Shorted battery...now no start...

[airbur]

VIDEO OF ISSUE

Situation: Just replaced 4 year old Interstate battery with new unit (another Interstate). Battery checks out at 12.6V off and 14.7V on.

While I was installing the new battery I accidentally shorted the positive terminal to chassis. Big spark, no fire. I completed the install after cleaning all contacts etc. Attempted to start the engine and it cranked over and over with no luck. The starter is working fine and sounds like a normal start process, but it doesn't turn over.

After trying a few times, I got it to start and it seems to run fine. But after shutting down and trying again we're back to just cranking.

All other electrical (lights, radio, indicators) work fine. Battery seems to be fine...any suggestions? No other work has been done recently. Checked all fuses.

 

[Drunner97]

VIDEO OF ISSUE

Situation: Just replaced 4 year old Interstate battery with new unit (another Interstate). Battery checks out at 12.6V off and 14.7V on.

While I was installing the new battery I accidentally shorted the positive terminal to chassis. Big spark, no fire. I completed the install after cleaning all contacts etc. Attempted to start the engine and it cranked over and over with no luck. The starter is working fine and sounds like a normal start process, but it doesn't turn over.

After trying a few times, I got it to start and it seems to run fine. But after shutting down and trying again we're back to just cranking.

All other electrical (lights, radio, indicators) work fine. Battery seems to be fine...any suggestions? No other work has been done recently. Checked all fuses.

I've done that before and had no problems. I've had my Tacoma do the crank non stop thing after putting a new battery in, but after trying 2 or 3 times it usually starts right up.

 

[airbur]

I've done that before and had no problems. I've had my Tacoma do the crank non stop thing after putting a new battery in, but after trying 2 or 3 times it usually starts right up.

After it started up....and you shut it down. Did it continue to have a rough time starting? That’s what mine is doing.


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[Drunner97]

After it started up....and you shut it down. Did it continue to have a rough time starting? That’s what mine is doing.


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Not typically, but you may have drained the battery down enough that it's struggling now. If you have a charger or jump pack you might try that.

 

[airbur]

Not typically, but you may have drained the battery down enough that it's struggling now. If you have a charger or jump pack you might try that.

I left it on a trickle charger all night and before I tried starting it checked good at 12.6V.


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[Drunner97]

I left it on a trickle charger all night and before I tried starting it checked good at 12.6V.


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Double check your connectors? Free from corrosion? Tried starting the runner the other day and it wouldn't go (it's up on stands right now) thought the battery was dead but my negative was loose.

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[airbur]

Double check your connectors? Free from corrosion? Tried starting the runner the other day and it wouldn't go (it's up on stands right now) thought the battery was dead but my negative was loose.

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Connections are all good. No corrosion.


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[riceandpho]

i would get another battery and return the one you just bought. it should be covered under warranty. hopefully u got the group 27 size. 24 will work, but i find it a little small.

 

[airbur]

i would get another battery and return the one you just bought. it should be covered under warranty. hopefully u got the group 27 size. 24 will work, but i find it a little small.

Yea, I was considering that just to take the battery out of the loop. Can a battery that is obviously showing correct voltage still cause an issue during cranking? Pretty sure the answer is yes.

 

[Bumbo]

Yea, I was considering that just to take the battery out of the loop. Can a battery that is obviously showing correct voltage still cause an issue during cranking? Pretty sure the answer is yes.

Ur right it can, The answer is yes...

Its not the resting voltage that matters, but the voltage under load (during cranking).

If you have a large voltage drop, the battery has lost its ability to dish out the current.

That's pretty much how these automotive battery testers work, they look at the voltage under load. Easy to measure if you have a DMM that has a MIN/MAX function to capture peaks/dips.

 

[Drunner97]

Yea, I was considering that just to take the battery out of the loop. Can a battery that is obviously showing correct voltage still cause an issue during cranking? Pretty sure the answer is yes.

If it's got a bad cell it could possibly cause an issue. Swap it if you can. Only other things to look at are really the fuses but you've already checked those. Arcing it for a quick second really shouldn't do any damage.

 

[airbur]

Thanks. I was thinking I could also jump it and see if it starts right up.

 

[airbur]

New battery load tested 100% good at Interstate. Re-installed it in the 4Runner, got it started, let it run. Shut down, started back up again. Did that a couple of times and just let it run. It's running good now.

I'm thinking the EFI computer had to relearn?

 

[AuSeeker]

New battery load tested 100% good at Interstate. Re-installed it in the 4Runner, got it started, let it run. Shut down, started back up again. Did that a couple of times and just let it run. It's running good now.

I'm thinking the EFI computer had to relearn?

When you shorted it out did you disconnect it again and re-connect it or has it been connected the whole time since you shorted it out?

 

[airbur]

When you shorted it out did you disconnect it again and re-connect it or has it been connected the whole time since you shorted it out?

Well, I thought I had it sorted out. Just tried to start it again and it's doing the exact same thing...just keeps cranking. Regardless, the battery has been disconnected and reconnected now.

Any more ideas? I'd hate to take it to Toyota to have them say ...."well, it was the..." ???

 

[Drunner97]

Well, I thought I had it sorted out. Just tried to start it again and it's doing the exact same thing...just keeps cranking. Regardless, the battery has been disconnected and reconnected now.

Any more ideas? I'd hate to take it to Toyota to have them say ...."well, it was the..." ???

Try disconnecting it for 30 mins again and try it.

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[airbur]

Try disconnecting it for 30 mins again and try it.

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I'm up for trying anything but it's been disconnected and reconnected twice now with the same results.

 

[AuSeeker]

I'm up for trying anything but it's been disconnected and reconnected twice now with the same results.

Maybe the third time is charmed, can't hurt to try again.

 

[Drunner97]

I'm up for trying anything but it's been disconnected and reconnected twice now with the same results.

Yeah dunno unless you have a loose ground that got moved around between pulling the battery and putting it back in. Check all your cables, see if there's anything weird going on with them. Although it's cranking, so we know you're getting power. Definitely odd.

 

[airbur]

Yeah dunno unless you have a loose ground that got moved around between pulling the battery and putting it back in. Check all your cables, see if there's anything weird going on with them. Although it's cranking, so we know you're getting power. Definitely odd.

Yea, it's getting plenty of power...I'm thinking it's not a battery issue. More like when I shorted it, something else got screwed, like fuel pump or injectors, or starter...something else.