[AcemyBenz]

Lately I had some battery issues. It was the one which came with the car; old and cheap to begin with so yesterday I actually decided to change it.

While I was driving to AutoZone the instrument cluster froze all of a sudden. Completely dead and with only the red Brake light on. I thought because of the bad battery probably a fuse went and it will be fixed once the new battery is on.

So I got to the store, shutdown the car, bought the new battery and installed it following the proper procedures. I then found the blown fuse (#14) and replaced it with a 20mA. Everything seemed to go back to normal. Before leaving I checked and got:

Plenty of juice flowing form the battery (new of course)
The remote worked
The top worked
The windows worked
Instruments back to normal with no lights on and no messages about any start error etc.

Problem: The car won't start!! It cranks, but doesn't start. Just like the immobilizer is stuck or the fuel is not released. I tried a few quick things, but it was getting dark. With no light and no tools I ended up disconnecting the battery and leaving the car in the store parking lot overnight (not too happy about that either).

Mind the car got me there and was working perfectly before this episode. Never had a start problem and it always starts right away. After a bit of reading & research I'm inclined to believe whatever electrical issue blew the fuse also ended up messing with a relay (K38 maybe or similar). I got no fault codes readout from the OBD because the car doesn't start and the fact happened after shut down so nothing is stored in the ECU memory, but I'm almost positive it's not the starter, solenoid, etc. because of the way things went down, but I'm definitely open to all suggestions.

 

[ArcticDweller]

Hi Ace:

Sorry about your NO START issue. :crying

It could be a lot of things, from fuel issues (pump, etc.) to electrical (Crankshaft Position Sensor, etc.)

I believe your Control Modules will still provide you with a Fault Code(s) if you just turn the Ignition to "ON"..... you don't need to have your Roadster's engine running in order to have your control modules activated. :wink

I'd recommend your getting any fault codes first.

Let us know what the outcome is, and we can go from there.

Good Luck, and May God Bless, Arctic

 

[AcemyBenz]

Thanks!! :smile

What I meant is there's nothing stored on the ECU. Readout is giving back no fault codes even with the ignition on.

Will try to avoid having it towed and troubleshoot on site later on today. Because of how and what happened I really doubt is something mechanical.

Will keep you guys posted. Keep suggestions coming :wink

 

[ArcticDweller]

Thanks!! :smile

What I meant is there's nothing stored on the ECU. Readout is giving back no fault codes even with the ignition on.

Will try to avoid having it towed and troubleshoot on site later on today. Because of how and what happened I really doubt is something mechanical.

Will keep you guys posted. Keep suggestions coming :wink

Ace:

Okay, let's proceed then without the aid of any fault code being thrown....

After you crank the engine over a few times (don't over crank or you may damage a module) take a whiff at the tail pipe..... can you smell unburnt gasoline vapours?

If YES, then your problem is not the fuel supply, but an electrical issue.

If NO, then your problem is fuel starvation.

Let us know.

God Bless, Arctic

 

[AcemyBenz]

Thanks Arctic!!

Yes, not overdoing the cranking to make it worse.

During basic troubleshooting last night smell of fuel was present, not a fuel issue.

The car is electronically preventing the engine to fire up, just like when the transponder in the key is not present. It exhibits the same exact behavior, but without the "Engine Start Error" message on the dashboard.

 

[Richard F]

The K38 relay locks out the starter so it won't crank.

 

[AcemyBenz]

The K38 relay locks out the starter so it won't crank.

So then basically i guess we can rule that out too because it's definitely cranking, just not firing!

 

[ArcticDweller]

ACE:

With your Model Year 1998 Roadster, do you have to RESET the Anti-Theft lock-out after replacing the battery?

Is there a procedure where you have to Lock & then Unlock the Driver's door with your key?

What's your Operator's Manual say?

God Bless, Arctic

 

[AcemyBenz]

Not to my knowledge, no. There isn't a procedure to re-sync the Anti Theft.

All the manual says is about re-syncing the windows and top which I did and they work. Owner manuals doesn't mention anything else

 

[ArcticDweller]

ACE:

I think we can ignore the Anti-Theft idea..... ATA locks out the starter, and yours is cranking, so that's not it, either.

Did you check your DAS? Insert the key into ignition and turn to position #2 , the LED should blink once.... if it does, it means DAS recognized the key.

God Bless, Arctic

 

[AcemyBenz]

Ok guys, I feel really stupid right now, but I need to tell the story straight out of respect of all you trying to help.

Last night when I changed the blown fuse #14 and checked the others I must have wrongly put back #34. Not an excuse but it was dark and I was doing things rather quickly (was also pretty irritated). Bottom line is that #34 is actually the fuse for the Ignition Coil. NO KIDDING the car wasn't firing up?!? Duh!

Today when I got there and re-checked the fuses under the sunny bright light, I noticed it out of place, set it straight and ended the nightmare!!

Sorry for wasting your time, I really didn't mean to.

 

[ph_sl500]

Ok guys, I feel really stupid right now, but I need to tell the story straight out of respect of all you trying to help.

Last night when I changed the blown fuse #14 and checked the others I must have wrongly put back #34. Not an excuse but it was dark and I was doing things rather quickly (was also pretty irritated). Bottom line is that #34 is actually the fuse for the Ignition Coil. NO KIDDING the car wasn't firing up?!? Duh!

Today when I got there and re-checked the fuses under the sunny bright light, I noticed it out of place, set it straight and ended the nightmare!!

Sorry for wasting your time, I really didn't mean to.

Good that is was that simple. Odd things happen in the dark.

 

[aam]

Good that is was that simple. Odd things happen in the dark.

Tell me about it.

I couldn't resist.

At list was only the fuse... Lol.

Regards,
aam.

 

[ArcticDweller]

Ok guys, I feel really stupid right now, but I need to tell the story straight out of respect of all you trying to help.

Last night when I changed the blown fuse #14 and checked the others I must have wrongly put back #34 . Not an excuse but it was dark and I was doing things rather quickly (was also pretty irritated). Bottom line is that #34 is actually the fuse for the Ignition Coil. NO KIDDING the car wasn't firing up?!? Duh!

Today when I got there and re-checked the fuses under the sunny bright light, I noticed it out of place, set it straight and ended the nightmare!!

Sorry for wasting your time, I really didn't mean to.

ACE:

You're an honest Man! Thanks for sharing. :smile

Methinks you'll always remember Fuse #34 with a grin! LOL

Glad everything worked out.

God Bless, Arctic

 

[wlb50]

I always feel better when I come clean :smile