Valhalla519

Hey everyone,

So my car doesn't start and I replaced the battery this morning. Could this be the culprit? I think so!

Valhalla519

I was able to get my hand down there and the cable was coming apart when I was moving it around.

Now if I can get access to it...

pole

to verify, make ground with a jump cable, ground the engine to the chassis, at the negative terminal. Basically, this bypasses that broken ground, and you make a new ground.

If it starts, it's the cable, if not, something else, maybe the starter.

Valhalla519

Alright, so just take the 2 neg ends of the jumper cables and connect from ground bolt to engine?

pole

exactly. you are basically making a new ground.

have someone try and start the car while you are holding the cable in place, to make sure it has good contact.

Valhalla519

Tried it and on many spots on the engine block but no crank. I just put in this new Agm battery yesterday and it's reading 12 v and when I push start it goes down to 11.5...and I think I left the IBS sensor connected from the positive to the negative but not back to the ecu so Ill disconnect that just incase.

Also my jumper cables might be crap so I'm going to try a different set .

pole

12V is on the low side a bit, but still it would at least try to crank the engine.

try to place one clamp of the cable exactly on the spot where the ground cable connects to the engine block, the other on the negative bolt in the engine bay.

But you should consider other options, like the starter... does it try to crank, make any noise whatsoever? Why did you disconnect the IBS?

Tap repeatedly with something on the starter, like a wooden stick or smth, if it cranks after, it's the starter 100%

Valhalla519

So I set up the ground trick but still no crank. I found out that before when I was tapping the what I thought was starter was actually the solenoid and I don't have a stick long enough to reach the actual starter so I need to get one and try.

I disconnected the IBS when I changed the battery and never re-connected it but now when I did, I got a High Battery Discharge message on the I drive...

I feel like its a mixture of the ground cable because it's corroded and breaking apart and also the starter..I would hope that's it!

pole

try tapping on the starter, and report back. you should order the cable nevertheless, it's toast.

don't mind that "high rate batt discharge" message, it's because you had the ibs disconnected... unless you did notice the battery is weak, but still, this is not the issue with no crank.

and oh, don't use a metal stick when you tap on the starter, stick with wood, for "positive" reasons.

Valhalla519

Ok I'll report back when I try to tap the starter.
The battery is brand new so I'm not worried about it. I've got a tow coming Wednesday to get me in so my guy can check what's going on.

By the way, Pole, thanks for all the help!