Hey guys,

I changed the fuel filter, dropped a new air filter (K&N), and switched to Mobil1 Synthetic oil from Regular oil, and changed the oil filter. I put in a little over 3L of oil, maybe filled it a little too much? but i don't assume that would cause this?

Tested every step, and tested finally and it idled well. Cleaned up, put everything back together and got ready to go for a drive and now it wont crank over.

Funny thing is, when i disconnect the negative battery, i put the key in, it beeps and all the lights come on, but wont crank. Then I try again, but it completely shuts off, no lights, no nothing!

I disconnect the negative again, the same happens, the lights come on, but no crank and then poof it all dissapears. HELP! I was so excited to check out the difference all the maintainence did, but now i am anxious.

It is a 2000 4WD 3.3L V6 ..... And I just had my timing belt replaced with waterpump replaced as well. But that was 4 days ago and it drove fine for some time after that.

wait
the lights come on with the batt unhooked?

nvm, i get it, you unhooked the neg to refresh the ecu.

so when ou try to crank it everything dies?

wait
the lights come on with the batt unhooked?

No,

Once i put the battery together, the lights come on, but wont crank. I try to crank again, but this time there is no lights or anything.

So i disconnect the battery to try again, was just thinking it might have something to do with the battery, and the symptoms simply repeat. For the first crank, the lights come on, but the engine does not crank.
Any subsequent attempts at cranking, the lights don't come on, and obviously, no crank as well.

Yes once i try to crank, everything goes out! POOF!

damn, we are editing and posting too fast to read lol, i got a 2nd post in right before you made that one

sounds to me like there is anough charge for the lights, but when you try to turnt he starter it sucks all the charge, maybe its a bad ground

battery most likely.

Did you ever have the SES light come on at anytime between the time you had it serviced to now?

or, if the lights DONT die when you crank i sy its the starter

god reading comprehension owns me today

sounds liek the battery

Have it tested at local AutoZone/Advance Auto and they'll tell you.

battery most likely.

Did you ever have the SES light come on at anytime between the time you had it serviced to now?

No, i didn't get any lights, if its a bad ground, how do i fix that? Do i have to get a boost?

The lights come on, I turn the ignition key more, and everything disappears!

The next attempt, the lights don't come on.

Sorry for typing really fast, just got really anxious.

Are you completely tightening the battery connections or just sort of putting them on there to make it easier to take off if something doesn't work? If the contacts aren't clean and tight, it can give you symptoms similar to a dead battery.

LOL

As obviously, changing oil and air filters, etc, doesn't cause this type of problem, its obviously a coincidence.

Now, opening my book of ooops, how about checking the following:

1) Is the battery too discharged to start the truck? (Check THIS FIRST)

Believe it or not, it happens that a lot of people listen to the radio, etc...while working on their truck.

Sometimes, after a larger project or 2 in a row, etc...the drain is enough to discharge the battery.

This can lead to the truck seeming to die from what ever was being done last.

:D

2) When they did the other work, maybe they discharged you initially, and you didn't drive it enough to make up for you also using the battery...

or

...they screwed up and need to fix it.

:D

I have some curiosity about your battery terminal connection/disconnection issues as well.

Are you completely tightening the battery connections or just sort of putting them on there to make it easier to take off if something doesn't work? If the contacts aren't clean and tight, it can give you symptoms similar to a dead battery.

No i tightened them good ! Here is the wierd thing, I crank, all the lights in the dials go off ....... but the cabin lights still work?

I will try disconnecting the battery, tightening everything and try again!

Try cleaning and tightening up both battery cables. Sounds like a bad connection.

Try cleaning and tightening up both battery cables. Sounds like a bad connection.

I just replaced the terminals on the battery so they were brand new. I tried again, no luck, maybe the battery got discharged, i have called CAA for a boost, lets see if that helps!

I was so looking forward to driving my X too.

