I-MiEVs, I've noticed a trend that, in my case, usually results in rapid discharge of the 12 volt battery (rapid being a few days).
The Symptoms
While the car is parked longer term and not being driven, there is understandably some drain on the 12 volt battery. Usually, each I-MiEV can last quite a while and successfully start without a boost. Sometimes, the car will run the battery dead over a 3-4 day weekend and need a manual 12 volt charge to start.
Possible Cause
Lately, since I drive my Chevy Bolt most days, both I-MiEVs sit parked for extended periods of time. I've noticed that both will maintain their charge over several weeks. However, if I unlock the doors (I always lock the doors when I park the cars), open a door, close it, and then re-lock the car, I notice afterwards that the battery dies pretty quickly. I don't manually toggle any dome lights or touch anything electrical in the car, and all lights go out after locking. Both I-MiEVs exhibit this behavior.
Now, several days ago, I did the same procedure of unlocking, opening, closing, and re-locking the doors, but the difference here is that I started the car and moved it a few feet before shutting it off and locking it back up. Last weekend, the car started right up.
Latest Test
This morning, I had to grab my phone charger out of the car. I unlocked and opened the passenger door, started the car, shut it off, closed and locked the doors. We'll see if it can start this weekend. If it can, then next Tuesday, I'll do the same but skip the step of starting the car.
Question
Has anyone else noticed behavior like this?
The Symptoms
While the car is parked longer term and not being driven, there is understandably some drain on the 12 volt battery. Usually, each I-MiEV can last quite a while and successfully start without a boost. Sometimes, the car will run the battery dead over a 3-4 day weekend and need a manual 12 volt charge to start.
Possible Cause
Lately, since I drive my Chevy Bolt most days, both I-MiEVs sit parked for extended periods of time. I've noticed that both will maintain their charge over several weeks. However, if I unlock the doors (I always lock the doors when I park the cars), open a door, close it, and then re-lock the car, I notice afterwards that the battery dies pretty quickly. I don't manually toggle any dome lights or touch anything electrical in the car, and all lights go out after locking. Both I-MiEVs exhibit this behavior.
Now, several days ago, I did the same procedure of unlocking, opening, closing, and re-locking the doors, but the difference here is that I started the car and moved it a few feet before shutting it off and locking it back up. Last weekend, the car started right up.
Latest Test
This morning, I had to grab my phone charger out of the car. I unlocked and opened the passenger door, started the car, shut it off, closed and locked the doors. We'll see if it can start this weekend. If it can, then next Tuesday, I'll do the same but skip the step of starting the car.
Question
Has anyone else noticed behavior like this?