2023 Tahoe Premier battery issue

[RK Smith]

Have you tried locking the doors when in the garage (like when parked outside)?
Here is a link to the 3rd row seat issue. They may have checked that connection but I bet something is keeping the BCM from going to sleep.

3rd-Row Power Folding Seat Switch Connection – TechLink

gm-techlink.com

Update! They found the battery draw in the lift gate module. They have replaced the module and it appears to have solved the problem. Fingers crossed. Thanks for all the help!

 

[EddieC]

Our Tahoe is older but I accidentally left the rear hatch ajar one night on vacation and the next morning the battery was dead.
It was hard to believe that the dome lights could kill the battery overnight.

 

[cptnjamesmisson]

I have actually had this same exact problem since November. Your story sounds identical to mine in every respect.

2021 Tahoe Premier, 61K miles.

Battery constantly dead and in need of jumps. Put a new battery in, same issue on repeat.

Car has been to dealership 2x now and they can't locate an issue - car works fine when there, no battery drain.

Get it back to our house and it sits overnight and is dead the next day, but only when we put it in the garage. If it sits in the driveway or in the street overnight car will properly turn over the next day and battery does not die immediately, but based on multi-meter readings and drops in battery voltage, there still appears to be at least some draw, though obviously not as pronounced as when in the garage.

Have tried everything to pinpoint/rectify issue - had a StateFarm Safe Driving beacon in Tahoe along with app on phone, removed both; removed garage door opener from car, left in house w/o batteries; left both key fobs in house away from vehicle; un-plugged garage door opener; did a fuse pull to measure amp reduction across difference fuses (only fuse that registered a drop was engine control module (ECM) and draw went to ~0.3 from 1.5 amps, but is this even relevant??) - but can't figure anything out.


Last night / this morning is the most recent example of the vehicle being fine when it went into the garage but dead upon waking up. It was the first time I left the vehicle in the garage and also unplugged the garage door opener. Still no luck.

Strangely, I received an email from OnStar for the first time last night at ~11:30P (car went into garage at 7P) that the battery was critically low. Despite all the previous drains this was the first email from OnStar I had received.

I really don't know what to do at this point other than trying to remove various potential fuses that control power to different electronic modules with the hope that one of those fuses properlly powers something down that is otherwise stuck in "awake" mode and constantly draining.

But, lots of fuses and who the hell knows where to start? @RKSmith issue being power liftgate would never have been the place where I would have started, so seems like it'd be a needle-in-haystack exercise in futility as I probably would have began with OnStar or something like that.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[RST Dana]

I have actually had this same exact problem since November. Your story sounds identical to mine in every respect.

2021 Tahoe Premier, 61K miles.

Battery constantly dead and in need of jumps. Put a new battery in, same issue on repeat.

Car has been to dealership 2x now and they can't locate an issue - car works fine when there, no battery drain.

Get it back to our house and it sits overnight and is dead the next day, but only when we put it in the garage. If it sits in the driveway or in the street overnight car will properly turn over the next day and battery does not die immediately, but based on multi-meter readings and drops in battery voltage, there still appears to be at least some draw, though obviously not as pronounced as when in the garage.

Have tried everything to pinpoint/rectify issue - had a StateFarm Safe Driving beacon in Tahoe along with app on phone, removed both; removed garage door opener from car, left in house w/o batteries; left both key fobs in house away from vehicle; un-plugged garage door opener; did a fuse pull to measure amp reduction across difference fuses (only fuse that registered a drop was engine control module (ECM) and draw went to ~0.3 from 1.5 amps, but is this even relevant??) - but can't figure anything out.


Last night / this morning is the most recent example of the vehicle being fine when it went into the garage but dead upon waking up. It was the first time I left the vehicle in the garage and also unplugged the garage door opener. Still no luck.

Strangely, I received an email from OnStar for the first time last night at ~11:30P (car went into garage at 7P) that the battery was critically low. Despite all the previous drains this was the first email from OnStar I had received.

I really don't know what to do at this point other than trying to remove various potential fuses that control power to different electronic modules with the hope that one of those fuses properlly powers something down that is otherwise stuck in "awake" mode and constantly draining.

But, lots of fuses and who the hell knows where to start? @RKSmith issue being power liftgate would never have been the place where I would have started, so seems like it'd be a needle-in-haystack exercise in futility as I probably would have began with OnStar or something like that.

Any help would be much appreciated.

And fuses, we got fuses. You ride probably has fuses at your neighbors house. And let’s spread them all around the ride too. I think it’s grand to have fuses at the opposite end of the vehicle away from what they protect.

 

[RK Smith]

I have actually had this same exact problem since November. Your story sounds identical to mine in every respect.

