This weekend, while driving, my radio/CD player cut out and my air bag light came on. Both situations remain. All else (overhead lights, seats, windows) seems OK. Yesterday, though, when I went to start my car, my battery seemed to have drained somewhat. I was able to start the car, however. Same thing today.

My question is...could a dying battery be responsible for the air bag/radio situation, or is the air bag light causing the battery to drain (even though it shuts off when I shut the car off)? This just seems all too coincidental.

For the record, my 2001 Sebring's battery is the original, and has 68,000 miles on it. So, while it's probably time for a new one, I'm not sure of the relationship between the battery and the other problems. I don't want to put a new battery in and just have it drain again.

Thanks for any help.

 

I suppose it's possible that a voltage surge could knock out the radio and/or the airbag system, and maybe your battery caused a surge in it's death throes, but who knows?
Check all your fuses, at the end of the dash and under the hood.
Given the age of your battery, you might as well replace it. After nine years, you've gotten your money's worth out of it. No point in waiting for it to strand you somewhere. If the problems continue, you'll have to deal with them separately.

 

Thanks, dcotter. Just had the alternator checked (A-OK) and bought a new battery as it was a bit low (plus it's 9 years-old), hoping that maybe when I install it, the air bag light and maybe even the radio will reset. If not, I'll check the fuses under the dash (the fuses under the hood looked OK). Last resort will be a diagnosis at the Chrysler dealership.

Thanks again.

 

Voila! Installed the new battery, and the airbag light turned off, and the radio/CD player resumed functioning. Glad it wasn't the electrical problem I thought it might have been. I just thought it was weird when those problems occurred, as I hadn't experienced any sign that my 9 y/o battery was getting ready to go. I guess those were the signs. Now I know. You'd think, though, that at least the battery warning light should come on---when there's a problem with the battery!!

 

The battery warning light comes on when there's a problem with the generator.

You got nine years service out of that battery. It doesn't owe you a thing.