Hey Everybody

Been the proud owner of a 2005 Roadster for a few years now... been in love with these cars since I saw it and had to get one. I have never gotten so many compliments in my life on something!

Anyway, having a weird experience. Tonight I went to start the car and just got a clicking sound from the engine. I figured it was the battery and tried to jump start it but didn't have any luck. I then noticed something weird, I was having alittle trouble getting the car unlocked (It took a few clicks of the wireless remote), but the oddest part was getting back into the car, with no key in the ignition and hearing static from the radio. I turned the radio up only to see that it was indeed on, with out the key in the ignition. Thought maybe this was something I hadn't noticed before, but I locked the car from the outside and the radio still stayed on. I also noticed lately every once in awhile that I'll turn the car on and the spoiler in back will rise.

I am going to try to jump start it again tommorow, I didn't have sufficent light to make sure I was attaching it properly but I am guessing its going to need to be towed and looked at (needless to say I am not happy about that). Anybody have any guesses what I might be looking at? Please dont be something serious. The car is still under warranty so maybe I'll get lucky.

Thanks for any help!

Jesse

 

Most likely it is the battery. When the battery starts to go, the wing will pop up and the other electronics will start doing strange things. If you are still on the original battery, it is due to be replaced. As far as the radio goes, I remember reading that there is a sequence of things that you do to enable the radio to play while the car is turned off. I am sure someone else will chime in on that. I am betting that a new battery will bring harmony back into your life.

 

If its only the battery, you will be my hero. I don't need any bad news this month

 

A very short sequence, you push the ON ****.

 

LOL.......thanks 180.

 

Yep.
Sounds like classic needs a new battery symptoms. Do a search and you will find that others have experienced similar symptoms when the battery was starting to go bad.

Autozone and other places will check the battery for free.

Be sure to post back once you find the fix.

 

On all my other cars I have had you need power in the battery for things to work properly, in this car you need power in the battery to stop things from working improperly.
In some cases I believe solenoids have to be energized to stop things from working.

 

The roadster has a bad habit of killing it's own battery if the trunk is not completely closed. The trunk light stays on. Happened to me twice before I ensured it closed completely. My roadster is still on the original battery with no problems.

 

My rule of thumb for any of my cars has always been 48 months = new battery.....
If your car has extended times of not driving ....... get a battery tender (brand). this will keep the battery on full charge without "cooking" it.
As far as the radio goes ..... if you want to listen to it while the car is off, all you need do is turn ignition to accessory/on position, and turn on the radio. THEN switch off the ignition and within 3 seconds hold the "on" button momentarilly. The radio/cd will play for 1 hr (I think).

 

Thanks for all the help guys. Sure enough, I let it sit over night and today it started. Took it right over to Autozone and had it tested, exactly what you said -- BAD BATTERY. Had it replaced with three year warranty.

I am so happy it wasn't the starter or anything worse.

Jesse

 

since reading thru this thread, I thought I would warn anyone thinking of installing the "little" batteries, like the shurykin I have, the battery tender is a neccessity...they won't hold charge if you don't drive them regularly...just a helpful warning....

 

I've been running the 14lb. battery for a while now and if you leave the car for a week without using it the battery will already be weak. If you drive regularly it seems to be fine. I still have the full size battery and I put it in when I don't have a track day looming to keep it charged as a spare. Other than that, that little battery does the job, but don't leave anything on! I really need one of those trickle chargers. The charger I have is cerca 1974 Sears Craftsman.

Les

 

The physical size of the battery determines how much power the battery can store, the bigger the mass of each 1.5 volt cell the more power there is in the combined eight cells.
The number of plates in each cell determines the capacity and cold cranking power. The bigger the plates the more there is of both. Less plates = more capacity and more rugged, more plates = more cold cranking power and less rugged.

 

You don't have to turn the key to accessory to just run the radio. Just push the "on" button and it will turn on. My Audi does the same thing.