Arrgh Help CRD wont start at 35 degrees

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Ok Diesel experts I need a hand. Went to get in my CRD this morning, a usual crisp Maryland fall morning so temperatures were not that extreme. Turn the key, no glow plug light so I think everything is ok. Turn it to ignition starter runs for 5 seconds cuts out. Now it will not try to start again, it just clicks once when I turn the key and flashed the dash lights. It is acting like a dead battery but nothing was left on, and all of the accesories work.

Any advice? If I can get it started I am going to drive it to the dealer if not I will have to call "MOPAR Roadside"

So much for no problems at 5k

Jeger · **Posted:** Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:35 am

I dont know if yours would be included but there was a recall related to dead batteries, caused by the BCM I believe. It sure sounds like a dead battery, but I would check the battery connections first. Even if all accessories work it could still be the battery, or a bad connection.

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Thanks that is what it is looking like (wish we had a voltmeter in these things or I was at work where I have one I could test with!). Luckily I am at home and have the flexibility to work from home today. If it doesnt start around noon after the sun has beat down on it and it warms up I am going to try to jump it. If I get it running off to the dealer....................

gsbrockman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:41 am

Jimbob wrote:

It is acting like a dead battery

I think you've answered your own question.
The Optima batteries used in the CRD's are generally very reliable....sound like you may have a Monday or Friday battery.

Greg

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:57 pm

Like it was said above, some faulty BCM caused some battery failures.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:00 pm

You may also want to pull out the block heater cord and plug it in for a short time. If you still have enough juice in the battery to get it to start, a warm engine will help keep it going. In any case, you need to call your dealer as your '06 is likely on a recall list for this type of a problem.

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Definately the battery and it is getting weaker. Waiting for someone to come give me a jump, I would prefer to get it running on my own and take it to the dealer than call their "roadside" and end up having it towed.

Bought a "Instant Jump Starter" incase it does it again till I get it to the dealer.

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Apparently it has bigger problems, off to the nearest dealership by tow it goes...........

arrrgh...........

Update: Daimler Mobile Service couldnt get it to jump so it ended up going to the "closest" Daimler Dealer which is a dodge dealer. This should be good................Have my rental gaser Liberty.

artickid · **Posted:** Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:17 pm

It sounds like you have a blown fuse. It does not sound like a major problem to me.

Good Luck

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Nor do I expect it to be. Though I checked all of the major fuses and they were ok.

I suspect a good dose on a battery charger and getting the body computer flashed, if everything goes AS PLANNED and it will be fine.

I find it hard to believe the optima was killed even if discharged. I have an optima in my CJ8 that is 5 years old and was even in my 93 YJ when it was destroyed and still is going strong. Of course it is a blue top.

AZScout · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 2:10 am

This happened to my CRD. It was running fine the night before with no funky electronics that would normally occur with a bad alternator. Next morning, completely dead. Had another diesel vehicle nearby try to jump me...didn't work. We waited for about 10 minutes hoping it would charge and it never did. Turned out to be the optima battery. Jeep gave me a new one which isn't an optima and it has been fine ever since. I thought it was the bad BCM but I believe that TSB doesnt apply to the 2005's, only 2006 models. Tow was free and boss was cool as I just called it a day from work.

cerich · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:46 am

the red top optima does not handle a deep discharge well...

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Red Top handles deep discharges better than most people realize, obviously not as well as the deep cell. Thats why the electric car racers tend to race them.

If I get something other than an optima I am going to be pxssed at DC as I paid for an optima and the vehicle has less than 5k and 3 months on it.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:00 pm

Sometime earlier this year others were complaining about Redtop failures and DC was replacing the Redtops with a new MOPAR battery. My '06 and Redtop have been fine but I had the BCM recall done shortly after I got it that drained the battery and the rig was dead when I picked it up at the dealer due to the recall related problem I think.

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Ya talked to the dealer it got towed to, despite an inability to communicate they said that it was battery failure and it would get a new battery. We will see what they put in there, wont have much room to argue if it isnt a redtop as long as it is 700 amps as listed on the window sticker. Pushed em on the reprogram but since the service manager was out the general manager played stupid.

What I cant believe is that the dealer I bought it off of left it drove off the lot in August with an incomplete recall that was issued in May.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:08 pm

Jimbob wrote:

What I cant believe is that the dealer I bought it off of left it drove off the lot in August with an incomplete recall that was issued in May.

Welcome to the wonderful world of CRD. Get used to it, had to show hard copies of TSB's to get anywhere with mine at first.

AndySRT · **Posted:** Mon Nov 06, 2006 1:47 am

I think all optimas have problems once they discharge all the way. I have had a few and anytime they have discharged all the way I have had to buy a new one because they stop holding a charge. Its a picky battery there great as long as you keep them charged.

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Well it is fixed and back:

Cons: They pulled my optima and put some HD Mopar unit in as it would not charge and failed load test. It wasnt even completely discharged, apparently a few of the cells failed. I put up a little bit of a fight but they said they were having to many problems with Optimas. I have heard that Daimler is doing this across the board when and Optima comes out of a CRD another one doesnt go in. Disappointing but I have little experience with Optima red tops. The Optima I have in my CJ8 is a blue top deep cell.

Pros: I will give the dealer Kudos, and it wasnt even a Jeep Dealer, for not just slapping a battery in it flashing the (F21) BCM and telling me to reschedule for the other recalls. They did not let it out of the shop until they had done the F31 recall and the ball joint recall. For an unscheduled job I have to give them Credit.

Hopefully this will be near the end of it, good to have the Diesel Torque back that 3.7L Liberty was driving me nuts in fuel consumption and performance. According to the EVIC which may have been inaccurate it was getting 10 in metro traffic, 20 highway and 15 mixed ouch. I have never gotten below 20 in my CRD even in the worst week of bumper to bumper traffic.

Arrgh Help CRD wont start at 35 degrees

Who is online