Loose Battery Connection (Resolved)
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Loose Battery Connection (Resolved)
I was in the middle of making dinner and my husband was kindly pulling the Ex into the garage for me. I drove it around town today. He came in and uttered words no one ever wants to hear...
"get on the forum."
My heart sank as I managed to yell out "what happened??!!"
He said he pulled it in and turned it off. Then went back to turn it on to pull it in a little farther. When he tried to restart it there was a big "CLICK" and it went all dead.
Edit to add: he said the theft light briefly flashed after everything else went dead.
Also, aux power such as cig lighters still work.
Please tell me this is a simple fix....PLEASE!!
Could it be a fuse?
Zoë
"get on the forum."
My heart sank as I managed to yell out "what happened??!!"
He said he pulled it in and turned it off. Then went back to turn it on to pull it in a little farther. When he tried to restart it there was a big "CLICK" and it went all dead.
Edit to add: he said the theft light briefly flashed after everything else went dead.
Also, aux power such as cig lighters still work.
Please tell me this is a simple fix....PLEASE!!
Could it be a fuse?
Zoë
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 42
From: Almost back in TX biotche
Not a lot of info to go on. Where did the sounds come from? Does it do it every time or just that once and now nothing happens? Do all the other electronics turn on like normal? I am sure a video of the situation will help a lot.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: SoCal
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
I edited to add that seems like we still have battery. Cigarette lighter still seems to work when I plug in a phone charger.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 42
From: Almost back in TX biotche
Yeah, battery connections is where you should start, clean them and make sure they are tight.I would then look for blown fuses, and check the power connection to the main fuse box. The previous owner of my old 2000 did some bad electronic work and had the bolt loose on the power stud on the fuse box.... Damn thing killed power to everything....took me forever to find that problem. Other than that, I wouldn't have the slightest idea.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
Low current devices will still work with a bad connection. The High current draw from a starter will kill it though. Go remove, clean and reseat the battery connections. It is always the first step in a "click, no crank" condition. :-)
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Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
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From: Central Coast of CA
CM, check the voltage of your battery and their connections. If you have good voltage, turn the key, push on the brake, and move the trans selector out of and then back into park and see if it will start.
When you say it's dead, do you mean nothing electrical works? No dash lights, no warning lights, no headlights?
Stewart
When you say it's dead, do you mean nothing electrical works? No dash lights, no warning lights, no headlights?
Stewart
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: SoCal
I'll have him check the battery. Just seems very odd that would be the issue as I drove it all day today without the slightest hint of an issue. Will check just to rule it out.
Correct, nothing electrical works. No lights, etc.
Correct, nothing electrical works. No lights, etc.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,505
Likes: 256
From: Woodbridge, Ontario, CA
I was in the middle of making dinner and my husband was kindly pulling the Ex into the garage for me. I drove it around town today. He came in and uttered words no one ever wants to hear...
"get on the forum."
My heart sank as I managed to yell out "what happened??!!"
He said he pulled it in and turned it off. Then went back to turn it on to pull it in a little farther. When he tried to restart it there was a big "CLICK" and it went all dead.
Edit to add: he said the theft light briefly flashed after everything else went dead.
Also, aux power such as cig lighters still work.
Please tell me this is a simple fix....PLEASE!!
Could it be a fuse?
Zoë
"get on the forum."
My heart sank as I managed to yell out "what happened??!!"
He said he pulled it in and turned it off. Then went back to turn it on to pull it in a little farther. When he tried to restart it there was a big "CLICK" and it went all dead.
Edit to add: he said the theft light briefly flashed after everything else went dead.
Also, aux power such as cig lighters still work.
Please tell me this is a simple fix....PLEASE!!
Could it be a fuse?
Zoë
The only way to diagnose, by the sounds of things is to have a dealer scan tool (IDS), or any aftermarket scan tool (of which I'm unaware of any) capable of communicating with PATS to check for codes for starters.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: SoCal
The piece of information highlighted in bold red seems to me the most relevant to the cause of your issue, which appears to be a PATS issue by the sounds of things. In plain English, your truck appears to not recognize your key for whatever reason, and therefore the PCM refuses to supply the ground side of the starter relay to complete the start circuit.
The only way to diagnose, by the sounds of things is to have a dealer scan tool (IDS), or any aftermarket scan tool (of which I'm unaware of any) capable of communicating with PATS to check for codes for starters.
The only way to diagnose, by the sounds of things is to have a dealer scan tool (IDS), or any aftermarket scan tool (of which I'm unaware of any) capable of communicating with PATS to check for codes for starters.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,505
Likes: 256
From: Woodbridge, Ontario, CA
As long as we're on the same page with all the information provided, as in all lights and accessories function normally and your battery has a full 12 volts, then yes it sounds like a two to your local dealer. Perhaps your PATS transceiver (the ring around the ignition cylinder that "recognizes" the ignition key) is no longer working if I had to guess, but that's only a guess by the information provided.