My 2004 Crossfire has started to engage the 62MPH aerofoil when I switch the ignition on. I immediately retract it and it stays down unless I reach 62MPH.
Anyone got an idea why this has started to happen?
P.S. it was fine, then started doing it intermittently but now it happens on every startup.

 

Often the sign of a bad battery. How old is the battery? Get it checked out.

 

Thankyou 180, could be a good shout. Not sure how old my battery is (not had car very long) but lately I have only been driving short distances, not ideal for keeping battery charged. I'll take it for a long run soon and see if that rectifies the issue.

 

It won't go away, the spoiler thing is the Crossfire bad battery early detection system.

 

Thanks for the input KDW4Him. I've always thought that a battery would drain if the alternator wasn't providing enough boost. At the moment I'm driving short distances only, the weather is poor over here so maybe lights, heating and wipers are being used; draining rather than charging the battery. Are you thinking the battery is beyond recharging?

 

Have the battery tested. Let us know what you found...

 

Any engine speed above about 1000 to 1100 rpm will provide over 80 amps from the alternator. Unless your engine cooling fan is running high speed (and it isn't), then there is sufficient output to keep the battery charged UNLESS you sit in traffic a LOT.

The only incident I saw where the battery was not being charged due to driving style was when I my dad drove his car 1/2 mile to and from work. The 300 or more amps required to start the car was not compensated for in the 1/2 mile drive at low speed thru a residential neighborhood.

You need a new battery.

 

Ditto Pizzaguy, history has shown a significant number of bad batteries when the spoiler says so.

 

Folks, tested the battery = 12.24V static and 14.03V when engine running. Think that is a bit low but not crtical (yet).
I went on a longer run (45 miles) and the spoiler stopped popping up for the next 4 starts. It then started popping up again but after another longer run (20 miles) it's behaving again. I'll keep monitoring and report back when I have more info.

 

How old is that battery?

How many amp-hours does it test?

 

If I have any doubts about a battery I get another one, I have found this cheaper and saves a lot of agro when the battery finally dies in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. That happened the once when I had my first car and I swore it would never happen again. It did but that is another story.

 

In my 57 years of driving, I have had just one car leave me on the side of the road.
It was a '67 Opel Kadette Rallye Sport and it happened just 35 miles from home at the end of a 1600 mile drive .
Turned out that the spring on the ignition contacts in the distributor broke.

 

BATTERY is my 1st guess like most others have guessed.
Possible that the traction control relay is going out.
Do you get BAS/ESP dash lights when this happens?

 

No tighed1, don't get BAS/ESP dash light.
KDW4Him, sorry, no idea how old battery is nor it's amp hours.
onehundred80, I will be getting a new battery but want to trickle charge the battery for 24 hours to see if that has any affect. Not too worried about flat battery as I have a compact jump start device. I bought that when I had bettery issues with previous car (Celica 190). That battery was only 1 year old but again I was doing small distances and not using car very often.

 

Just an update. Haven't replaced battery yet but do plan on doing.
Was intending to trickle charge battery overnight but it was fully charged within 40 minutes. It is a 74 Amp Hours battery. Acid levels were slightly low and have been topped up over the plates.
I use car 3-4 times a week. Normally there are 3-5 trips on each of these days ranging from 1/2 mile to 2 miles, on slow, busy roads.
I notice that I do tend to use a high gear while driving, mostly under 1500 rpm except on acceleration to next gear. I've altered my driving this week so that I remain in lower gears to get higher rpm.
Each day I use the car the Aerofoil raises on 1st startup but doesn't normally on subsequent startups especially if short time since previous use.
Engine continues to start 1st time, always (touch wood).

 

If the battery charges that quick from a flat condition it is toast, so save time and get a battery.

 

It's your battery or corroded cables not letting voltage pass to or from battery and or alternator. Check them both.

 

Onehundred80, sorry if ambiguous but the battery wasn't flat, I just wanted to see how it reacted to a trickle charge.
Steve Jr, I cleaned the connections but fair point I will check along the cables to see if any corrosion. I'm at the stge were I'd be quite happy to get a failed or even a laboured engine startup to confirm a flat battery causing the issue. While the car continues to start first time I'm still a bit wary of replacing what may be an adequate battery.

 

Most all of us have been telling him to change the battery for almost a month and he still hasn't. He doesn't need any of our advice.

 

Yeah.
I did posts #2,11 & 16. No more.