I parked it at night, the next morning it wouldn't start, yet when I
released pressure on the key, I saw a dim version of the dashboard
engine light. Replaced the battery - and nothing happened there. No
headlights or anything w/the new battery. What am I gonna do?!
Woody - 06 Nov 2006 23:27 GMT
You gonna have to find a mechanic or someone to diagnose the problem. Did
you check the battery? Was it really bad? Throwing parts will cost you lots
more than the mechanic. Could be starter. Could be cables. Could be....
>I parked it at night, the next morning it wouldn't start, yet when I
> released pressure on the key, I saw a dim version of the dashboard
> engine light. Replaced the battery - and nothing happened there. No
> headlights or anything w/the new battery. What am I gonna do?!
Comboverfish - 06 Nov 2006 23:54 GMT
> I parked it at night, the next morning it wouldn't start, yet when I
> released pressure on the key, I saw a dim version of the dashboard
> engine light. Replaced the battery - and nothing happened there. No
> headlights or anything w/the new battery. What am I gonna do?!
You may have burned a fusible link via an electrical short somewhere in
the wiring harnass.
You should start with the basics first; check the nominal battery
voltage - it should be around 12.6 volts for a battery at near full
charge, then visually inspect the battery cables and connections to the
starter, ground, alternator, and power junction box. If everything is
good, clean and tight there, I would look for burned fusible link
coming off of the starter B+ stud or at the power junction box B+ stud.
I don't know exactly where it is on your vehicle but a visual
inspection should turn it/them up. If a link is fried you will need to
determine which load served by it has either shorted to ground or is
drawing excess current.
Toyota MDT in MO
Chris - 07 Nov 2006 00:00 GMT
I did notice that there was no continuity between the negative battery
terminal and ground. There also didn't appear to be any current draw
between the positive terminal (disconnected) and the battery (with the
neg terminal screwed on). But I didn't check it with the ignition key
engaged if that would be significant.
Comboverfish - 07 Nov 2006 00:08 GMT
> I did notice that there was no continuity between the negative battery
> terminal and ground. There also didn't appear to be any current draw
> between the positive terminal (disconnected) and the battery (with the
> neg terminal screwed on). But I didn't check it with the ignition key
> engaged if that would be significant.
Working in the business I *have* seen people attach their battery
terminals to the battery --- right over the protective plastic covers
that come on some new batteries. I suggested a blown fuse based on the
premise that the new battery was working, charged, and hooked up
properly. It really sounds like you at first had a near dead battery
from the original complaint. If you *had* a dead battery, then
improperly hooked up the new battery (lets say backwards) you could
have blown the main fuse link easily. Or if you hooked up the new
battery but failed to achieve proper post to cable contact you could be
experiencing 100% voltage drop as you witnessed between the neg
terminal and the body. It sounds like an easy problem to diagnose if I
could see it in person...
Toyota MDT in MO
Chris - 07 Nov 2006 00:23 GMT
> It really sounds like you at first had a near dead battery
> from the original complaint.
After I pulled it out, it read about 7 v. I did leave out alot of
details. Sorry...
> If you *had* a dead battery, then
> improperly hooked up the new battery (lets say backwards) you could
> have blown the main fuse link easily.
Nah, not possibly to hook it up backwards. Cables are too short to go
anywhere else but where they're supposed to.
>Or if you hooked up the new
> battery but failed to achieve proper post to cable contact you could be
> experiencing 100% voltage drop as you witnessed between the neg
> terminal and the body.
I did an actual continuity check with a VOM (which audibly alerts the
presence of continuity). I can't remember if the neg cable was
disconnected or not, but it really shouldn't make a difference I think.
Comboverfish - 07 Nov 2006 01:24 GMT
> I did an actual continuity check with a VOM (which audibly alerts the
> presence of continuity). I can't remember if the neg cable was
> disconnected or not, but it really shouldn't make a difference I think.
It shouldn't make a difference if the battery is hooked up when you
check continuity from the battery neg post to the chassis?
Either rethink that or correct me on what you are trying to say.
Anyway, use voltage for your tests and you will be much happier.
