• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Dodge, Jeep and RAM Forum dedicated to FCA owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the SRT Forum today!


New, weird start-up issue ??

MikeD1

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Premium Account
HFCOTM
Member ID
#1026
Messages
4,000
Reactions
16,074
Likes
302
City
Central Florida
State
FL
Country
United States
Vehicle
2016 Challenger Hellcat
HFCOTM
View Images
#1
This just started happening in the last month or so -- I drive the car once a week (of every other week if the weather is bad) and it's on a battery tender most of the time.

The last 3 or 4 starts the BSM's light up & I get the 'blind spot monitor temporarily unavailable' message on the dash console. Main console is totally black and no amount of button pushing seems to have any affect. After a minute or so, the BSM lights go out & the main screen fires up & goes thru the normal boot process. Functions normally after that, volts flicker between 14.1 & 14.3. Nothing unusual about the engine start (window drops, lights come on when I open the door, starts & idles normally). No CEL or other warning lights on the dash.

Car is 6 years old, but the OE battery was replaced (under warranty) at just over 2 years and that's when I started using the tender.

Wondering if this is somehow battery related or is there some other electrical gremlin lurking waiting to grab me?
It's almost like the car is putting itself into some sort of sleep mode or ???
 


BULL

Oh NO! Not that guy!
Staff Team
Founding Member
U.S. Marine Veteran
Donating Member
HFCOTM
Wiki Contributor
Member ID
#1079
Messages
14,587
Reactions
44,741
Likes
402
City
Weld County
State
CO
Country
United States
Vehicle
MY16 M6 Challenger Hellcat
HFCOTM
View Images
#2
Subscribed for a resolution


(My first unlikely guess is a bad BSM sensor)
 


DavidKFla

Poster Club Hall of Fame
Premium Account
U.S. Air Force Veteran
10 Second Best E/T
HFCOTM
Member ID
#6741
Messages
27,615
Reactions
125,037
Likes
402
City
East Coast
State
FL
Country
United States
Vehicle
2018 Charger Hellcat
#3
My car goes through batteries like candy. I would test yours.
 


OP
MikeD1

MikeD1

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Premium Account
HFCOTM
Member ID
#1026
Messages
4,000
Reactions
16,074
Likes
302
City
Central Florida
State
FL
Country
United States
Vehicle
2016 Challenger Hellcat
HFCOTM
View Images
Thread Starter #4
Subscribed for a resolution


(My first unlikely guess is a bad BSM sensor)
Thought about that, but why would it prevent the infotainment system from booting ??

Was wondering if it had something to do with the 3G shutdown & it not liking being cut-off from the mothership, but then, there would be others experiencing the same thing.
 


Slowpoke387

2000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Donating Member
HFCOTM
Member ID
#969
Messages
2,271
Reactions
5,315
Likes
302
City
Somewhere
State
CT
Country
United States
Vehicle
2020 Challenger Hellcat Redeye WB
#5
Low battery will make your car freak out and do weird random things. Very doubtful it’s the 3G thing. Your radio would still work at the very least. I would start there, especially with yours being four yrs old. In theory the tender shouldve helped but I usually only get four years out of a battery in a hellcat. I don’t use a tender very often though.
 


DGatzby

6000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Premium Account
U.S. Air Force Veteran
Donating Member
HFCOTM & HFCOTY
Member ID
#797
Messages
6,693
Reactions
42,593
Likes
402
City
SW Twin Cities
State
MN
Country
United States
Vehicle
2019 Dodge Challenger Redeye WB
#6
I will add, my car will not see a trickle charger ever again. Multiple people have lost their aftermarket suspension module to something mysterious caused by connection to a trickle charger this last winter - including me. For some reason they lose their programming and become bricks. Nothing else seems to be affected, but it could have caused another computer item within your system to malfunction.

I will hook up a big charger every few weeks next year and just bring the battery up.
 


