dvb1980

I actually have had an account here for almost 10 years, but for some reason never had the authorization to post. So finally had to start a new account over, since I really need some help.

I kept my car in storage last winter and made sure to check on it every 2 - 3 weeks. I'd start it up and drive it forwards and backwards to prevent non-activity problems. Ironically, on the last day when I was going to drive it out, the car was completely dead. I have no clue what I left on... So I first tried jumping my car with my little brothers small car, but that did not work. Then we found a taxi driver to help us out. As soon as he connected his car to my battery, everything turned on and the car alarm went on for a quick second. It scared the hell out of everybody. I wonder if the car alarm had been on before for some reason, which killed the battery?

I thought everything was ok, but then the car appeared to have problems starting the next few times I drove it. I even took the car on a 3 hour drive and it still had a hard time starting it afterwards. Then when I opened the door today the horn softly honked until I started the car. Another weird first occurrence, but at least it worked... Finally the car died the next time I parked it. Once again I jumped it, but this time it didn't make the loud noise that it did last time.

I don't tend to trust my local mechanics so I bought a code reader. Codes came back as P0335, P0340, P0345, P065, P0390. All camshaft position A/B sensor code issues.

I cleared the codes and so far nothing has reappeared. But the car seems to now be starting better than it has since I took it out of the garage.

In any case, does anybody have any ideas what this could be? I just replaced the battery last year with an interstate battery and the car had been starting flawlessly since as recently as 3 weeks ago?!

BinaryJay

Starting the car for a few seconds every few weeks is a surefire way of killing the battery. Leaving the car doing nothing with the battery connected for any length of time is a surefire way of killing the battery.

Not sure what the mystery is, the battery was very low/dead - when you leave lead acid batteries in a state of discharge for a length of time they are damaged and need to be replaced.

dvb1980

I wasn't quite that incompetent. I would leave the car on for about 20 - 30 minutes every 2 - 3 weeks.

However, I guess if the problem persists I know its the battery and not something else. Oddly enough, the car seems to be starting better and better.

SoFlaGS350

When the alarm goes off does it honk the horn? If so, then the weird soft honking could be a sign that the alarm is on the fritz....assuming this is some kind of aftermarket alarm.