2K4 STI Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 My 87 RX m/t has been sitting for a few months. I know the battery is dead but even if I try and jump start it, it doesn't even crank over at all. No key Chime,no lights or anything. I checked the fuses and replaced the fusable links and still nothing. Anything else I can look for? I would try and push start it ,but I live on a hill and if it doesn't start that way I have no way to get it back up. It has always ran great and did when I parked it last. Thank in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Have you replaced the battery? They can go bad sitting without a charge. I believe it is called sulfation. It happens to my boat battery if I leave it sitting without a charge. Try substituting a known good and charged battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2K4 STI Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 I'm pretty sure the battery is dead. I tried jump starting it with my BMW and it doesn't even make a sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djellum Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 if you run a battery completely dead and try to start on it, it can fry the cables that attach to it. Im not sure of the science behind it, but I had a similar problem once and my dad told me what to look for on the phone. sure enough the cable itself was melted. dead batteries aren't actual completely empty of charge ussually. Jump starting it isnt the same as having a decent battey in it, it just gives it a nudge. try actually switching the battery and checking the cables to make sure they are intact and not melted or used for squirrel bedding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan K Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Clean your terminals, on my WRX I had the same problem shortly after I got it, pulled the terminal covers off and the corrosion was so bad that the positive terminal had been completely eaten thru. Checking fusible links/fuses is always a good idea too. Buying a multimeter really helped me out when I had electrical problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2K4 STI Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 I did clean the terminals both positive and negative but did not know about the melted wire thing. I'll check that also. No rats or squirrels here to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coxy Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Disconnect the old battery as if it is really dead then it will suck all the current and stop the car starting.Either substitute a known good one or try running purely off the jump vehicle battery,Do not allow it to run and have the jump leads come loose or it can damage the charging system,Better to swap out the battery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2K4 STI Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 Disconnect the old battery as if it is really dead then it will suck all the current and stop the car starting.Either substitute a known good one or try running purely off the jump vehicle battery,Do not allow it to run and have the jump leads come loose or it can damage the charging system,Better to swap out the battery I was going to try the jump without the battery, but trying to convince the wife to hold the cables while I try and start it didn't go over so well,LOL Im just going to try a new battery and go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2K4 STI Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 So I decided to try the jump battery method first before running and getting a battery. With the cables hooked up to just the positive and negative leads "no battery in place" and the other end to my new bmw battery, it clicked for a second,like it was going to try and turn over then back to nothing at all. Now I'm not even sure a new battery is going to do the trick. Well partially since the old one is dead. Anything else to check? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john in KY Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Maybe the starter motor is locked up/failed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 If it clicked, but did nothing, it sounds like it didn't have quite good enough of a connection to me. I would still try putting a good battery and making sure the terminals have a good connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2K4 STI Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 That my next venture is to completely pull the battery cables out, clean both ends till they sparkle like new and try again. At least my old Deftones cd popped out of the cd player ,LOL forgot it was even in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 try the new battery first. the fact you got something after removing the dead one should give you hope. the old battery may have been internally shorted, causing no power at all, but no battery is not enough juice, so therefore, a new battery should work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivans imports Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 put a bar on engine make shure cranks by hand and put a battery in it allready check the main power feed comes off the + battery termanal and gos to fuseabble link box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 So I decided to try the jump battery method first before running and getting a battery. With the cables hooked up to just the positive and negative leads "no battery in place" and the other end to my new bmw battery, it clicked for a second,like it was going to try and turn over then back to nothing at all. Now I'm not even sure a new battery is going to do the trick. Well partially since the old one is dead. Anything else to check? Do you have an Autozone nearby? They can test the battery for free. Take it out and take it into them. Since you got a click with it removed and jumper to jumper, I'd say the battery is at least part of the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.