OP
MikeD1

MikeD1

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Premium Account
HFCOTM
Member ID
#1026
Messages
4,000
Reactions
16,074
Likes
302
City
Central Florida
State
FL
Country
United States
Vehicle
2016 Challenger Hellcat
HFCOTM
View Images
Thread Starter #7
I will add, my car will not see a trickle charger ever again. Multiple people have lost their aftermarket suspension module to something mysterious caused by connection to a trickle charger this last winter - including me. For some reason they lose their programming and become bricks. Nothing else seems to be affected, but it could have caused another computer item within your system to malfunction.

I will hook up a big charger every few weeks next year and just bring the battery up.
Argh, hoping that's not the case with my car :oops:
 


Bowtie Guy

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Member ID
#1190
Messages
4,752
Reactions
16,816
Likes
252
City
Amherstburg
State
Non-US
Country
Canada
Vehicle
Beer Mobile
#8
I would guess low Battery
Seems to be the popular thing with these cars
Maybe once its started & running the alternator juices up the system ???

I put my trickle charger on once a month
Charge it up
Leave it 1 day after full charge
Take if off

My $250 Harley charger dried up my new Harley battery
I don t leave anything plugged in now

I may start it 2 times in 6 months ( Nov thru May )

All my key fobs are dead as PHACK too
I have heard the FOB s send signals to the car ??????

I found out a couple weeks ago my F150 don t start like the Challenger with a dead fob
SOB !!!
 


OP
MikeD1

MikeD1

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Premium Account
HFCOTM
Member ID
#1026
Messages
4,000
Reactions
16,074
Likes
302
City
Central Florida
State
FL
Country
United States
Vehicle
2016 Challenger Hellcat
HFCOTM
View Images
Thread Starter #9
Guess I should start battery shopping, probably for the Durango as well it's coming up on 5 yrs (but get driven regularly).
 


Bowtie Guy

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Member ID
#1190
Messages
4,752
Reactions
16,816
Likes
252
City
Amherstburg
State
Non-US
Country
Canada
Vehicle
Beer Mobile
#10
Guess I should start battery shopping, probably for the Durango as well it's coming up on 5 yrs (but get driven regularly).
Back long long ago when things were simple like me I use to test the cells out
Now all I can do is check the voltage
 


DGatzby

6000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Premium Account
U.S. Air Force Veteran
Donating Member
HFCOTM & HFCOTY
Member ID
#797
Messages
6,693
Reactions
42,593
Likes
402
City
SW Twin Cities
State
MN
Country
United States
Vehicle
2019 Dodge Challenger Redeye WB
#11
Argh, hoping that's not the case with my car :oops:
Well it only blasted the aftermarket board, so your probably okay, they were able to “reboot”. But, I accepted a new and “updated” firmware unit.

I does sound like your battery is the cause. Have fun! Got mine all recovered, clean and now under wraps, holding my breath. In a couple of weeks I’ll need to load it up and head east for two track days without much testing/road time at all this season.
 


Slowpoke387

2000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Donating Member
HFCOTM
Member ID
#969
Messages
2,271
Reactions
5,315
Likes
302
City
Somewhere
State
CT
Country
United States
Vehicle
2020 Challenger Hellcat Redeye WB
#12
I would guess low Battery
Seems to be the popular thing with these cars
Maybe once its started & running the alternator juices up the system ???

I put my trickle charger on once a month
Charge it up
Leave it 1 day after full charge
Take if off

My $250 Harley charger dried up my new Harley battery
I don t leave anything plugged in now

I may start it 2 times in 6 months ( Nov thru May )

All my key fobs are dead as PHACK too
I have heard the FOB s send signals to the car ??????

I found out a couple weeks ago my F150 don t start like the Challenger with a dead fob
SOB !!!
.
 


Slowpoke387

2000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Donating Member
HFCOTM
Member ID
#969
Messages
2,271
Reactions
5,315
Likes
302
City
Somewhere
State
CT
Country
United States
Vehicle
2020 Challenger Hellcat Redeye WB
#13
I found out a couple weeks ago my F150 don t start like the Challenger with a dead fob
SOB !!!
Are you sure? What year is it? My wife's Lincoln (Ford lol) MKX suv has a slot in the center console to slide the fob into if it's dead. Works well.
 


