The battery can be discharged at idle if the
electrical loads are very high. This is true for
all vehicles. This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast enough
at idle to produce all the power that is needed
for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger, climate
control fan at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s
output and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It
can increase engine idle speed to generate more
power, whenever needed. It can temporarily
reduce the power demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels,
without being noticeable. In rare cases at
the highest levels of corrective action, this
action may be noticeable to the driver.If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC) message
might be displayed, such as Battery Saver
Active or Service Battery Charging System. If this
message is displayed, it is recommended that
the driver reduce the electrical loads as much as
possible. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 198.
Battery Run-Down Protection
Your vehicle has a battery saver feature designed
to protect the vehicle’s battery.
When any interior lamp is left on and the ignition is
turned off, the battery rundown protection system
will automatically turn the lamp off after 20 minutes.
This will avoid draining the battery. This vehicle also
has a retained accessory power feature. If the radio
is on, it will turn off after 10 minutes or if any door
on the vehicle is opened. SeeRetained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 116.
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