2021 Tahoe Premier, 61K miles.

Battery constantly dead and in need of jumps. Put a new battery in, same issue on repeat.

Car has been to dealership 2x now and they can't locate an issue - car works fine when there, no battery drain.

Get it back to our house and it sits overnight and is dead the next day, but only when we put it in the garage. If it sits in the driveway or in the street overnight car will properly turn over the next day and battery does not die immediately, but based on multi-meter readings and drops in battery voltage, there still appears to be at least some draw, though obviously not as pronounced as when in the garage.

Have tried everything to pinpoint/rectify issue - had a StateFarm Safe Driving beacon in Tahoe along with app on phone, removed both; removed garage door opener from car, left in house w/o batteries; left both key fobs in house away from vehicle; un-plugged garage door opener; did a fuse pull to measure amp reduction across difference fuses (only fuse that registered a drop was engine control module (ECM) and draw went to ~0.3 from 1.5 amps, but is this even relevant??) - but can't figure anything out.


Last night / this morning is the most recent example of the vehicle being fine when it went into the garage but dead upon waking up. It was the first time I left the vehicle in the garage and also unplugged the garage door opener. Still no luck.

Strangely, I received an email from OnStar for the first time last night at ~11:30P (car went into garage at 7P) that the battery was critically low. Despite all the previous drains this was the first email from OnStar I had received.

I really don't know what to do at this point other than trying to remove various potential fuses that control power to different electronic modules with the hope that one of those fuses properlly powers something down that is otherwise stuck in "awake" mode and constantly draining.

But, lots of fuses and who the hell knows where to start? @RKSmith issue being power liftgate would never have been the place where I would have started, so seems like it'd be a needle-in-haystack exercise in futility as I probably would have began with OnStar or something like that.

Any help would be much appreciated.

And fuses, we got fuses. You ride probably has fuses at your neighbors house. And let’s spread them all around the ride too. I think it’s grand to have fuses at the opposite end of the vehicle away from what they protect.

Yes, your problem sounds identical to mine. I felt like I was losing my mind and that the dealership thought I was crazy. So, here’s what changed for me. I took it back to them a fifth time and ask to speak to the head technician in the garage. I told him everything that I had done and the battery was still draining. He asked if I could leave it for more than 2 days, which was my usual time. On day 4, my battery died on them. FINALLY! It was hooked up to a computer which recognized the drain but couldn’t pinpoint the location because the clamps from the computer failed. As soon as they replaced the clamps they found the problem immediately. So, you are not crazy. There is something draining your battery and it has nothing to do with your garage or house. They need to hook it up to a computer and let it set for as long as you can leave it. It will eventually show up if the computer and clamps are working properly. Good luck!!

 

[Fless]

Yes, your problem sounds identical to mine. I felt like I was losing my mind and that the dealership thought I was crazy. So, here’s what changed for me. I took it back to them a fifth time and ask to speak to the head technician in the garage. I told him everything that I had done and the battery was still draining. He asked if I could leave it for more than 2 days, which was my usual time. On day 4, my battery died on them. FINALLY! It was hooked up to a computer which recognized the drain but couldn’t pinpoint the location because the clamps from the computer failed. As soon as they replaced the clamps they found the problem immediately. So, you are not crazy. There is something draining your battery and it has nothing to do with your garage or house. They need to hook it up to a computer and let it set for as long as you can leave it. It will eventually show up if the computer and clamps are working properly. Good luck!!

So what caused it? Surely they gave you a receipt with the cause. (?)

 

[StephenPT]

This is a pretty good article to reference when checking for parasitic draws.

https://gm-techlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GM_TechLink_24_Mid-December_2020.pdf

 

[StephenPT]

So what caused it? Surely they gave you a receipt with the cause. (?)

In post #21 he mentioned it was the hands free liftgate module.

 

[RK Smith]

So what caused it? Surely they gave you a receipt with the cause. (?)

Sorry I should have given the cause. They had to replace the lift gate module. It was staying awake.

 

[RK Smith]

Yes, your problem sounds identical to mine. I felt like I was losing my mind and that the dealership thought I was crazy. So, here’s what changed for me. I took it back to them a fifth time and ask to speak to the head technician in the garage. I told him everything that I had done and the battery was still draining. He asked if I could leave it for more than 2 days, which was my usual time. On day 4, my battery died on them. FINALLY! It was hooked up to a computer which recognized the drain but couldn’t pinpoint the location because the clamps from the computer failed. As soon as they replaced the clamps they found the problem immediately. So, you are not crazy. There is something draining your battery and it has nothing to do with your garage or house. They need to hook it up to a computer and let it set for as long as you can leave it. It will eventually show up if the computer and clamps are working properly. Good luck!!

