Need Help - Starting Problems (VATS System Engaged?)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: Shreveport LA
Need Help - Starting Problems (VATS System Engaged?)
I found out today that my battery officially will not hold a charge anymore. I had my buddy give me a jump start and we got the car cranked very easily. After a spin around the block to knock the dust off of her (I've been out of town for a while) I turned the car off so we could talk without screaming over the exhaust note :D
When I tried to crank the car again I had no battery. When he tried to give me another jump start, the starter engaged fine but the engine never hit. We discovered quickly that the injectors weren't priming when I turned the key on.
Is this the method by the VATS system operates? Does it somehow kill power to the fuel pump or the injectors? The car was running perfectly prior to that second jump start. Also, I might have had the key turned on the second time we tried to attach the jumper cables. Any chance I might have fried a relay or something? Are there any known negative symptoms that come as the result of trying the attach jumper cables with the ignition key turned on?
If it's the VATS, how do I reset it!!
Hope I didn't fry something! :eek:
Thanks :thumbs:
When I tried to crank the car again I had no battery. When he tried to give me another jump start, the starter engaged fine but the engine never hit. We discovered quickly that the injectors weren't priming when I turned the key on.
Is this the method by the VATS system operates? Does it somehow kill power to the fuel pump or the injectors? The car was running perfectly prior to that second jump start. Also, I might have had the key turned on the second time we tried to attach the jumper cables. Any chance I might have fried a relay or something? Are there any known negative symptoms that come as the result of trying the attach jumper cables with the ignition key turned on?
If it's the VATS, how do I reset it!!
Hope I didn't fry something! :eek:
Thanks :thumbs:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Need Help - Starting Problems (ROME)
Jumping a dead battery, even one that won't hold a charge won't bring the battery voltage up high enough to run the ECM properly. The connection resistance from even the largest jumper cables is just too high when the starter motor is running. You need to put a new and charged battery in and I am sure your car will start fine. You didn't fry anything and there is no resetting VATS.
Also, a spin around the block will not put much of a charge in your battery. You might consider connecting a battery charger on it for a minimum of 24 hours and several days is even better. Lead acid batteries self discharge about 1% every day and during discharge lead sulphate collects on the plates. Lead sulfate is a good insulator and if left long enough, you will have a door stop instead of a battery. Always periodically charge a battery that isn't in service for longer than 3 weeks. If you have a battery charger, buy an interval timer and have it charge your battery once a day on its shortest interval (usually 15 min). This will keep your battery up.
[Modified by jfb, 11:30 PM 1/10/2004]
Also, a spin around the block will not put much of a charge in your battery. You might consider connecting a battery charger on it for a minimum of 24 hours and several days is even better. Lead acid batteries self discharge about 1% every day and during discharge lead sulphate collects on the plates. Lead sulfate is a good insulator and if left long enough, you will have a door stop instead of a battery. Always periodically charge a battery that isn't in service for longer than 3 weeks. If you have a battery charger, buy an interval timer and have it charge your battery once a day on its shortest interval (usually 15 min). This will keep your battery up.
[Modified by jfb, 11:30 PM 1/10/2004]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: Shreveport LA
Re: Need Help - Starting Problems (jfb)
Thanks for the insight. I'll give it a shot tommorrow with a new battery.
I'm still confused as to why the car cranked perfectly on the first jump, only to not respond at all on the second jump. If it works with the new battery then I should be set. Thanks! :thumbs:
I'm still confused as to why the car cranked perfectly on the first jump, only to not respond at all on the second jump. If it works with the new battery then I should be set. Thanks! :thumbs:
