New battery and it's already dead.

GetLuckiFX

GetLuckiFX

Premium Member
Premium
Location
Hollywood, CA
Car
2004 Infiniti FX45
Name
Adam
Hi everyone, This morning I received a call telling me that my FX would not start. After asking a few questions it turns out that the battery is dead. The car was sitting on the street for 2 days, so that's not long enough for it to not get a charge or simply die. I currently cannot test it or see what's up until I return from my trip and I asked my roommate to move it and drive it whenever he can so that she is not sitting there for a month.
Now I replaced the battery last month with a supercharged dura last to give it a bit more juice since I have an amp and all. I never had any major issues with the FX, so dead battery that's fairly new is a bit of a surprise. Just wanted to pick your brains and see if anyone ever had similar issues and if you guys have any suggestions. Could it be the alternator going bad? Any tests I should run when I get back?
It's a 2004 FX45.

Thank you
 
Last edited:
Did this new battery replace the original one that was dead? If the original was totally dead you may have a alternator problem although the new one worked for a month or so per your post which would indicate the alternator was OK for a month. If you can jump start the car now put a voltmeter on the battery terminals before starting it and then while it is running after disconnecting the jump start cable. On a good battery you should have 12.5 - 13 volts not running and 13.7 -14+ volts or so with your engine running which would indicate your alternator is OK. Maybe have the store where you bought the new battery check the system for you?
 
Good call. Yes the battery replaced the one that was totally dead and would barely hold a charge even after jumping it. I'll have them test it to full out wether a faulty battery or faulty alternator. Thanks
 
Key Won't Turn, Car is Dead or Locked Out

I'm getting a bit frustrated, #1 because I'm not anywhere near my car since I'm out of the country, #2 my roommate is freaking out and makes it worse but sounding as if my car just decided to fuck with him.

Here is a scoop and what I was able to find out. #1. There seems to be no power at all. The battery is new though. He had to open the car with the manual key, since the car would not respond to the intelligent key. #2. He says that the steering wheel is not locked, he is able to turn it slightly, however when he puts the key in the ignition, it won't turn, over the phone I could hear it being stuck. So even if the battery was dead and he was trying to jump it, with the key ignition being "stuck" locked out he can't do much.

Has anyone ever experienced it or heard of it? I have never had any issues, until I decided to go on a freaking vacation. Now that I'm gone the car seems to just do everything it can to not work.

Any help would be so greatly appreciated. I told him to get a tow truck and just tow it off the street so I'm not collecting street sweeping tickets for the next 3 weeks.

I am trying not to sound desperate or avoid a panic mode, but the fact of no power and the whole ignition makes me wonder.

Thanks
 
A fuse behind battery is blown. It is your Intelligent key fuse. When its blown, the car wont start and ikey wont work. The car thinks its being stolen and since it can not see the ikey, it wont let it start or even turn over.

edit: found pic thanks to sirtrojan... If I remember it is the one labeled 20A IGN and ECCS
iiifuseboxunderthehood.jpg
 
Last edited:
To get to that fuse box, you have to take out the plastic shielding/ cover around the battery and take out the battery itself.
 
He checked all the fuses and claims none of them, including the IGN/ECCS are bad. So if it's not a fuse then where else can he look? thanks for all the info btw.
 
Try rocking the steering wheel back and forth. Sometimes the steering wheel locks in place and due to this, the key won't turn. If you rock it back and forth, the key should unlock and you should be good to go...
 
Yup. Have him turn the wheel side to side while trying to turn the ignition. But if the keyfob stopped working all of a sudden then I dunno...
 
Thanks guys!! I really appreciate all the help and ideas. I will call the house tomorrow and see if we can get her started. 9 hours time difference doesn't help either. Will keep u posted.
 
Tell him to turn on headlights/ fogs see if its actually battery related. Also how did he check for a blown fuse visually? or with a tester? IF the Ikey is out then rocking the steering wont make a difference. I've encountered sometime ago, when my car steering was rock solid, i had to rock it so the key would start, but everything else was working just fine.

Add: is he using a spare key?
 
Last edited:
Dracula said:
Tell him to turn on headlights/ fogs see if its actually battery related. Also how did he check for a blown fuse visually? or with a tester? IF the Ikey is out then rocking the steering wont make a difference. I've encountered sometime ago, when my car steering was rock solid, i had to rock it so the key would start, but everything else was working just fine.
Click to expand...

From what he told me there seems to be no power going to the car anywhere. Lights, dome lights, everything appears to be dead. As if there was no battery. I guess it rained over the weekend? Could that have affected it in anyway? He said there was water on top of the battery. I will find out more. Thanks
 
Oh man. How could the rain get in on top of the battery. Is hole where the big fat power cable goes through for the amp silicone sealed? Try to jump it to eliminate if if its a dead battery? I know you said the battery is new. Not sure what else to suggest other than have him check that IGN and ECCS fuse again.
 
He just drained the battery trying.

Put in a new battery or charge it overnight.

What happened I think is a security feature. Did he have both ikeys on him if there are two?

Either way in the owners manual it will state how to fix it, forgot off the top of my head. Basically it won't let the car turn over.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top