One more thing I noticed that may help you. We have a dog so I would go out the garage, walking by my car. I noticed that the lift gate Chevrolet light wound come on. My car was locked and I didn’t have a key with me. It was waking up when I walked by and not going back to sleep. Maybe something is waking up if you walk by after parking it in the garage. Just an idea. Hope they find what’s going on because I know how frustrating this is for you!

 

[cptnjamesmisson]

Appreciate the insights.

Last night I pulled the power liftgate fuse in the cargo hold area. Dead batter this morning, so not that.

In addition, there is now a power steering error message and power steering is completely shot, making the vehicle, finally, completely inoperable from what I can tell.

 

[RK Smith]

Appreciate the insights.

Last night I pulled the power liftgate fuse in the cargo hold area. Dead batter this morning, so not that.

In addition, there is now a power steering error message and power steering is completely shot, making the vehicle, finally, completely inoperable from what I can tell.

I would get a power steering error after the battery was completely dead. After I jumped it off and let it recharge, the error would go away. It usually took me turning off the car and letting it sit for at least 30 minutes for the error to go away. I don’t think your power steering is shot. It just didn’t have power so the computer shuts down everything to conserve the battery. My brakes would do the same thing. Sorry it wasn’t the lift gate. Can you leave it at the dealership for a few days so that they can hook it up to a computer?

 

[cptnjamesmisson]

You were correct RK - power steering did ultimately return.

It's been at the dealership for two days.

They initially suggested they found a draw, but today they said the car is working just fine. I suspect the initial draw they found was because the car was not fully asleep when they ran the draw test.

So, at this point I'm where I was with the first dealership - can't find a drain or the source of the issue.

Has to be some interplay b/t something at my house and some bad component on the vehicle. Crazy situation.

 

[RK Smith]

Ugh! I’m so sorry. I honestly do not think it’s your house/garage. There’s something that is waking up and not going back to sleep that is draining your battery. It may be waking up because someone is walking by your car to wake it up. My car was at the dealership for three or four days before it died. It was there a full two weeks before they found it. I was so frustrated that I told them I didn’t want it back until they figured out the problem. If you can leave it longer than a few days, I think they will find it. Again, I’m sorry as I know first hand how frustrating this is for you. Good luck and let me know if they find it.

 

[cptnjamesmisson]

I think they've found something.

The dealership consulted with GM mother-ship engineering/tech and they believe it's the battery control module that is keeping the radio awake at all times.

 

[RK Smith]

That’s great!! I hope that fixes the problem! Let me know if it works.

 

[cptnjamesmisson]

Actually, problem not fixed. Brought car back to the house, lived one night without a dead battery next morning, but this morning battery was dead again.

 

[RK Smith]

Actually, problem not fixed. Brought car back to the house, lived one night without a dead battery next morning, but this morning battery was dead again.

Ugh!!!! I was really hoping that was the problem! Does the dealership have any other ideas about the battery issue? I still think they will need to keep it for more than a few days to find the problem. Hope you get answers soon!

 

[ssphelpss]

Hello all! I am new to this forum. I am hoping someone can help me. I have a new 2023 Tahoe with less than 3000 miles. The battery keeps going dead. The dealership cannot find anything wrong with it. It’s been there three times and everything checks out. So, it seems that there is something at my house that is draining the battery. I park in a garage. I have moved my key fob to the other side of the house. When I walk by it to take my dog out it seems to wake up and makes a buzzing noise. I am at a complete loss as to what is going on. This is my 6th Tahoe and I have never had a problem with the battery draining. I drive it most every day so it’s not sitting unused. Does anyone have any ideas?

My sister is having the same exact problem. Her battery was dead this morning for a third time. Did you ever figure it out?

 

[ssphelpss]

Yes, your problem sounds identical to mine. I felt like I was losing my mind and that the dealership thought I was crazy. So, here’s what changed for me. I took it back to them a fifth time and ask to speak to the head technician in the garage. I told him everything that I had done and the battery was still draining. He asked if I could leave it for more than 2 days, which was my usual time. On day 4, my battery died on them. FINALLY! It was hooked up to a computer which recognized the drain but couldn’t pinpoint the location because the clamps from the computer failed. As soon as they replaced the clamps they found the problem immediately. So, you are not crazy. There is something draining your battery and it has nothing to do with your garage or house. They need to hook it up to a computer and let it set for as long as you can leave it. It will eventually show up if the computer and clamps are working properly. Good luck!!

so what had to be replaced on yours? My sister is having the same issue.