Hello All,

Before I go out and start troubleshooting, I thought I would post up and see if anyone has had the same issue.

My 2001 is completely dead, no electrical power at all.

Here is what happened...
Prior to last night I had no other symptoms other than the car would smell "skunky" after being driven. I drove the car for about 15 miles and parked it. When I went to leave I was able to unlock the doors with FOB and all of the interior lights came on as usual. I put the key in the ignition and turned it, and everything went dead. I heard a slight "pop" at the same time everything went dead. Flatbedded it home. The operator put jumper cables on it, and still nothing, not even the interior lights would come on.

The battery is a little over three years old. The car does sit for a couple of weeks at a time.

Herer are my questions / thoughts...

Could the battery have shorted and even with the jump it would still not take power?
Did I blow a fuse, and if so, any likley candidates?
I did check the battery connections with a wrench, and they are snug.

Any other thoughts? I am going to head out and take a look at the fuses and see if there is anything obvious, but I wanted to post up to see if the Forum had any other ideas. I am tempted to call AAA and have them bring over a replacement battery for giggles.

Any and all help is appreciated.

Thanks,
John

 

Yes. I have seen batteries with a shorted cell, that would not take a jump start.

 

I'd certainly start by replacing the battery. A dead battery in these cars cause all sorts of problems. And with the old one being three yrs. old, it's time for replacement anyways. Good luck.

 

While you're at it, check for battery acid leaking down on PCM. (under battery)

And water leaking down on your BCM. (pass. foot well)

 

Get to the starter solenoid and see the connections there as well but as Lucky corrected me one time about this, the power to the fuse boxes are right at the battery. If you have a DVM, put it across the battery and see what you have.

 

Don't even remind me!!

lol

But yes definitely get a known-working battery to start - if that does not help then check the BCM.

 

Thanks all for the help. It turned out to be a defective battery that Sears did a warranty exchange on. Funny thing was that the tow truck could not jump it last night, but today it would start off of a jump box. The only other thing is that I cannot get the cover on the foot well fuse box back on to seat. It closes, but I cannot get the screw started, I hate blind fasteners.

 

The cover fitss upside down, according to the writing on it. Most people have crappy jumper cables. Many things are mis-diagnosed due to faulty jumper cables! Glad you got it running.

 

Yep, I agree. It goes on upside down.