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2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

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Old Jun 6, 2024 | 05:00 PM
  #1 (permalink)  
Vetteguy's Avatar
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From: Florida
Default 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

I just bought this 2004 Crossfire for my daughter, it has 110,000 miles, seemed to run great for a few days. Suddenly she called me with a dead battery, (the seller told me he just replaced the battery, so that should have been a clue). Replaced the battery, same thing the next morning. Put another battery in it, drove it around, checked the alternator, was putting out 14 volts. Parked the car in the garage noticed there was air still barely coming out of the a/c vents even though the air and the car was off. So, I replaced the blower motor resistor, and fixed that problem, even though the fan switch choices are still very erratic. Fast forward two days later, dead battery again, but NOT the blower motor again. So I disconnected the negative battery cable, used multimeter and found a 6 amp draw, so with the multimeter still in place, I started pulling fuses to see which one would cause the draw to go away. All had no effect except # 35, which is "Radio frequency remote control, hazard warning flasher, instrument cluster, climate control". So I thought I found the problem, so I removed the fuse, connected the negative battery cable, and tried to start the car, and it turned over about 4 times, and then nothing, it stopped trying to start. So I put the fuse back in, and now, the car will turn over, but will not start. I can smell the fuel, so it acts like its not getting any spark. I cant imagine I fried anything because the negative battery cable was not connected to the battery, and the only thing connection was through the multimeter. The only thing electrical I did was pull a fuse and then put it back in. Hopefully someone can tell me what I did, or where I can look to fix this problem.. Thank you in advance....
 
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Old Jun 6, 2024 | 05:33 PM
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ZERACER's Avatar
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From: Orange County CA.
Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

I have two suspects, the alarm siren under the cowl in front of the windshield and the RCM. The batteries in the siren leak and short out and the relays in the RCM go bad eventually. Use the search feature at the r/h top of this page.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2024 | 08:45 PM
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M60A3Driver's Avatar
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From: New Jersey
Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

Originally Posted by Vetteguy
I just bought this 2004 Crossfire for my daughter, it has 110,000 miles, seemed to run great for a few days. Suddenly she called me with a dead battery, (the seller told me he just replaced the battery, so that should have been a clue). Replaced the battery, same thing the next morning. Put another battery in it, drove it around, checked the alternator, was putting out 14 volts. Parked the car in the garage noticed there was air still barely coming out of the a/c vents even though the air and the car was off. So, I replaced the blower motor resistor, and fixed that problem, even though the fan switch choices are still very erratic. Fast forward two days later, dead battery again, but NOT the blower motor again. So I disconnected the negative battery cable, used multimeter and found a 6 amp draw, so with the multimeter still in place, I started pulling fuses to see which one would cause the draw to go away. All had no effect except # 35, which is "Radio frequency remote control, hazard warning flasher, instrument cluster, climate control". So I thought I found the problem, so I removed the fuse, connected the negative battery cable, and tried to start the car, and it turned over about 4 times, and then nothing, it stopped trying to start. So I put the fuse back in, and now, the car will turn over, but will not start. I can smell the fuel, so it acts like its not getting any spark. I cant imagine I fried anything because the negative battery cable was not connected to the battery, and the only thing connection was through the multimeter. The only thing electrical I did was pull a fuse and then put it back in. Hopefully someone can tell me what I did, or where I can look to fix this problem.. Thank you in advance....
I agree with zeracer. The most common battery drain on these cars is the alarm siren. The non start issue could be the Relay Control Module (RCM).
I will put a few links to posts I did with pictures and explanations. Hopefully this will be helpful. You can get a new RCM from amazon for about $126.00. The model number is in the last link.

Alarm Siren replacement and drain cleaning 1

Alarm Siren replacement and drain cleaning 2

RCM replacement
 
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Old Jun 7, 2024 | 12:26 PM
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Vetteguy's Avatar
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Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

The weird part is, until I pulled and replaced every fuse in the fuse box, I didnt have a problem with the car starting and running. When I found the parasitic drain fuse, I left it out, hooked the negative cable again, and tried to start the car. The engine turned over a few time and then nothing. It wasnt a slow turn over like a dead battery, it was trying to start for a few revolutions and then it just stopped turning over. So I disconnected the negative cable again, put the # 35 fuse back in place, and it turns over, but just wont start. It acts like its not getting spark. I could smell fuel, so I know its not a fuel issue. Will messing with the fuses, affect the RCM. Will it mess with the Skreem? I had no issues prior to this other than the parasitic battery drain.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2024 | 12:30 PM
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ZERACER's Avatar
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From: Orange County CA.
Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

Did you connect the negative cable first or last? A power surge can effect the electricals.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2024 | 07:46 PM
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Vetteguy's Avatar
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From: Florida
Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

Originally Posted by ZERACER
Did you connect the negative cable first or last? A power surge can effect the electricals.
Don't understand the question. I had the negative cable off, used the multimeter between the battery and the negative cable end, so the draw was going through the multimeter. Once I found that pulling the # 35 fuse reduced the draw, I pulled the fuse, connected the negative battery cable, and tried to start the car, which is when it turned over 3 or 4 times, then nothing. So I disconnected the negative cable again, replaced the # 35 fuse, then reconnected the negative battery cable, then tried to start the car and it turns over, but doesnt start, like its not getting any spark, because I can smell fuel, but wont start.
 
