New battery and car won't start

[viper_eddie]

OK so I've tried a bit of searching on this topic from my phone but couldn't find someone else who had a similar issue. Basically I'm in the process of removing the aftermarket stripes from my car and, I think, either myself or my girlfriend left the rear window open and that drained the battery. I went and bought a new battery, installed it and after doing so, the interior lights immediately came on. I also had the door open when I did this and the locking mechanism would keep going on and off.

It wouldn't stop so I just clicked the unlock button on my key fob and it stopped. I then put the wheel back, lowered the car and went to start it. My dumbass was in a hurry because I wanted to drive the car so I put in the key, turned it and everything went dead again as soon as I turned the key all the way. No lights, no sounds, no anything.

Is there some sort of special procedure? Do I have to unhook the battery again or is there another way?

On a slightly different subject, anyone have experience with touch up paint on these cars? Will any good body shop do or does the fiberglass body pose different challenges? How about having a body shop remove the adhesive from the stripes? Such a royal PITA job.

[Steve-Indy]

Have you try to measure the voltage at the jump terminals?

[arizonajack]

I found this elsewhere on this site. See if it helps.



"Since we removed the battery we also reset the PCM after about 20 mins. As such, the PCM needs to relearn the “Wide Open Throttle’ voltage. This is a very simple step as described by Dave6666:

1. Turn key to on (don’t start the engine)

2. Mash gas fully and release 5 times.

3. Turn key to off and wait about 20 to 30 seconds.

4. Start car."

[viper_eddie]

I found this elsewhere on this site. See if it helps.



"Since we removed the battery we also reset the PCM after about 20 mins. As such, the PCM needs to relearn the “Wide Open Throttle’ voltage. This is a very simple step as described by Dave6666:

1. Turn key to on (don’t start the engine)

2. Mash gas fully and release 5 times.

3. Turn key to off and wait about 20 to 30 seconds.

4. Start car."

Thanks for the info, I will try this later today.

I haven't had time to look at it the whole week and something odd is going on. Last week, when I put the key in the door open light was working but as soon as I turned it from there everything went completely dead. Today, just for the sake of it I pushed the key fob and it's working! So I get in the car, put the key in and once again the door ajar light is on. As soon as I turn the key everything goes dead again.

I will try your method arizonajack but anyone have any similar experience? 2 people have told me to check the ground cable from the battery but I'm really not wanting to jack it up again, take wheel off, etc... To me it still seems like some sort of immobilizer or alarm is shutting it down.

[viper_eddie]

Just an update in case this happens to someone in the future (or I get lucky and someone who's had this happen to them sees the thread).

Took the wheel off and cleaned the ground strap and the 2 other straps that connect to the frame (which come from the positive side) and cleaned them. They were not dirty but I figured why not. Put everything back and the car started right up. Turned it off, started it again. Today I took it to the detailer (after it had been started about 4-5 times in 2 days) and as soon as he gets in to start it, it goes dead again. GREAT!

So I'm all ears again if anyone has other suggestions.

[Steve-Indy]

If your connections were dirty, maybe battery did not fully charge. Are you SURE that the connectors at the ends of the battery cables are solidly attacted ??

[viper_eddie]

If your connections were dirty, maybe battery did not fully charge. Are you SURE that the connectors at the ends of the battery cables are solidly attacted ??

I'm beginning to think that's the issue. This is the first car I've had with a battery with side terminals and every time I tightened them, if I went a bit harder it would just loosen up as if the thread is stripped. Not sure if that's normal for these types of batteries or maybe it's just the battery that I have.

[Steve-Indy]

At some point, I would also check connections at the starter.