2011 Base Automatic. About 35 degrees out after a snow, key fob won't unlock the doors. Use the key to unlock door manually, door unlock button on driver's side inside door does nothing. Car won't start. No dash lights, no noises, nothing. After 5 unsuccessful tries, I get out to check the battery. Comes in at 12.51 volts (battery 3.5 years old). I check to see if it's in park -- it is. But I press on the brake and try again, car starts. Clock needs resetting, need to re-enter radio code. Works fine after several subsequent restarts.

If the problem was not being in park, or the starter motor, or cut/range switch related, what happened to the clock and radio? Thanks for the help.

 

You had to press the brakes? I didn't know the 2011 had push-to-start.

In the versions with keys, you don't need to press the brakes.

Everything you mentioned definitely indicates that power was lost. I don't know if maybe it got so cold that the wasn't an initial charge being produced from the battery until your attempts "warmed" it up or something...

Another possibility is that one of the terminals became just loose enough that it didn't complete the circuit and your checking/testing made it connect.

It's likely after three and half years, its time for a new battery. If not, at the very minimum, pull the battery connections off, clean posts/cable ends and then reconnect them, making sure they're nice and tight.

 

+1 vote for a new battery. Path of least diagnosis. I had an Advance auto battery last 7 years, but my brother had one last 2 years. It's just a gamble.

 

Also, batteries don't work well when it's cold. Google for more info.

 

I don't have to Google, just go outside. It is 0 C right now.

 

Thanks everyone. Looking back through my log, I see this problem has happened twice before in recent years. In those instances, and this one, I cleaned the terminals thoroughly, reattached and everything seems to work again.

 

Maybe it's worth applying some of the car battery terminal grease / protectant to minimize corrosion products breaking the circuit. I know it can happen with any battery but is yours a sealed unit or can sulfuric acid fumes escape and promote that corrosion around the terminals?