View Poll Results: Grounding Kit Causing Battery Failure?
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Grounding Kit Causing Battery Failure
11-05-2010, 12:51 PM
#1
Grounding Kit Causing Battery Failure
Some history: 08 G37S purchased 09/07. Battery has been dying since 4 months old. Taken to Infiniti about 8x. 1st TSB completed by replacing vent control valve and battery with an M battery. 2nd TSB completed 6 months later with update to ECU (consumer affairs was called). Taken to Infiniti after dying 4 months later and told there is not any draw and battery is fine on 10/8/10. Was told I needed to drive it more.
Currently: Battery died again. This time 5 times in 3 days. Took it to dealership and called consumer affairs again. While talking to service advisor about issue, within 5 minutes the battery died again. According to my service advisor and the regional rep, my grounding kit (purchased from Black Betty, V2) is restricting my limiting the proper recharge of the battery. The battery should be recharging at 14.3 volts. Mine was only recharging at 13 volts. They performed the same test on another 08 G37 and it was recharging at the required 14.3 volts. They removed the grounding kit from the negative terminal and performed the test again and it read at 14.3 volts. Replaced grounding kit and it went back to 13 volts.
In Short: The dealership informed me that my grounding kit was causing my battery to not recharge properly and causing it to continue dying after the TSB's were performed. The informed me that they have seen many issues with battery failure on Infiniti's with grounding kits.
This is not particular to a brand of grounding kit but all grounding kits in general.
So, let's start a Poll!
Currently: Battery died again. This time 5 times in 3 days. Took it to dealership and called consumer affairs again. While talking to service advisor about issue, within 5 minutes the battery died again. According to my service advisor and the regional rep, my grounding kit (purchased from Black Betty, V2) is restricting my limiting the proper recharge of the battery. The battery should be recharging at 14.3 volts. Mine was only recharging at 13 volts. They performed the same test on another 08 G37 and it was recharging at the required 14.3 volts. They removed the grounding kit from the negative terminal and performed the test again and it read at 14.3 volts. Replaced grounding kit and it went back to 13 volts.
In Short: The dealership informed me that my grounding kit was causing my battery to not recharge properly and causing it to continue dying after the TSB's were performed. The informed me that they have seen many issues with battery failure on Infiniti's with grounding kits.
This is not particular to a brand of grounding kit but all grounding kits in general.
So, let's start a Poll!
11-07-2010, 11:00 AM
#6
Exactly^^^ i doubt it's the Grounding kit it's def the battery and the tsb on it i's a must ! I just had my car serviced for this and all done under warranty! Def look into it . New battery plus they replaced the valve or something that caused the fail ! Or drain on battery so it's all good now . Take it i'n hopefully they don't give you crap about ground kit though.
11-07-2010, 11:13 AM
#7
I dont think you guys read his post correctly. He DID get the TSB done. But it did not help with the battery drain problem.
This is the reason why i have not installed a grounding kit on my car. If you refer to the service manual, we have a battery current sensor inbetween the ground cable to the battery. This is copied from the service manual:
"Battery current sensor is installed to the battery cable at the negative
terminal, and it detects the charging/discharging current of
the battery and sends the voltage signal to ECM according to the
current value.
By performing the power generation voltage variable control, the engine load due to the power generation of
the alternator is reduced and fuel consumption is decreased."
So when you ground the battery directly to the car chassis, you are bypassing the battery current sensor. This sends a signal telling the ECM the battery is full, so the alternator is turned down. This normally is a feature that would help you save gas, but it is working against you when you modify the system with the grounding cable. The car is not charging the battery.
This is the reason why i have not installed a grounding kit on my car. If you refer to the service manual, we have a battery current sensor inbetween the ground cable to the battery. This is copied from the service manual:
"Battery current sensor is installed to the battery cable at the negative
terminal, and it detects the charging/discharging current of
the battery and sends the voltage signal to ECM according to the
current value.
By performing the power generation voltage variable control, the engine load due to the power generation of
the alternator is reduced and fuel consumption is decreased."
So when you ground the battery directly to the car chassis, you are bypassing the battery current sensor. This sends a signal telling the ECM the battery is full, so the alternator is turned down. This normally is a feature that would help you save gas, but it is working against you when you modify the system with the grounding cable. The car is not charging the battery.
Last edited by Modme; 11-07-2010 at 11:30 AM.
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11-08-2010, 03:13 AM
#11
wouldnt just removing the grounding wire connected to the -ve terminal solve the problem of the battery sensor not getting bypassed?
11-08-2010, 08:42 AM
#12
Yes, that's the only wire you need to remove. Then again, that's probably the most important wire in any grounding kit.
In response to people with grounding kits that have not experienced problems, it is because the car is still charging but at lower voltage. If you drive for long distances, and/or do not make frequent stops, and/or do not store the car for a few days at a time, then the slower recharge rate is enough to maintain the battery.
In response to people with grounding kits that have not experienced problems, it is because the car is still charging but at lower voltage. If you drive for long distances, and/or do not make frequent stops, and/or do not store the car for a few days at a time, then the slower recharge rate is enough to maintain the battery.
