Ajgas Joe

Jtanenbaum

I am chasing down the same problem. I have no idea as the second owner if the battery was ever replaced. Keep having to jump it,

oldroller

P1296 is a coolant temperature sensor code, likely a bad sensor or your thermostat is not performing and the engine is not getting up to temp.
Not likely it is causing your low voltage condition.
That is either a weak battery, or parasitic load when off sucking the life from the battery.
Have battery tested, and check the system for load. It should be 50 milliamps or so.
Any aftermarket gear installed? Radio, alarm system, radar detector, lighting?

Jtanenbaum

My situation is a bit complicated. Someone hit into my car. It pushed the driver headlight in. I ordered a new front bumper and installed new headlights. While I do have a aftermarket head unit, the battery issue started after the accident. I installed the new headlights to see if the drain would still occur and it did. I don’t know if the headlight hit the battery and damage a cell or the module above was somehow messed up. It’s an 01 and I am not sure the battery was ever changed. I hate to replace and end up on the same place.

oldroller

Lots of auto stores will test the battery for free. Make sure you have either driven the car for a time or charged the battery
prior to testing.
The accident may have damaged the internals of the battery, a test will confirm.

Jtanenbaum

I figured it’s probably a damaged battery. Inexpensive way to check, thanks.