Help! ENGINE DIES

[rch105]

Hi to all!

I'm stumped with this and I'm hopeful someone can help. About a month ago I rewired the connections on an aftermarket XM radio a previous owner had installed. Of the two hot leads, one always stayed hot, the other to the accessory/ ignition switch. I wired both hot. I can surmise that might be part of my problem. About two weeks ago (after not starting or driving the car for 7 or 8 days), I found the battery almost dead. I had to jump start the car with a battery box. Drove it for the day and put it back in the garage. All ran fine. Tonight I decided to take advantage of some better weather (it's been rainy for the past week or so) and upon trying to start it, found it stone dead. I tried the battery box, no go, then a set of jumper cables on a marine battery, no go, then finally hooked up the cables to my running pick up truck...success, it started. Here's part 2 of my problem. After running the engine for a few minutes to help build up the charge, I started to back out of the garage and upon it a little gas, it died. BTW, it's an automatic. I tried to start it and it started right up to idle. Again I put it in gear and started to back up, it died again. So, I let it warm up for about 10 minutes and tried again, same thing...and I did this at least 7 more times with the same results. Now here is what is strange. If I took it out of gear and revved, it is just fine. The engine doesn't die or sputter...but put it in reverse again and it dies with just a little gas applied. So I tried to go forward...does the same thing...it dies. I know I have to redo the wiring to it doesn't drain the battery, but the 2nd part has really stumped me. Any suggestions? BTW, when it was running tonight my panel gauge for volts stayed about 13.4 to 13.5 with only the DRL's on. ;help :bash Thanks in advance. Rick

 

[rch105]

As an added note, a co-worker mentioned he thought is almost sounded like the fuel pump was being shut off as a security measure. Is this likely? Suggestions, anyone?

 

[njlouc]

Just a guess here, but your statement:
"Of the two hot leads, one always stayed hot, the other to the accessory/ ignition switch. I wired both hot."
sounds like you put voltage where it was supposed to be off. This may be confusing the security system or other computer components. Try pulling the fuses on each separately and try again.
Also check the DIC to see if any codes are present.... for clues.

 

[rxtopcop]

exact thing happened to my vet today. Once battery was taken out and completely charged it started and drove perfectly. Battery did not have enough charge to run when I put it in gear. My battery was running down because I was leaving the key in the ignition while it was parked in the garage.

 

[rch105]

exact thing happened to my vet today. Once battery was taken out and completely charged it started and drove perfectly. Battery did not have enough charge to run when I put it in gear. My battery was running down because I was leaving the key in the ignition while it was parked in the garage.

My first and easiest step was, after charging the battery, and before changing the wiring, to reinitialize the fobs/ security system. Having done so, I started the car. As we're in the middle of a downpour, I decided that I would not take it out of the garage, but did move the car about 4 feet back and forth. It didn't stall. So, I'm hopeful this is good news. Possibly between the low battery and the fobs, this corrected it. I will change the wiring tomorrow...but would appreciate any feedback from you gurus, like C4C5specialist and Hib and the rest to see what you think.

 

[rch105]

The answer to this problem

My first and easiest step was, after charging the battery, and before changing the wiring, to reinitialize the fobs/ security system. Having done so, I started the car. As we're in the middle of a downpour, I decided that I would not take it out of the garage, but did move the car about 4 feet back and forth. It didn't stall. So, I'm hopeful this is good news. Possibly between the low battery and the fobs, this corrected it. I will change the wiring tomorrow...but would appreciate any feedback from you gurus, like C4C5specialist and Hib and the rest to see what you think.

Well, since I was able to figure this out, I decided to post this so if anyone else has a similar situation it'll be one less step to do. The answer was simple...the security system was doing it's job. It was shutting off the fuel source! After trying to unlock the doors with the fob, and finding that nothing fob-related was working, then trying the key on the door lock, I reinitialized the fob and behold, the car started and i was able to drive it without it shutting off. Somehow, when the battery went dead this safeguard started. Hope this might help someone else out. Oh, and BTW, I'm changing the wiring back to what it was supposed to be. Happy Father's Day, Dads!!!