Another battery question

[davem]

I know there are a lot of battery gurus out there ...... hopefully someone can give me an idea of what my problem is.

When my son went off to college about a month ago, I started driving his (my) Explorer (2001 XLT V-6, 125K miles) once a week, just to avoid having it sit for a long period of time. I wasn't long before the battery was dead, no dome lights, wont turn over, no click, etc. Since the battery was only 13 months old, I returned the battery (DieHard) to Sears, they did a test, proclaimed it was OK, and off I went. Hooked the battery up, started right up.

Then a few weeks later (ie yesterday), I tried to start it, and again: nothing (no dome lights, no click, wont turn over, etc). I tried to jump start it from another car, but nothing - wont turn over, nor click, etc. So I head back to Sears, get the same battery assessment (and a charge out of the deal, like the previous visit), and return home.

I hooked up the battery, climbed in, noticed the dome light was on, security light flashing, so I thought we were in business. Turn the key: nothing, and now the dome lights go out. A couple more tries=same result.

Would bad wiring somewhere explain why it wont start, nor turn on the dome lights ?
If so, why did the lights come on at first, then go out when I tried to start it ?

Could some sort of breaker get tripped, then get reset by removing the battery, and then trip again when I tried to start it ? (Which would not explain why it started after the first trip to Sears.)

I opened the fuse box, only to find 20+ fuses - I did not think a fuse would explain this, and did not feel like pulling a bunch of fuses. I also opened another 'fuse box' under the hood - pulled the fuse associated with the starter, looked fine, and skipped checking the rest - does not seem like a fuse problem.

Any suggestions on what to check ?

Thanks.

 

[jplinville]

Security light flashing means the system is armed. did you disarm the security system?

 

[davem]

I was referring to the red flashing light in the speedometer
Area. Not sure if it says "security" or " alarm".

I did nothing to disable or enable it. I simply disconnected
And reconnected the cables to the battery.


If the security system is somehow preventing it
From starting, let me know what to do. Would that explain
Why I've got no dome light?

 

[lounge lizard]

if you are opening the hood of the truck, how are you getting in to the truck to open the hood??

yes! if you are pulling the battery out while the alarm is still armed, when you put it back in it will turn lights on and then arm it's self.

you must then un arm the alarm before you can start the truck.

 

[davem]

I simply use the key to unlock the door and then pop the hood.

How do I arm/disarm the security ?

 

[jplinville]

You need the key fob

 

[yavapaires]

I know there are a lot of battery gurus out there ...... hopefully someone can give me an idea of what my problem is.

When my son went off to college about a month ago, I started driving his (my) Explorer (2001 XLT V-6, 125K miles) once a week, just to avoid having it sit for a long period of time. I wasn't long before the battery was dead, no dome lights, wont turn over, no click, etc. Since the battery was only 13 months old, I returned the battery (DieHard) to Sears, they did a test, proclaimed it was OK, and off I went. Hooked the battery up, started right up.

Then a few weeks later (ie yesterday), I tried to start it, and again: nothing (no dome lights, no click, wont turn over, etc). I tried to jump start it from another car, but nothing - wont turn over, nor click, etc. So I head back to Sears, get the same battery assessment (and a charge out of the deal, like the previous visit), and return home.

I hooked up the battery, climbed in, noticed the dome light was on, security light flashing, so I thought we were in business. Turn the key: nothing, and now the dome lights go out. A couple more tries=same result.

Would bad wiring somewhere explain why it wont start, nor turn on the dome lights ?
If so, why did the lights come on at first, then go out when I tried to start it ?

Could some sort of breaker get tripped, then get reset by removing the battery, and then trip again when I tried to start it ? (Which would not explain why it started after the first trip to Sears.)

I opened the fuse box, only to find 20+ fuses - I did not think a fuse would explain this, and did not feel like pulling a bunch of fuses. I also opened another 'fuse box' under the hood - pulled the fuse associated with the starter, looked fine, and skipped checking the rest - does not seem like a fuse problem.

Any suggestions on what to check ?

Thanks.

How about something simple, like checking the battery cables? If they look good, doesn't mean they are good. Case in point, 95 Kenworth would derate while driving, reduced power, black smoke from holding throttle open. Battery cables looked good, but, slit the covering and discovered CORROSION, heavy green white powder. Long story short, check the cables.

 

[davem]

Problem solved.

The negative cable's post clamp and the negative post on the battery were fine.

But where the two black wires were clamped onto the post clamp was another story. I disconnected the wires, shined them up with the post scrubber-brush, then cleaned where they attached to the clamp, worked in some anti-oxide grease, and she fired right up.

Thanks for pointing towards the simple stuff first.


I still dont understand the security arm/disarm stuff ......... I may have given the impression that I have some sort of additional security option - I don't - all I have is whatever the basic/flashing 'theft' light entails.


Thanks everyone.

 

[lounge lizard]

do you have a keypad on the drivers door right by the handle?

good to see it was a simple fix, thought you had that all checked out prior to this thread

 

[davem]

I had check the clamp connection to the battery post, but had NOT checked the wiring to the clamp.


Yeah, I do have the door keypad.