[Chutzpah]

Originally Posted by LtColumbo

Bearer of bad news: I bought the RANGE about a year ago. It was draining my battery, but not killing it completely in about 2 weeks. It was drawing 24mA, when it was supposed to only draw 1-3mA. I sent it back recently and they said the software was corrupted. They updated it and sent it back to me. Then I added a battery tender for times when I may not drive the car for a week.



It seemed to be working ok for a while. Then I noticed the trickle charger was taking longer to bring the battery up to full charge. I also just noticed that the unit was WARM when the car had not been driven for 2 days! (Parked in a garage.)


Email sent to Range. Awaiting a reply.

Either the software is still corrupt or the unit itself has an issue. Range fixed the “always on” issue a number of years ago.

[LtColumbo]

Originally Posted by Chutzpah

Range fixed the “always on” issue a number of years ago.

Apparently, maybe not. I spoke with Rick at RANGE yesterday. He told me that they still need to be disconnected if the car is not going to be driven for a few days. The nature of the device. I'm sending the device back to be checked out because I believe it is defective.

[joekd]

I put my Range AFM piece in over a year ago, aside from the 3 times I took it out while it was at the dealer it stays plugged in non stop, during the winter I do plug it in but during the summer I rarely do, my car has sat for weeks before and never had one issue with the battery running down

Assume they verified the firmware version already?

[Chutzpah]

I’ve had the updated Range in 2 cars for a total of about 3 years. I wouldn’t even consider a need to charge the battery unless the car was to sit idle for ~ a month OR in the cold ( around 30F or lower ) for well over a week. I’ve had zero issues with the starting my cars… Range or no Range installed.

From what I know, there’s a very small draw as to allow the module to know when to “wake up”. On my car, the only time it gets unplugged, is to plug in a another device into the OBD port.

I believe you’re right, the device is defective.(if its killing your battery)

[2SS Capt]

Mine has been working fine, I can leave it weeks "on" without issue, that being said, I did install a switch to turn it off when I know I'm not going to drive it for a few weeks...

[NashZL1]

I've had one in my 2017 Corvette Grand Sport for 4 years with no issues.

[donniedarko]

Originally Posted by 2SS Capt

Mine has been working fine, I can leave it weeks "on" without issue, that being said, I did install a switch to turn it off when I know I'm not going to drive it for a few weeks...

That’s super tidy. Have a link or specification for the part? Never seen that. ODB switch? Tia

[LtColumbo]

Since this is the second time I've had a problem with this device, I was told that it would be replaced with a new one. I sent mine back in again.


A week later, I received my OLD one back, saying they tested it, didn't find any issues and it passed their tests.



So, y'all do me a favor and check your devices. Let me know if they feel warm to the touch, after not being used for several hours. Mine is noticeably warm to the touch. I used a temporal thermometer to test mine. 96F. Does not seem normal for a claimed 1-3mA draw. Previously, mine was drawing 24mA! I did not bother to check it again since it is warm.

[Chutzpah]

I haven’t driven my car since yesterday… mine is cool as a cucumber.

[LtColumbo]

My original AFM device was draining my battery, drawing 24mA at rest. I called RANGE, but they told me to just unplug the device if I was not going to drive the car "for a few days." (This issue was supposedly "fixed" years ago, but apparently not.) I reminded them that it was drawing 24mA, as though a non-tech person was answering their phone calls. They agreed to have me send the device back to have it checked.



I sent the device back to be checked out. They told me "the file was corrupted" (so much for phone tech saying to just unplug it) and that they corrected that, sending my same device back. (made in 2018)


After receiving my "repaired" device back, I continued to have the same problems. The device was getting warm! I called RANGE, and AGAIN, I was told to just unplug the device!!



I had to call RANGE yet again because the device is noticeably warm, AND this time I was told that, due to multiple problems with the same device, they were going to make a NOTE that I should be sent a NEW device, NOT my old one.



So what happened then? They tested my OLD device, and found NO ISSUES!! Still, they reprogrammed it (why?), tested and sent it back to me!!


Guess what? IT STILL GETS WARM AND DRAINS THE BATTERY!! If I unplug the defective device, I do NOT have any battery issues!


I was finally able to convince someone over there to send me a NEW unit. I got another RMA to return the device that has "no issues."



The date on the "new" unit is 2020. After having it for just a week, it does NOT get warm and does NOT drain my battery!!

I spent about $60 in back-and-forth shipping charges.


I am not impressed with how they handled this case. But I am glad that, after me being persistent with them, they stepped up to the plate and remedied the situation properly.

[Chutzpah]

Glad it worked out for you after all of that aggravation.