I think you probably need a new battery. Take it out, get a ride down to Autozone, or O'reilly, or Advance, or NAPA, or whoever you like to use and get em to test your battery. At least if you know that much it'll be a good place to start. If you're battery is good, then we can start looking for bad connections, bad grounds or bad alternator. If the battery is bad, problem solved.

Check Battery.
Dead battery - problem solved.

If not battery - check connections aka clean them, tighten them down.
Bad connection - problem solved.

If not - Find someone to jump the battery and drive to advance/autozone/oreilly's/napa and have them do an alternator testing.
Bad Alternator - Problem solved.

That should be either one of those problems. If its none than other, I don't know where else to tell ya.

Check Battery.
Dead battery - problem solved.

If not battery - check connections aka clean them, tighten them down.
Bad connection - problem solved.

If not - Find someone to jump the battery and drive to advance/autozone/oreilly's/napa and have them do an alternator testing.
Bad Alternator - Problem solved.

That should be either one of those problems. If its none than other, I don't know where else to tell ya.

Firstly, THANKS for all your replies guys!

I hope its the battery!! If i get it boosted and drive around for an hour or so? Would I still wanna get my alternator tested? I was taking the battery off and on constantly while working and testing and working and testing etc. So that might have killed it (I hope its just discharged).

Kinda mad, first time I touched my X to do some home mechanic stuff, and with it not starting, feeling really discouraged.

Yes. Still get your alternator tested. I had a battery and alternator go bad at the same time on my Ranger. Only problem I ever had with that truck, but damn was it a PITA! I was broke and 350 miles from home. Ah, college. Good times. :)

sorry to sound dumb ....

can the alternator go as a result of a timing belt/waterpump change?

Also, I spilled oil everywhere when pulling the oil filter? Can that damage the alternator?

the oil filter is below the alternator, so due to gravity your alt is oil free

if the alternator is bad the truck will just die again after the boost, it will run for a little while, but when the alt is bad all the power comes form the bettery

the sole intended purpose of the battery in a vehicle is to start the engine and nothing else, while the engine is running the alternator provides all the electricity whie charging the battery, in fact, you can disconnect the battery while the truck is running and it will still run

i hope im being clear, do you understand what im trying to say?

if oil is in the alternator it could give it a bad conection with the brushes and not charge the battery.

the oil filter is below the alternator, so due to gravity your alt is oil free

if the alternator is bad the truck will just die again after the boost, it will run for a little while, but when the alt is bad all the power comes form the bettery

the sole intended purpose of the battery in a vehicle is to start the engine and nothing else, while the engine is running the alternator provides all the electricity whie charging the battery, in fact, you can disconnect the battery while the truck is running and it will still run

i hope im being clear, do you understand what im trying to say?

Okay, i understand. Just got it boosted, its up and running, should i just let it sit in the driveway so it charges? Do you recommend taking it for a drive? and seeing what happens? How do i know at this point if the alternator is in the crapper?

How long will it run for before the it gives out again if the alternator is done? Any telltale signs I should look for?

If your alt is bad, i will die within 10 minutes, depends of battery. If it stays on, have the battery checked to make sure...probably bad.

If your alt is bad, i will die within 10 minutes, depends of battery. If it stays on, have the battery checked to make sure...probably bad.

ok, so it has been running for approximately 7 minutes now .. i will let it run for 30 minutes, then i will take it for a drive and make sure everything is good.

Tomorrow, off to get the battery checked. Restores somewhat of my faith in my mechanic skills.

I can build a house with 2 saws, but it took me 4 days to change my fuel filter!

Yup! That good, and my hands have never been so scratched and cut up !

i wouldnt wait till tomorrow to get the batt checked since you have it running.... if it is bad then you will need to call for another jump to get it to the store...

i wouldnt wait till tomorrow to get the batt checked since you have it running.... if it is bad then you will need to call for another jump to get it to the store...

well i am on the east coast, halifax, so its 10 40 here. Stores are closed :(

If it doesn't start tommorow, I know its the battery, I will go pick up a new one. If been running for 35 minutes now, i will take it for a drive now, so that rules out the alternator I suppose.

ok took it for a drive. Everything is ok for now! wow does it ever become smoother with synthetic oil!

so if it doesnt start up tommorow, i know its the battery and I will get a new one. If it starts up, the battery was discharged, but I will get it checked nevertheless?

