Auto Lights Clicking - Killed Battery - 03 Montana

[newtonrc]

Hey all,

This morning I woke up to a dead Montana in the driveway (cold outside too! -15F). Opened the door and heard a consistent clicking noise coming from the left side of the dash near the steering wheel. Wouldn't even light up the dash battery was so dead. I noticed when I turned the key, the clicking stopped. When I turn the key to off, clicks come back. When I turn the auto lights dial, it stops the clicks. When I turn it back to auto lights, it clicks again.

I'm assuming this is what killed the battery. No interior or exterior lights turn on or off during clicking that I could see. I've seen it may be related to hazards? I'll bet the extreme cold may have something to do with it. Thoughts?

Ri

 

[melsg5]

Do you hear the clicking with the switch set to auto and all doors closed?

 

[newtonrc]

Do you hear the clicking with the switch set to auto and all doors closed?

Yes I do, thanks for the reply. Only time it stopped what when the key was turnes in the ignition, or when i switched autolights. Clicking has stopped now that the battery has somewhat charged, but I fear it will return on a cold night and kill the battery again.

 

[melsg5]

Yes I do, thanks for the reply. Only time it stopped what when the key was turnes in the ignition, or when i switched autolights. Clicking has stopped now that the battery has somewhat charged, but I fear it will return on a cold night and kill the battery again.

I think you have to do some testing to determine cause and effect. The clicking could be due to the lack of voltage. Have the battery load tested and check alternator output. Lastly do a parasitic drain test to see if you have more than 50ma.

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[newtonrc]

Do you hear the clicking with the switch set to auto and all doors closed?

Yes I do, thanks for the reply. Only time it stopped what when the key was turnes in the ignition, or when i switched autolightsClicking has stopped now that the battery has somewhat charged, but I fear it will return on a cold night and kill the battery again.

I think you have to do some testing to determine cause and effect. The clicking could be due to the lack of voltage. Have the battery load tested and check alternator output. Lastly do a parasitic drain test to see if you have more than 50ma.

Thanks for your help Mel, I took the battery in and had it tested; they said it was bad and gave me a new one. Perhaps it was low voltage that set off the autolights. This battery was one year old exactly. Very weird that it died so shortly.