Questions and Answers

Cadillac Catera Yearly No Start Q. Hi, I have a 1998 Cadillac Catera, 6 cylinder, automatic transmission, 25,700 miles. This car has had a dead battery each year for four years and Cadillac tells me nothing is wrong with this car. They keep trying to sell me new batteries each year. What can I do to get this car repaired correctly? They insist nothing is wrong.

They also accuse me of not driving the car enough (not true) that battery drains due to the computer memory. They also state that the car didn't have a service record with them (only service was dead battery) and that I may leave keys in ignition which drains the battery (totally untrue!). I am at my wit's end as to what is wrong with this car.

Thanks,
Pat

A. Assuming what you say is true, the most likely cause of the dead batteries is a parasitic drain on the battery. In automotive terms, a parasitic drain is an electrical load that draws current from the battery when the ignition is turned off. Some devices, such as the PCM and the radio memory are intended to draw a very small amount continuously. These draws are measured in milliamps (mA).

In normal use, parasitic drains aren't usually cause for concern, because the battery is replenished each time the vehicle is driven. But, in long-term parking situations, parasitic drains may discharge the battery enough to cause a no-start condition. New vehicles in dealer stock and airport long-term parking are two such situations.

An abnormal parasitic drain could be a glove box or luggage compartment light that remains on but undetected. Or an electronic component may malfunction and cause a parasitic drain that is larger than normal specification.