Puzzling battery issues

[N7turbo]

Holding down the volume button will also turn the screen off.

 

[Moonlighter]

Wonderful.......

After doing the charging yesterday, and testing the current today, we finally went to boost the car to drive it and now the infotainment screen is not coming on. The backup camera/screen comes on, but not the infotainment computer.......

Any advice....? Is there a fuse I can check?

As previously mentioned, strange things start to happen when the battery is not up to the job any more….

 

[Mazdiod2]

I agree that most signs seem to be pointing to the battery being the issue, however one weird thing I noticed during some testing yesterday was that I had charged the battery and it was around 12.5v. I left the negative terminal off and tested again an hour or two later, and the voltage hadn't continued to drop. Yet when the battery is fully connected to the vehicle, I am experiencing continued voltage drop over time.

So maybe there is a parasitic draw that I'm not catching, I'm not sure... or could something be shorting out to ground and draining the battery?

My thoughts right now are:

1) Contact local Mazda dealer to see if they can tell whether my vehicle has had the power lift gate repair done

2) Ask them if they have any records of whether the battery has been replaced at any point in the past

3) If PLG has not been repaired, see if they are willing to investigate/repair it without cost due to the TSB known issue -- during which process they may be able to either definitively answer what the health of the battery is, or whether there is another parasitic draw happening. They also installed a trailer wiring harness a couple weeks ago, so thats another possible source

4) Throw a hail mary and see if they are willing to ask Mazda to replace the battery since it may have been depleted due to lift gate? (can't hurt to ask lol)

5) Ask whether I should have a battery heat shield installed, and see if they can provide a new one

Unfortunately can't also find a date sticker on the battery to check for certain, so, questions remain. There is a service record from July of this year (a month or so before we bought the car used from the dealer) that the battery was "checked" but i can't see whether it was in fact replaced or serviced in any way...

You probably should try to get the dealer to cough up a new battery. It looks like the car was serviced (?) for a battery issue and then immediately after the work you had done the battery goes. So the battery was weak when you purchased the car. Also check the trailer harness.
You are definitely on the right track, get all 4 of your items on the checklist resolved.
I'm not sure about the heat shield. I removed mine but I installed AGM which is known for heat resistance, a possible issue in the area I live.

 

[dunhillmc]

Wonderful.......

After doing the charging yesterday, and testing the current today, we finally went to boost the car to drive it and now the infotainment screen is not coming on. The backup camera/screen comes on, but not the infotainment computer.......

Any advice....? Is there a fuse I can check?

hold down the volume knob on the center console

 

[Slam4836]

Update....

The "boss" (wife) who technically owns the car decided trying to have Mazda look at it and see if we can argue for a battery was too much trouble........I disagreed, but, she insisted to just buy a new battery.

Got it in yesterday, and its starting no problem. Infotainment screen came on, no obvious issues. I charged the battery up yesterday and checked voltage , almost 12.9v.

She drove car to work and back that evening (very short trip) , then we checked the voltage the next morning, we were down to 12.48v... It has continued to start fine multiple times today (bit of hesitation this evening on one of the starts ) but so far....not dead? That measurement was also taken when the car had just woken up from key being brought near, door opened to pop hood, etc so there would probably be a 2a draw pulling the voltage Down a bit maybe ? Idk if that matters or not

So replacing the battery has definitely solved A problem....but is it THE problem? I'm still not 100% convinced. I guess for now I wait and see if we run into any more issues....

 

[Mazdiod2]

Update....

The "boss" (wife) who technically owns the car decided trying to have Mazda look at it and see if we can argue for a battery was too much trouble........I disagreed, but, she insisted to just buy a new battery.

Got it in yesterday, and its starting no problem. Infotainment screen came on, no obvious issues. I charged the battery up yesterday and checked voltage , almost 12.9v.

She drove car to work and back that evening (very short trip) , then we checked the voltage the next morning, we were down to 12.48v... It has continued to start fine multiple times today (bit of hesitation this evening on one of the starts ) but so far....not dead? That measurement was also taken when the car had just woken up from key being brought near, door opened to pop hood, etc so there would probably be a 2a draw pulling the voltage Down a bit maybe ? Idk if that matters or not

So replacing the battery has definitely solved A problem....but is it THE problem? I'm still not 100% convinced. I guess for now I wait and see if we run into any more issues....

I leave mine in the garage all the time and sometimes don't drive much but I like to go out and listen to the stereo sometimes and often I think it is just leaving a door ajar that makes mine go down. When it gets below 12.3-12.4v I plug in the charger, usually every week or two.

 

[N7turbo]

You can leave doors open with no battery drain if you turn off the lights.

 

[chickdr]

As others have said, at 4-5yrs, the battery needs to be replaced (especially with Canadian winters). See if the dealer will spot you one, or just pick one up yourself. Then you will know for sure if that is the issue.