Bowtie Guy

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Member ID
#1190
Messages
4,752
Reactions
16,816
Likes
252
City
Amherstburg
State
Non-US
Country
Canada
Vehicle
Beer Mobile
#14
Are you sure? What year is it? My wife's Lincoln (Ford lol) MKX suv has a slot in the center console to slide the fob into if it's dead. Works well.
Yes that is what I found out ( the hard way )
2018 F150
I had to remove the beer cup holder base
My Challenger starts by pushing the start button with the key fob ( at least for me it does LOL )
 


jroyk

Poster Club Hall of Fame
Founding Member
Premium Account
Donating Member
HFCOTM
Member ID
#975
Messages
12,020
Reactions
64,377
Likes
402
City
Sketchy
State
MI
Country
United States
Vehicle
2016 Challenger Hellcat M6
#15
Guess I should start battery shopping, probably for the Durango as well it's coming up on 5 yrs (but get driven regularly).
Are Durango batteries under the front passenger seat like Grand Cherokees? They seem to last forever in that location. I finally changed out a 9 year old that was functioning perfectly.
 


OP
MikeD1

MikeD1

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Premium Account
HFCOTM
Member ID
#1026
Messages
4,000
Reactions
16,074
Likes
302
City
Central Florida
State
FL
Country
United States
Vehicle
2016 Challenger Hellcat
HFCOTM
View Images
Thread Starter #16
Are Durango batteries under the front passenger seat like Grand Cherokees? They seem to last forever in that location. I finally changed out a 9 year old that was functioning perfectly.
Yes, I have the R/T (so only 1 battery) and it is under the front seat. Dreading having to change it out as I have my dog transport barrier partially attached to the seat & grab bar, so it will need to be cut free for the seat to move all the way forward :(.

Batteries don't last as long down here & the D's coming up on 5 years old.
 


jroyk

Poster Club Hall of Fame
Founding Member
Premium Account
Donating Member
HFCOTM
Member ID
#975
Messages
12,020
Reactions
64,377
Likes
402
City
Sketchy
State
MI
Country
United States
Vehicle
2016 Challenger Hellcat M6
#17
Yes, I have the R/T (so only 1 battery) and it is under the front seat. Dreading having to change it out as I have my dog transport barrier partially attached to the seat & grab bar, so it will need to be cut free for the seat to move all the way forward :(.

Batteries don't last as long down here & the D's coming up on 5 years old.
It’s kind of bitch to get at even without any extra barriers. You have kneel outside the rear door, twist your body and reach under the front seat. Gloves are recommended for pulling that 50 lb thing out and placing the new one in.
 


OP
MikeD1

MikeD1

4000 Posts Club
Founding Member
Premium Account
HFCOTM
Member ID
#1026
Messages
4,000
Reactions
16,074
Likes
302
City
Central Florida
State
FL
Country
United States
Vehicle
2016 Challenger Hellcat
HFCOTM
View Images
Thread Starter #18
Yeah, heard it was a real PITA to get out, not going to try it myself - can feel the backache, knee pain & muscle cramps just thinking about it ;)
 


Smitty

1000 Posts Club
Premium Account
HFCOTM
Member ID
#2260
Messages
1,859
Reactions
5,233
Likes
212
City
Canton
State
MI
Country
United States
Vehicle
2019 Challenger HC WB
#19
I made it easy. Unbolted the seat, lifted it up and plenty of room without fighting to yank it out from under the seat.
 


Hellcat Cuda

Active Member
Founding Member
Member ID
#1131
Messages
465
Reactions
811
Likes
117
City
S.F. East Bay
State
CA
Country
United States
Vehicle
2019 Challenger HC Red Eye 1969 Hellcat Cuda
#20
As has been stated, it’s your battery. The car will do all kinds of wonky chit when the battery goes bad. I managed a fleet of Charger police cars and between all the sophisticated electronics added to the car and all the extra demands for power the batteries didn’t last long and when they’d get real low or dead, the cars would start doing all kinds of weird stuff. Sometimes the symptoms were the same between the cars and sometimes different but it was always the battery.
 




Top