So I just went to start my car and I couldn't open the door with the fob. The light on the fob came on, but the doors didn't sound. So I use the key and open the door and no lights came on. The only light that was blinking was the radio security light. I then think that the battery may be dying so I try to boost it and get nothing. I test the battery voltage and get 12.76V. I then start to scratch my head. I check the fuses under the hood and from what I can tell the main fuse looks good. I try to boost again and get nothing. I know the battery is good but wanted to double check. so I disconnect the cables and start to back up. All of a sudden the stock alarm goes off. I use my key fob to shut if off, go inside to try to start and still nothing. No lights at all. And now not even the security light is blinking. Anyone have any ideas as to what to look for next?

 

Door handle short seems to a common issue lately.

 

Good call. That fuse was blown. I changed it and the alarm went off. I disarmed and I'm back with the same problem. Fuse is good. I will search the form as I briefly remember coming across this. Are there other fuses involved?

 

Ok, so it is the door handle issue. put another one in and it blew again. I took the side panel off and smelt something burning near the handle. Is there any way to get around this by unplugging the the handles or a fuse? I still cant start if I remove the fuse.

 

Unplug the harness that goes to the handle and replace the fuse. Keep in mind, it could be either handle or both.

 

Glad you narrowed down to what was causing your problem. Definitely unplug the door handle until you get your hands on a new one.


Isn't your RL an 07? I haven't seen too many RLs after 06 having this problem.

 

Guy with an '08 came in this week with one. They seem more robust, but definitely aren't perfect. Repeated locks/unlocks will probably kill any year, but that doesn't mean it's what happened here.

 

My '07 had both handles replaced by the previous owner under warranty for this exact issue. I guess it does happen occasionally in the later models

 

Mines is an 07 and it acts up once in awhile, only on the driver's door handle mainly after a heavy storm or car wash.


I could definitely see how having the key fob in your pocket while washing your car will short the door handle and causing the fuse to blow. I did that one time and I swear it unlocked & locked around 10 times in 2-3 seconds.

 

That was entertaining to me the first time it happened when I washed the car

 

Thanks, that's exactly what I had done. It was such a possible off as it happend at 330AM as I was to meet the convoy and leave from Toronto to Kentucky for Import Alliance. Thanks to you all I was able to leave early enough to still make it.