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2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

Old Dec 28, 2008 | 5:30 PM
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Default 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

Last night I left the rear hatch open for a couple of hours and this morning I was greeted with a dead battery. I jumped the Tahoe battery and the Tahoe would not stay running (it would start and run for like 2 seconds). I noticed that the DIS was displaying "UNKNOWN DRIVER" instead of the usual "DRIVER 1" or "DRIVER 2".

Also:
1.) Remote key entrys do not work
2.) Electric door locks do not work

I am thinking that this must be some sort of security lock-out thing.

Any ideas???
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Old Dec 28, 2008 | 6:40 PM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

Im thinking the dead battery got so dead that all the programming was lost, the part about not staying started is a bit baffling, the battery may need to be fully charged first and then start with the starting and stay running the try reprogramming the remotes.
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Old Dec 29, 2008 | 1:09 AM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

in2pro, thank you for your input! I went down to my local Kmart and purchased a Sears Die Hard Gold battery. Took it home, installed it and everything worked again! I guess 5 years service out of a stock battery was a good run!
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Old Dec 29, 2008 | 6:51 AM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

No problem thanks for the update!
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Old Dec 29, 2008 | 11:48 AM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

Five years on the OEM battery is excellent. Never got more than 37 months out of their 36 month battery. With this new charging system, not sure what to expect as have had to jump it twice.
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Old Dec 30, 2008 | 9:10 PM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

I have over 6 years on my Optima Red top in a 1995 Tahoe still as strong as ever
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Old Dec 30, 2008 | 9:18 PM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

My OEM battery quit today after only 31 months. Priced the Optimas and they'd have to last ten years to break even. Got an Energizer at Sam's. $62.00
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Old Dec 30, 2008 | 9:26 PM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

All the 2007 Tahoe's are coming up on there 2 year marks and batteries are going to start falling out here soon.
Its a hard call, do you run it til it quits or just replace the dang thing after 3 years....
I have never had a battery last me here in Texas for more then 3 years, almost all of them luckly gave me a hint or clue it was going to fail... a funky start that didnt sound right or head lights that seem to be engine speed dependent...
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Old Dec 31, 2008 | 3:31 PM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

Yeah, that's what mine did. First it quit remote starting and then quit starting period. Fortunately it was in my driveway.

Sort of reminds me of George Carlin, why do we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway?

BTW, GM did their level best to make the battery hard to replace. Wished they'd put the Hybrid electronics where the battery is and the battery up where the empty battery tray is.
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Old Jan 1, 2009 | 3:01 PM
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Default RE: 2004 Tahoe "UNKNOWN DRIVER" message

Cleaver design so that when your removing the cross braceit can fall across the terminals of the battery, all the years of having side post now they decide to go with top post?!?
At least if they had been side post you could easily disconnect the battery for various vehicle servicing, not so much now...
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