Finally, thanks to everyone who helped out, you guys rock.:anbeten-big:

no prob, that what we're here for!

ok took it for a drive. Everything is ok for now! wow does it ever become smoother with synthetic oil!

so if it doesnt start up tommorow, i know its the battery and I will get a new one. If it starts up, the battery was discharged, but I will get it checked nevertheless?

Finally, thanks to everyone who helped out, you guys rock.:anbeten-big:

glad to hear it stayed on. let us know the outcome of the battery check.

Glad to hear you're up and running! Let us know how your battery checks out.

did it start today?

Yea its kinda like getting the alterrnator wet with water. U probably drained the battery testing and when u went to turn it on the 1st time it barely had a charge but bczu the alternator was wet it didn't charge up the battery. It should work if u charge it up n clean up the alternator... may have to pull it out tho

Ah lame. Should have read the whole thread b4 posting. Well glad u got it worked out.

Didn't start today, thinking its the battery, gonna take it out and take it in to see if its dropped charge, if not, then gotta clean the alternator? Best way to do that without taking it out? or only way to do it by taking it out?

Can the atlernator crap out? Because it ran last night for a good hour after got it boosted!!!

i say battery, if your truck was running for an hour straight the alt aint the problem

X2 on what Ricer said. If it was able to stay running then your alternator is fine and the battery is the culprit.

Didn't start today, thinking its the battery, gonna take it out and take it in to see if its dropped charge, if not, then gotta clean the alternator? Best way to do that without taking it out? or only way to do it by taking it out?

Can the alternator crap out? Because it ran last night for a good hour after got it boosted!!!

Why do you think you need to clean the alternator out? You didn't spill anything in it did you?

okay, so here is what the day brought --

Took the battery out to get tested, battery good. So assumed something was causing a load on the system.

Bought a battery tester, checked all connection points. Just so happens that the "upgraded" terminals for the batter I purchased had too much paint on them or something, so wasn't getting a good connection. Also, apparently the guy at NAPA knew about this issue, but no one told me. He said the 0.99 cent terminals work the best, but yet when I was paying him 10 bucks to get the better quality ones, no one bothered to tell me.

So after all the ordeal, i cleaned out the posts, just to be sure, and replaced the terminals and voila, X is back to normal. I love my X again.

And to think, i was about to take my starter and alternater out! wow! :aufkopfhauen-big:

Thanks a lot for all your help guys, that was a great learning experience about not overthinking the problem i guess.

well, you said they were new at the beginning so we assumed they were good

glad you got it figured out though, sstarts like a champ now i assume?

well, you said they were new at the beginning so we assumed they were good

glad you got it figured out though, sstarts like a champ now i assume?


exactly, i thought they were brand new so they must be good. I was shocked when I saw that the post had full power but the terminal didn't.

I was shocked and relieved at the same time cause that was an easy and inexpensive fix. But I did let the NAPA guy have it!

I'm glad everything is running. I also can't believe they had paint on the new terminals you bought. Can you post up a picture here so everyone else can see what kind they are and know the issues that you ran into?

I'm glad everything is running. I also can't believe they had paint on the new terminals you bought. Can you post up a picture here so everyone else can see what kind they are and know the issues that you ran into?

I think the ones that he is talking about are the ones painted black and red, if memory serves me right these are more for marine use where the paint is for corrosion purpose. Buy the gold color terminals ( i think they are brass terminals)...are the best in my opinion. Dont get the regular zinc plated ones, they don't return back to their original shape to re-tighten.

The brass terminals are the best, not those 99 cent ones. People go for the red and black ones, but you should get the Gold brass ones. Those are the best easily.