Measure battery voltage, then look for that same voltage at all points
where it should be present, then look for near zero voltage at all
points that are supposed to be solid ground.
Toyota MDT in MO
Chris - 07 Nov 2006 22:45 GMT
> It shouldn't make a difference if the battery is hooked up when you
> check continuity from the battery neg post to the chassis?
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> where it should be present, then look for near zero voltage at all
> points that are supposed to be solid ground.
Well, ground is ground, and testing ground against ground will always
yield 0 ohms (or 0 volts). If the neg terminal is connected to ground,
testing continuity between it and the chassis will yield 0 ohms
(causing the meter to beep). Testing continuity between the chassis and
another point on the chassis will also yield 0 ohms, causing another
beep. That's my understanding of electrics anyway. The meter in
continuity mode generates it's own voltage, and if it reads that back
(i.e no resistance) then there's continuity between those 2 points.
Maybe typical automotive use VOMs don't have a continuity mode. It's
used an awful lot in electronics, and even by electricians I would
imagine.
In my case, there was no continuity between the negative terminal and
chassis ground, which might be the problem right there. I'm going
"there" now to check it out some more. Thanks for the help.
Noozer - 07 Nov 2006 23:56 GMT
Go jumper cables?
Pull the battery cable off of the NEG battery post. Clamp a jumper cable to
the post. Clamp the other end of the cable to the engine block. Does it work
now?
>> It shouldn't make a difference if the battery is hooked up when you
>> check continuity from the battery neg post to the chassis?
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> chassis ground, which might be the problem right there. I'm going
> "there" now to check it out some more. Thanks for the help.
Noozer - 07 Nov 2006 01:26 GMT
>> It really sounds like you at first had a near dead battery
>> from the original complaint.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Nah, not possibly to hook it up backwards. Cables are too short to go
> anywhere else but where they're supposed to.
ASSuming that the new and old battery has the terminals in the same
places!!!
Scott Dorsey - 07 Nov 2006 01:57 GMT
>I did notice that there was no continuity between the negative battery
>terminal and ground.
Well, that would do it, all right.
--scott

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Mike Romain - 07 Nov 2006 14:43 GMT
There you go, the connections on the negative cable are bad. The cable
needs cleaning on 'both' ends which is pretty common on older beasts.
When the negative is that corroded, I recommend cleaning both ends of
the positive cable as well.
Sometimes the bad connection is where the cable goes into the battery
clamp also.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
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> I did notice that there was no continuity between the negative battery
> terminal and ground. There also didn't appear to be any current draw
> between the positive terminal (disconnected) and the battery (with the
> neg terminal screwed on). But I didn't check it with the ignition key
> engaged if that would be significant.
Noozer - 07 Nov 2006 01:25 GMT
>I parked it at night, the next morning it wouldn't start, yet when I
> released pressure on the key, I saw a dim version of the dashboard
> engine light. Replaced the battery - and nothing happened there. No
> headlights or anything w/the new battery. What am I gonna do?!
Uhm... You have to turn the key after replacing the battery. Nothing is
supposed to happen when you swap the battery.
: )
Anyhow, what do you mean by "wouldn't start"?
My 86 G10 would turn over fine and that would be it. Occasionally it would
start and then just die while driving. Turned out the be the computer under
the drivers seat.
It was kinda funny... I had pulled the computer out so I could reach under
the seat. Whenever the engine died I'd drop her into neutral while still
going down the road and then I'd reach under the seat and give the computer
a sharp rap with my knuckles and try turning the key. The engine usually
fired up after one or two raps to the computer.
Scott Dorsey - 07 Nov 2006 01:56 GMT
>I parked it at night, the next morning it wouldn't start, yet when I
>released pressure on the key, I saw a dim version of the dashboard
>engine light. Replaced the battery - and nothing happened there. No
>headlights or anything w/the new battery. What am I gonna do?!
I'd try pushstarting if it's a manual, and taking it to a mechanic
or someone else with a meter who can start looking at fusible links.
Start from the battery and work forward to the lights... somewhere along
the line you'll find something open.
--scott

Signature
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."