Focus jumpstart problem

sundodger5

Herself left the lights on in the car last night, she got someone to try to jumpstart the car and it wouldnt work.
When i went down to see if i could do anything i get a engine system fault message on the dash and the imobiliser light flashes really fast. It makes no attempt to turn over.
Could the ECU have been fried by the attempt to jumpstart?
If so where from here.
Thanks

shamwari

Disconnect the battery and charge it.

If it is the newer 05 onwards model, it should not be jump started. Read the bottom third of this link.

sundodger5

Arrrghhhh. if that is the reality so be it. would push starting the car have had the same effect? cold low battery + 18v = fried.
you think they would limit the system not to go for such a large voltage

shamwari

sundodger5 wrote: »

Arrrghhhh. if that is the reality so be it. would push starting the car have had the same effect? cold low battery + 18v = fried.
you think they would limit the system not to go for such a large voltage

I'd say the immobilser has gotten its undergarments in a knot. So that's why I recommend battery out and charge first, and take it from there. If it is still the same when you reconnect it, you can try the spare key.

Failing that, it'll be off to Uncle Henry to see what's going on.

82dgolf

shamwari wrote: »

Disconnect the battery and charge it.

If it is the newer 05 onwards model, it should not be jump started. Read the bottom third of this link.

Nice bit of info. cheers.

shamwari

I'm not sure if the last of the Mk1 Focus is a SMART charge, it may well be! Also some of the Mondeo's and the CMax are also SMART charge. The link I posted above also states that the battery used must be a silver calcium, and using an incorrect one can cause SMART charge issues.

To be honest I don't like the SMART charge system. It's too complicated and troublesome, and offers little advantage for all it's complexity.

martinr5232

In your fuse box under the bonnet beside the battery there is a little 3amp fuse when they jump started it they blew this fuse replace that.

And charge your battery or put jump leads on but leave the donor car running for a few minutes to bring your battery up a bit before trying to start yours.

Divorce Referendum

shamwari wrote: »

Disconnect the battery and charge it.

If it is the newer 05 onwards model, it should not be jump started. Read the bottom third of this link.

Hmmm thats interesting. I jump started my 05 focus a couple of months ago without any problems.

Henry Ford III

No car with a cat should be jumpstarted. Unburned fuel mixture in the exhaust may cause it harm. It can still be done in a pinch though.

ianobrien

Henry Ford III wrote: »

No car with a cat should be jumpstarted. Unburned fuel mixture in the exhaust may cause it harm. It can still be done in a pinch though.

Or is that bumpstarted?

The reason I ask is that all the Nissans at home give instructions on how to jumpstart the car, and how to jumpstart another car.

shamwari

Henry Ford III wrote: »

No car with a cat should be jumpstarted. Unburned fuel mixture in the exhaust may cause it harm. It can still be done in a pinch though.

A one off jump start wouldn't wreck a good cat. Driving a car that is misfiring is what really kills them!

mecanoman

Another tip i've found with car that have immobilisers is diconnect the battery for half an hour.
Reconnect, leave for ten mintues.
Put the key in the ignition and watch the light on the dash, flash
then fade with the others and start.
Cars are getting far more awkward, a jump start used to be a 2minute
job.

keithclancy

Henry Ford III wrote: »

No car with a cat should be jumpstarted. Unburned fuel mixture in the exhaust may cause it harm. It can still be done in a pinch though.

Push started you mean, jump starting just uses the charge from the doners car to get he ignition system to fire.

Then the Alternator should take over from there.

sundodger5

martinr5232 wrote: »

In your fuse box under the bonnet beside the battery there is a little 3amp fuse when they jump started it they blew this fuse replace that.

And charge your battery or put jump leads on but leave the donor car running for a few minutes to bring your battery up a bit before trying to start yours.

took the battery out this morning to charge and did find the 3 amp fuse blown when checking them all.
didn't know what it was for but changed it.
I thought something with only a 3amp load might be unrelated. so what does that fuse protect?
Also battery seems to a standard lead acid type (Pb is lead) would you recommmend changing it asap?

shamwari

sundodger5 wrote: »

took the battery out this morning to charge and did find the 3 amp fuse blown when checking them all.
didn't know what it was for but changed it.
I thought something with only a 3amp load might be unrelated. so what does that fuse protect?
Also battery seems to a standard lead acid type (Pb is lead) would you recommmend changing it asap?

Did changing the fuse and recharging the battery make any difference?

I wouldn't worry about changing the battery just yet - I'd be more worried about getting the thing to start first

sundodger5

just put battery in and we have lift off.
only the radio has no power.
have fault codes D900, E510 and A103 logged. they may have been present before though.
Gonna look them up as soon as the internet is working in the house.
Thanks for all the help.

martinr5232

You have blown a fuse in the passenger compartment fuse box 15 amp I think the fuse box is located above the pasenger foot well under the glove box.

Thats why your radio is not working you will also need the radio code aswell.

And dont mind those fault codes just delete them.

shamwari

sundodger5 wrote: »

have fault codes D900, E510 and A103 logged.

Great result! What did you scan it with? IDS?

sundodger5

you can get the codes as well as other electronic info by holding in the trip reset turning the car on (either start or key position 2)
keep the reset button in for 5/8 secs until test comes up on the display.
pressing the reset button will cycle through all the different parameters available.

Hal1

A103 Antenna Not Connected - Defective Transceiver
The self diagnostics test can be done by holding the reset trip counter button in whilst turning on the igition, not starting the engine. More here on the various functions of the test and what each mean.