Ongoing issue. Battery completely drains overnight, no mechanic can find the cause. From what I've read this is a common issue with the Aveo and nobody has found the cause.
Okay, I'm not sure exactly where to begin. All I know is in the last two years or so, I've gone through three batteries and am on my fourth. Including the OEM battery originally installed. Had that replaced in 2013 I'm pretty sure. Had taken to both Pepboys and dealership, battery was good and alternator was good, nobody knew what problem was. Replaced with a Bosch battery because it was the highest quality battery I could find. It worked as a temporary solution.
Then last summer I replaced it again getting a 2nd, Bosch battery was borderline. Between the summer and now I've seen an abnormally high amount of corrosion on the positive battery terminal. Last wed Feb 4th I got a 3r Bosch battery from Pepboys. Then on Saturday I hit a huge pothole at about 20 MPH. Car doesn't' start this Tuesday. I'm seriously pissed at this point. I also noticed a huge amount of corrosion on the newest battery. Got it tested on Wednesday after a jump start from a SUV. The battery is good and the alternator is down one volt, meaning its ok. Charging system is normal.
Here's exact results of test from yesterday Feb 11th:
Battery test
Good, Recharge
Volts 12,31V
Measured 548 CCA
Rating 630 CCA
Bat, Type Regular
Bat, Location in Vehicle
Starter Test
Normal
Volts 10.87V
Charging Test
Ok
Volts 13.50V
Now I have to pay $50 for an electrical diagnosis to see if a parasitic draw is causing the drain. I'm so stressed and tired. I work nights so I'm not used to having to wake up early. I wanted to do it around 7 PM, but the people on after 5 Pm at Pepboys only know how to do basic stuff like oil changes. So I have to come in early. I hope it starts and I don't have to get yet another jump.
Jumps required in the last week from this:
Three
Jumps total stemming from this possible baseline problem:
About 8
It could just be the battery, so I put the time started last Tuesday, though the problem might be from 2013. So four possible problems:
1. Getting false negative on faulty batteries
2. Alternator
3. Parasitic draw
4. Some other unknown problem.
Update from Mar 15, 2015: Okay, I've been dealing with the problem myself. I found a solution. The solution is very simple drive the car around a lot. The next part was figuring out what was causing the car battery to drain so quickly. Through trial and error I figured out it was the trunk light. Just make sure you close all the doors all the way. Use duct tape to make sure the door seals enough to keep that trunk light off. Surprisingly it can drain the battery pretty fast.
I can't believe it was something that simple, I was so stressed at the aspect of having to replace the alternator or some electrical part at the stealership. Sorry, I didn't update the solution earlier, I just wanted to make sure the trunk light was the issue.
The problem is repetitive, the ABS/Battery lights up on the dashboard and the battery gets drained because the alternator does not charge anymore! so you have to replace or repair the alternator.
- Argie M.,
Panabo, Davao, Philippines
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Ongoing issue. Battery completely drains overnight, no mechanic can find the cause. From what I've read this is a common issue with the Aveo and nobody has found the cause.
- throm79, East Mckeesport, US