Topic: Battery DIC Warning.

[NCChuck]

Yesterday I had the red battery warning on the DIC come on for the 4th or 5th time over the last six months. Car is an 07 GXP. In every case the warning has followed a 90 degree turn, both left and right, and from low, leaving stop, speed to between 40 and 50 mph. The warning always goes out within a minute and does not return during that drive. No interuptions in any electrical systems are noticed but................
Yesterday I had a device that can monitor the electrical system from the accessory outlet installed but not pushed it to allow readings. When the warning came on I immediately pushed it in and the red light came on and a low reading was displayed but I did not get the numbers. In about 20 seconds the warning went out and the guage in the accessory outlet went to nowmal voltage and the green light came on. This problem does not occur except perhaps every 15 to 20 drives. Always after a 90 degree turn. My car is only used for fun rides by my wife and I and has 11,000 plus miles.
I hate to take it to my dealer as they will probably have to drive it a month or so to get the problem, if ever, and I really am concerned about them digging around. I hate to have the battery disconnected too as the learned perameters are great as is with my GM tune and other mods.
Anyone had this problem that can offer any good ideas what the problem is. Could be some ground but where. Manual says light indicates power loss but the engine power does not change and acceleration is fine.

Many thanks
Chuck

[PubliusE]

I know someone who had something similar happen to her.  She would get an indicator light on her Ford Escape every once and a while.  It would go off and not return for a few days.  She took it to the Ford dealer who tested the battery and said it was fine and could not find anything wrong.  It was brought there twice.  The battery was less than two years old.  She eventually had the battery replaced (under warranty) and never had the problem again.  There must have been a short or something in the battery itself.  Since your problem occurs following a turn it could be a similar problem with the battery.   

[Sol Asylum]

For starters I would check the connections at the battery.  Open up the plastic covers and check for any corrosion and then check to make sure that the terminals are tight.  Also check to make sure that the battery is securely mounted and that it is not moving around which could cause a strain on one of the connections.

If that all checks out then keep an eye on the system voltage normal should be some where around 14 to 14.5v.  If you are seeing problems where the voltage is lower than that it could be either a bad battery, most likely, or a problem with the alternator.  It's possible that you have a loose terminal at the alternator or a problem inside the alternator.

If I had to guess you have a defective battery.  Whats happening, just my theory now mind you, is that when you make a hard turn there is some side loading going on which is causing the plates inside the battery to move and short out against themselves which will in turn cause a voltage drop.  As you continue to drive the normal movement of the car shakes the plates apart and everything returns to normal.

The "power loss" is referring to electrical power not an engine performance issue.  Basically the DIC is monitoring voltage and when a threshold is reached it illuminates the idiot lite.  A volt gauge is more useful and it sounds like you already have something like that installed in the accessory outlet.   

[DeepBlueGXP]

Are you sure it isn't the low coolant light, similar results to your driving have been documented on other forums due to the fluid being low in the reservoir. 

[NCChuck]

Deep...Thought about that. Battery (Elec) warning is red with a + and -. Coolant is yellow with little waves on the bottom.
I do appreciate all replies. This is one of those things that can be really hard to find. The idea of a bad battery is good but dealer will never replace it for this problem.
More ideas will be good because I'll take a copy of them to the dealer to help me.

Thanks again
Chuck

[Sol Asylum]

Have you had the issue reoccur so that you could see what the voltage reading was?  Have you tried to reproduce the problem?  Call the dealer and ask them about it and see if they can replace the battery I think that there might have been a recall on some batteries as they were defective.  Worst case ask if they would rather replace the battery now under warranty while you can still drive the car to them or would they rather pay to have it towed in so that they can replace it?

Its easy to end up with a dead battery that won't take a charge, it was a little easier a few months ago when the temps were below freezing.