Car Wont Start After Replacing Battery

[slybydesignq45t]

Well I decided to replace the battery in my car. I took the old one out and try to put a brand new one I had in, found the new one was two bid I know all I had to do was lift it to see the size, but any hooo. I placed the old one back and started to connect as usual. Well now the car wont start. This is what I am getting:

Emergency Blinkers on - They are not blinking, but they are on. Front and back

The security light in dash also on in same manner - Not blinking just on

I have disconnected the battery before and never had this problem. The only difference is I have never disconnected the black cable. This is the first time I have done both positive and negative cables and now car won't start.

I am almost left to believe the alarm is engaged but openning the door with my key doesn't work. I am stuck at work and would love to go home, if anyone can help that would be great.

[Infinitiguy19]

Try disconecting the cables and waiting 10 min, then reconect if all else fails call AAA or a friend.

[slybydesignq45t]

I tried the that. I also followed the owners manual. I am at a lost because I get power but nothing happens at all. I have a charger and jumper and tried it just now nothing. I am confused.

[Infinitiguy19]

Does the car start up?

Does the starter engage?

Are all the fuses fine?

[Razi]

Check all the battery cables and make sure they are clean.This happened to me once, and a spray of electrical contact cleaner and a paper towel and a good thorough cleaning of the cables fixed it.

[slybydesignq45t]

Thanks, went ape s#$%#$ on the cables just now. They are in a pretty crappy condition, so I took some stuff to it including electrical cleaner. I am letting it dry right now, but am going to do another round right now on it. I have nothing to loose but to try.

[maxnix]

Be very careful not to reverse the polarity.

[slybydesignq45t]

Ok its a no go and even worst I tried jumping the car and it started to make a sizzle noise from the negative ground cable. I quickly unhooked the jumper cables, and now will just have it towed in the morning. I just need to know how do I put it in mutual, and whats the best way to tow up hill with dead car?

[slybydesignq45t]

Be very careful not to reverse the polarity.

Question, how would I have done this? Is there a way I could have done this? and what are the symptoms of doing so?

[qship96]

Reversing the polarity is where you put the positive battery cable on the negative battery post, and the negative cable on the positive battery post.

Doing the above{reversing polarity} often causes expensive damage to the electrical system

[Infinitiguy19]

The shift lock button on the shifter push that and hold whil shifting into neutral.

Did you check any fuses to be sure would be a shame if you find out later.

Use a flat bed to prevent tranny dammage.

When you get home start checking relays.

Good Luck

[Q45tech]

AGAIN USE A FLAT BED as having rear wheels on ground will destroy a tranny in just a few miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Common to see reversed cables blowing major protective fused links, from people not paying attenion in 5 day Battery Class.

[Rex]

Did you disarm the alarm after re-connecting the battery?

If the door was open or the key already in the ignition you may not of even thought of using the remote to unlock the doors/dis-arm.

[slybydesignq45t]

AGAIN USE A FLAT BED as having rear wheels on ground will destroy a tranny in just a few miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Common to see reversed cables blowing major protective fused links, from people not paying attenion in 5 day Battery Class.

I do know I didn't do reverse polarity. It would be hard to do so. I did read where if the black cable has never been removed before that doing so may in fact cycle through reversing polarity on its own. Well in any event its towed.

I could not use flat bed, because it was in a parking garage on a lower level. He did lift it from the back and not front. I did call for a flat bed but when it came he couldn't get the car down a steep entrance the length of 5 cars with a sharp 90 degree turn. The other truck hard to reverse down the steep path. I don't know what to think at this point. I was told that it could be my wiring harness fried when I reconnected the battery. I checked main fuses nothing seemed bad and the car does get power but nothing happens, tested the battery in another car and that car light right up. So now I am left in the hands of my mechanic.

[Q45tech]

Hopefully you don't use a MECHANIC to solve what is obviously an electrical problem! A certified Nissan Electronic TECHNICAN would be my choice.

[slybydesignq45t]

Did you disarm the alarm after re-connecting the battery?

If the door was open or the key already in the ignition you may not of even thought of using the remote to unlock the doors/dis-arm.

The car didn't come with remotes, only 2 keys. I have it in the shop, I'll see what they say.

[Rex]

The car didn't come with remotes, only 2 keys. I have it in the shop, I'll see what they say.

Assuming you normally unlock (disarm) the door with the key, you should have them try turning the key in the door (unlocking action).

I know it sounds overly simple, but it's worth trying before spending too much on diagnosis.

[maxnix]

The car didn't come with remotes, only 2 keys.

You can buy used mostly worn out ones on eBay, but I would at least get one new one for your birthday and one more for Christmas (or the winter solstice) from Joe.

[slybydesignq45t]

I got my car back today and it drives like a dream. My mechanic only charged me $133 that includes towing.

They replaced the connectors to the battery terminal and the a couple of fuses. They said the battery was the wrong battery for the car, they also said the battery cables, both - and + where in the wrong place in the car. They fixed both issues for me. They also replaced all the fuses that got damaged in the process. Its safe to know the reason why current wouldn't run through the car was because the car design actually prevented the battery from exploding which is nice to know about these car.

The kill switch wasn't to prevent the car from starting, it was to prevent a mistake like that from blowing up the battery. I think if this was any other car it would have exploded.

The funny part is the tow truck company almost ripped off my bumper and now is paying to have all the body work done to fix my bumper. The place thats doing it restores classic sports cars such as lamberginies, rolls royce and such. Out of bad comes good so thanks for the help guys.

[qship96]

So, in other words, the entire problem started with YOU reversing polarity when you decided to replace a functioning battery-why one must pay attention when working around the battery.

[slybydesignq45t]

So, in other words, the entire problem started with YOU reversing polarity when you decided to replace a functioning battery-why one must pay attention when working around the battery.

Actually I do blame my self 100%. Not so much for the battery but not knowing the battery and the cables where in the wrong direction when I purchased the car. As stated in my post, I never changed the batter, the other battery I had was too big to swap. So when I put the original battery back in its correct direction thats when it did what it did.

Thats why I was so confused. Even my Mechanic, and two others who looked at it didn't see anything wrong at first. They where the ones that told me the Cables to the battery where installed reversed and they fixed it. I guess I never noticed it was incorrect from the beginning because it was fine.

In the end everything worked out fine. Some lessons are learned the hard way some easier. Out of the 4 repairs this car has needed to opporate 2 of them where performed by me. And these could have been the priciest thus far had I not been on this forum. The mechanic cut and replaced the red cable so now its in the right direction, how this happen I don't know. I suspect the previous owner did a BS job, but I am slowly bring this ride back to life, and have speared no expense doing so.

I am also happy the tow company did not hassle me and once they saw the damage immediately had me scheduled to have full repairs done at their expense. I really feel like as things go one, I will learn more and thats what forums are for. I had known nothing at all about batteries even though I have replaced them and jumped them plenty of times. It goes to show having things done right and not patch work, will help. Had I known the battery and cables where facing the opposite direction all together I would have addressed it back then. I am coming from a car which its battery is under the passenger seat.

[maxnix]

You got lucky. Now get at least one functioning remote. One of the pleasures of the later series.

[NightRiderQ45]

So, in other words, the entire problem started with YOU reversing polarity when you decided to replace a functioning battery-why one must pay attention when working around the battery.

Exactly!