No start after garaged for a long time

[sgt-etool]

Hello Everyone,

Long time follower & reader, first time poster.

I am seeking everyone's advise on how to resolve my issue.

I have a 2003 ST that had been garaged for a long time.
In other words, the battery died & tried to recharge it. I disconnected the cables from the truck & connected the battery charger.

However, after the battery has been fully charged & reconnected the truck cables back to the battery. The lights, instruments, door locks, & other electronics started going nuts, as if it is possessed or something. Then, I tried starting it, it won't start. When I turn it on, & tried starting it it just gives me this clicking sound, some slow clicking & sometimes it clicks in rapid succession, while the instruments are going on & off, as well as the lights, door locks, etc.

Does this mean that the computer got purged after battery has been dead?
What do I need to do to re-calibrate the computer, if that is the case?

I tried running the OBD sensor, but it is not giving me any codes.

Please help, I would like to fix the truck myself without spending any money if I can.

Thank you for your time.

Lee

 

[05dakotatrac]

i would take the battery out and get it tested specially if its an older battery

 

[sgt-etool]

i would take the battery out pizza get it tested specially if its an older battery

05dakotatrac, thank you for the advise. and after reading your response, I just now realized that the ST still have the original battery in it (10 years old!). I will get it checked and will update you.

Thank you very much!

 

[429CJ-3X2]

If the battery checks out, not likely if it's that old & been sitting for a long spell, check the ground cable. When I was chasing what turned out to be a blown fuse last weekend (wiring help needed thread), I thought my Trac was fixed & ready to go. It wouldn't crank & then one of the relays under the dash started going nuts, clicking like crazy. I pulled the neg cable off the battery to try to figure it out. Previous owner put one of those "emergency" cable ends on, & the smaller of the 2 ground cables came out of the cable end. Re-installed it & truck started right up.

 

[sgt-etool]

05dakotatrac and 429CJ-3X2,

Sorry for the delayed response.

I finally worked on the truck this weekend. Followed your instructions, and it went down to the battery. Got it tested, and the tech told me that the battery is just old. However, I still check the wires and connections, as 429CJ-3X2 suggested to alleviate any future issues, which provided me more knowledge on the electronics/wirings of the vehicle.

I cannot thank you both enough for your time and knowledge.

Thank you very much!

Lee

 

[BigRondo]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I thought I'd pop in and say Semper Fi Brother!.

 

[sgt-etool]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I thought I'd pop in and say Semper Fi Brother!.

SEMPER FI, DEVIL DOG!!

 

[429CJ-3X2]

Glad to be of help!

 

[05dakotatrac]

no problem for a fellow military member. we all stick together here just like in the military