INFO. ON BAT. RUNDOWN PROTECT. FEATURE TO EXT. BAT.. Buick Skylark 1994

SUBJECT: BATTERY RUNDOWN PROTECTION FEATURE TO EXTEND BATTERY LIFE

MODELS: 1994 CHEVROLET CORSICA/BERETTA

1993-94 BUICK SKYLARK 1993-94 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1993-94 PONTIAC GRAND AM

A BATTERY RUNDOWN PROTECTION FEATURE HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE ABOVE VEHICLES TO EXTEND THE BATTERY LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. "INADVERTENT" AND "PARASITIC" LOADS (MODULES OR FUNCTIONS THAT DRAIN CURRENT FROM THE BATTERY) ARE AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF AFTER PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVALS.

PARASITIC LOADS: LOADS THAT DRAW SMALL AMOUNTS OF CURRENT WHEN THE IGNITION IS "OFF", SUCH AS THE RADIO AND THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM.

INADVERTENT LOADS: HIGHER CURRENT LOADS THAT CAN BE LEFT ON, SUCH AS THE COURTESY LIGHTS, GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT, AND LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LIGHT.

BATTERY RUNDOWN PROTECTION OPERATES IN TWO DIFFERENT MODES:

1. DEALER/PLANT MODE:

BATTERY RUNDOWN PROTECTION IS IN THE "DEALER/PLANT" MODE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS LOGGED LESS THAN 15 MILES SINCE POWER UP. FOR INADVERTENT LOADS, (LIGHT LEFT ON ACCIDENTALLY, DOOR LEFT AJAR, ETC.), BATTERY POWER WILL TURN OFF AFTER THREE MINUTES. INADVERTENT POWER FUNCTIONS WILL BE RESTORED BY OPENING AND CLOSING A DOOR, OR BY CYCLING THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALSO, IF THE VEHICLE IS LEFT UNTOUCHED FOR THREE DAYS, BATTERY POWER WILL SHUT OFF, DISABLING PARASITIC LOAD DRAINS TO THE BATTERY. AT THIS POINT, ALL RADIO PRESETS WILL BE ERASED AND THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY FUNCTION WILL NOT OPERATE. PARASITIC POWER FUNCTIONS WILL BE RESET BY CYCLING THE IGNITION.

2. CUSTOMER MODE:

BATTERY RUNDOWN PROTECTION IS IN THE "CUSTOMER" MODE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS LOGGED GREATER THAN 15 MILES SINCE POWER UP. IT OPERATES IN THE SAME MANNER AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, EXCEPT THAT INADVERTENT POWER SHUTS OFF AFTER 20 MINUTES AND PARASITIC POWER SHUTS OFF AFTER 24 DAYS.

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GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.