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Old Jun 8, 2024 | 01:42 AM
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M60A3Driver's Avatar
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Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

Originally Posted by Vetteguy
Don't understand the question. I had the negative cable off, used the multimeter between the battery and the negative cable end, so the draw was going through the multimeter. Once I found that pulling the # 35 fuse reduced the draw, I pulled the fuse, connected the negative battery cable, and tried to start the car, which is when it turned over 3 or 4 times, then nothing. So I disconnected the negative cable again, replaced the # 35 fuse, then reconnected the negative battery cable, then tried to start the car and it turns over, but doesnt start, like its not getting any spark, because I can smell fuel, but wont start.
When you pulled fuse #11 it may have broken. This happened to me with the #9 fuse when I pulled it out. Try using an ohm meter on it and see if the fuse is good.


 
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Old Jun 8, 2024 | 08:59 AM
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Vetteguy's Avatar
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Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

Originally Posted by M60A3Driver
When you pulled fuse #11 it may have broken. This happened to me with the #9 fuse when I pulled it out. Try using an ohm meter on it and see if the fuse is good.

Thanks, I will try that today
 
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Old Jun 9, 2024 | 01:54 AM
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tighed1's Avatar
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Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

You say you smell fuel so I'm guessing the fuel pump relay is ok.
Check the rest of the RCM operation like this.
Do the 2 remain closed?



 
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Old Jun 17, 2024 | 03:56 PM
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Vetteguy's Avatar
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Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

FYI, I ordered all new fuses thinking that some of these fuses were bad, because they seemed brittle anyway, along with not real good results with the test light, thinking I will just replace all the fuses and start from scratch. SO, I go to the fuse box to start changing them out, and low and behold, I inadvertently left the # 11 fuse out, aka "ignition coils".... Popped one in there, car started right up..... Now, I just have to narrow down where the draw is coming from. I just received an new RCM today and will be installing that tomorrow. Thanks for the help, sorry about my stupidity........ While I am here, any ideas on how to fix a drooping headliner? Went to start it up today and the headliner was all in my hair.
 
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Old Jun 17, 2024 | 05:49 PM
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Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

Originally Posted by Vetteguy
FYI, I ordered all new fuses thinking that some of these fuses were bad, because they seemed brittle anyway, along with not real good results with the test light, thinking I will just replace all the fuses and start from scratch. SO, I go to the fuse box to start changing them out, and low and behold, I inadvertently left the # 11 fuse out, aka "ignition coils".... Popped one in there, car started right up..... Now, I just have to narrow down where the draw is coming from. I just received an new RCM today and will be installing that tomorrow. Thanks for the help, sorry about my stupidity........ While I am here, any ideas on how to fix a drooping headliner? Went to start it up today and the headliner was all in my hair.
There are threads on the forum on how to replace the headliner yourself or you can take it to a shop. There is also a Youtube step by step.
Most questions and answers can be found on the forum. Had battery drain on both of my Crossfires and both times it was the siren that is located under the windshield cowl. Use a a gear puller to remove the windshield wipers (mark it with a NON PERMANENT marker so you know where to align them back to). Then just undo the screws of the cowl, and remove the two clips, fold the cowl up. The siren sits in the middle of the and is held in by only one screw. There is a new version of that siren I purchased that actually beeps when you lock/unlock that car. Love that as I was never sure if the car unlocked due no sound and can't see the lights flash by daylight. Quick job to replace. While you are there, make sure the 4 (I think) drain holes under the cowl are free of debris. Pour some peroxide down there and flush it with water till it runs out of the drains below your car. Those drains, if blocked will let water run down your A/C compressor causing it to get damaged and the flood the passenger side floorboard and what is underneath there. NOT fun.
If you got the cowl off, might as well do that maintenance.

If you don't care about the sire, just disconnect it and take it out. That stops the battery drain, too. I like to have my alarm but to each its own. Let us know how it goes.
 
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Old Jun 18, 2024 | 01:28 AM
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M60A3Driver's Avatar
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From: New Jersey
Default Re: 2004 Crossfire - Electrical nightmare - HELP

Originally Posted by Vetteguy
FYI, I ordered all new fuses thinking that some of these fuses were bad, because they seemed brittle anyway, along with not real good results with the test light, thinking I will just replace all the fuses and start from scratch. SO, I go to the fuse box to start changing them out, and low and behold, I inadvertently left the # 11 fuse out, aka "ignition coils".... Popped one in there, car started right up..... Now, I just have to narrow down where the draw is coming from. I just received an new RCM today and will be installing that tomorrow. Thanks for the help, sorry about my stupidity........ While I am here, any ideas on how to fix a drooping headliner? Went to start it up today and the headliner was all in my hair.
Nickwe21 is right the most common draw is the alarm, if you have the original radio that's also a common one.
You can pull the number 9 fuse (See the chart I posted above) and see if that stops the draw.
If you need a step by step guide on how to remove the alarm siren, here's a link to a post I did when I replaced mine. Also clean your drains while you have the cowl off. (That's in the post as well).

Alarm siren replacement and drain cleaning

 
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