Author Topic: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.  (Read 17712 times)

Offline Mikael Mikkelsen

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Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« on: March 12, 2011, 11:55:15 am »
All the electronics in the car work fine, and I can hear the starter turning the engine over and over but it won't start up..




I was doing a boost leak test yesterday and found that my TPS wasn't tight enough and was leaking pretty bad (my BISS was really really bad) So I tightened it up.

I had a really hard time for some reason trying to get to that bottom 8mm bolt on the TPS, so I had my girlfriend help me with it


We were doing good, I ran to the garage to grab something and while I was gone she released the wrench against the battery terminal (the one on the side) and some shit started to smoke....

By the time I got out she was *blowing the smoke away...I mean shit happens so, time to just deal with the issue at hand

Shes unable to tell me exactly where the smoke came from, but she believes it was on the spring side of the throttle body (I dont even see any electronics there)


Im doing testing today and Ill post up my results, Ill start at the TPS and then I donno, the car will not start up, but it will turn over and over and over


-None of the fuses are blown
« Last Edit: March 12, 2011, 12:34:11 pm by Mikael Mikkelsen »

Offline Remi Raymond

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2011, 01:20:57 pm »
That just plain sucks.

First thing you need to do is check your ECU for damage

Bad TPS's (and ISC's) have been known to burn out ECU's just by sending 5 volts to them. Running voltage through the TB most likely did the same thing...

They're like expensive pokemon... gotta catch 'em all.

Offline John Hartman

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2011, 01:23:31 pm »
check for spark, check for fuel.

if you can isolate which it is, then you don't have to test EVERYTHING.
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Offline Mikael Mikkelsen

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2011, 01:32:58 pm »
I've just tested the power to fuel, everything looks ok there.

I've just checked the ISC with an ohmmeter, im not getting the usual reading but its also really hard to get in there.
I think Im going to have to go down to the junkyard and try to find another one I guess. Ill test it again after I get it out of there just to make sure


Anyone have a quick idea what kind of 4g63 i can pull it out of?
« Last Edit: March 12, 2011, 01:34:36 pm by Mikael Mikkelsen »

Offline John Hartman

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2011, 01:43:40 pm »
the isc will not cause your car to not start.  It maybe won't rev up on start up or idle well or at all.

You can find one from anything that looks the same.  its in tons of cars, even single cam cars.

And how did you "tested the power to fuel"?  I am not following.

I mean for you to see if you are actually getting any fuel.  Like pull the return line off at the regulator and have someone crank the engine(yes crank it, not key on, our system doesn't work the same as a Chev truck) and watch for copious amounts of fuel.

Check for spark tho, its easier.  Pull a wire, put a spare plug in it(any kind is fine) and touch the threads of the plug to some clean metal on the engine and crank it.
91 Eagle Talon TSi 5spd awd.  GT-12, TriFlow Cams, 850s, Tial, JIC, Jackal, sticky rubber.
86 Merkur XR4Ti 5spd, rwd, turbo, 91,381km.  Original paint, heated leather. intercooled, big VAM, Full 3" exhaust, Cossie sway bar, 16" tires.
06 Mazdaspeed6 6spd awd, DISI turbo, heated leather HIDs, Corksport, Cobb, Konig, Centric...
2018 VW Golf Alltrack turbo Tornado Red, 6mt, some free mods

Offline Remi Raymond

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2011, 01:44:04 pm »
Check your ECU for damage...
They're like expensive pokemon... gotta catch 'em all.

Offline Mikael Mikkelsen

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2011, 02:05:58 pm »
How do you check an ecu for damages?

With the fuel system, when I rewired it I added some test lamps to tell me if Im getting power to the pump, which I am.



So really any of the throttle body stuff cant be stopping my car from starting...

dammit, that means its a bigger problem...

Offline Mikael Mikkelsen

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2011, 02:30:36 pm »
So I just checked the plugs as you said john.

I took the wire out from the plug, plugged another plug into that wire, and held the threads of the plug against a grounded bolt.

I didn't see anything sparking or hear anything...

I have a pretty good feeling im not getting any spark at all

Did I do it right? what does that mean?


Could it possibly just be my power transistor for the wires?
« Last Edit: March 12, 2011, 03:04:21 pm by Mikael Mikkelsen »

Offline Remi Raymond

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2011, 03:40:08 pm »
Take it out and look at it physically, there will probably be something melted or exploded.
Search for "DSM TPS ECU failure" and start reading.
They're like expensive pokemon... gotta catch 'em all.

Offline Jordan Kruger

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2011, 03:55:41 pm »
just a quick glance at any circuit board will reveal a short.   take the cover off the ecu and look at the green board and pay close attention to anywhere a pin goes thru and is soldered   a short will often leave a white or black burn mark.  check that your capacitors are good while your in there too.  they tend to melt due to heat alone..
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Offline kevin derhouson

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2011, 04:13:23 pm »
just a quick glance at any circuit board will reveal a short.   take the cover off the ecu and look at the green board and pay close attention to anywhere a pin goes thru and is soldered   a short will often leave a white or black burn mark.  check that your capacitors are good while your in there too.  they tend to melt due to heat alone..

it would likely smell a bit in your car as well, have had circuit boards from computers fry in my lap before and its always a peculiar odour.
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Offline Mikael Mikkelsen

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2011, 04:22:40 pm »
So even if the steppor motor is completely fried the car will still start and turn on? I'd really like to avoid doing the 2 hour job of testing the ecu if that's not what it is.

Like all the smoke came from under the hood, from under the throttle body

Offline Mikael Mikkelsen

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #12 on: March 12, 2011, 04:39:15 pm »
I'm going to the store to buy an odb 2 reader. Ill post the errors

Offline Jordan Kruger

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #13 on: March 12, 2011, 04:44:52 pm »
have you even pulled the spark plugs with them still connected and check for spark?    do you hear the fuel pump?
« Last Edit: March 12, 2011, 04:46:27 pm by Jordan Kruger »
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Replacing parts since early 2010.

Offline Remi Raymond

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Re: Battery shorted out on a wrench, now car won't start.
« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2011, 06:39:51 pm »
So even if the steppor motor is completely fried the car will still start and turn on? I'd really like to avoid doing the 2 hour job of testing the ecu if that's not what it is.

Like all the smoke came from under the hood, from under the throttle body

I think you might be confused about this
It takes 5 minutes to pull the eco and 30 seconds to open the cover.
A code reader won't help you if the circuit board is damaged.
You just need to use your eyes to rule that out first because what was done has most likely caused damage to it.

Does your CEL come on when you turn the key to "ON" (don't start it)
Does it go out after 5 seconds?
They're like expensive pokemon... gotta catch 'em all.