zero2005

Hey guys, so i left my car for 3 days, and now it wont start. tried jumping it - no help. so i swapped out the battery. that didnt do anything.

all i get is i turn the key and get a *click click* noise -- it used to be fast and like it would do it ten times, after swapping the battery tho now it only does it 2 or 3 times and it takes a bit.

and when i put the key in, i faintly remember it doing a test before starting? where the gauges would shoot up to 150 mph and the rpms would go to 8K? yea doesnt do that anymore?

any help appreciated!!

*edit* o and its a 2003 gt w/ 5 speed...

Bullitt2theHead

Check the charge on the second battery. I know that sometimes batteries sit in parts departments long enough to go dead before theyre sold. If your gauges dont sweep youre not getting power.

zero2005

hmmm... another interesting note -- something i didnt notice before, but even when the key is in the ignition, is the "theft" light supposed to be flickering? it turns off when i put the key in the on position after it "self tests" . and also i can run the radio/lights/GPS etc etc all at the same time without ill effects?

tried also cleaning gunk off the cables, tho there wasnt really that much on there...

as well, i dont have a multimeter (yet) and i really dont wanna go back over to advanced auto...

StuzGT

...I think my theft light does the same...
...and if the ignition was disabled it wouldnt click...

I suspect battery is at low charge or low amps...
...or possible short in...hmmmm the starter.

If you dont want to buy a meter...take the battery with you

zero2005

actually i got a great idea, im just gunna take both batteries with me to work tonight and use the meter we got there lol...

zero2005

So i metered it out, 12.54 vdc, amps was like 1.3? it was dark out and i had to be quick so i couldnt exactly see what the amps were reading?

Bullitt2theHead

If your theft light is flashing rapidly, that means the car isnt recognizing the transponder in the key. This happens sometimes with dead batteries. You either need the key reprogrammed or the pcm reprogrammed (or both!). Regardless your car isnt going to start with a flickering theft light-youve already trigger the PATS!

Take the batteries to autozone and have them load test them. 12.5 isnt that far off full charge, but a load test will tell you whether its got the amps. Easiest thing to do, and its free!

Stang0005

This happened to me last year. I had to go ahead and get a new key.

zero2005

Aight, so battery load Test was good... (as i figured) i got a cheap multimeter and am doing voltage tests on the starter. so far from the positive side of battery to the outside of starter (ground) is good @ 12.3 volts [my service manual says above 10 = good]

now i just gotta figure out which contacts are which. my manual lables them as B, S and M...

zero2005

Aight, so according to my ford tech manual, it said jump 2 connectors and car should start. did that, motor turned over didnt stay on... so i figured what the hell, got in, pushed clutch in, and she started right up. guessing that the connector on the starter itself might be badly corroded or damaged. when i get the chance im gunna take a bit closer of a look at it. basically i think its just a matter of maybe replacing the wires, cleaning the poles, etc etc...