Disconnected battery now car wont start.

[asuber]

I just got finished fixing the wires under the drivers seat for my power windows and locks. I disconnected the battery because of the live wires from the seat. I re installed the seat, connected the battery and tried starting the car but it wouldn't crank. It makes a loud whining noise similar to a vacuum cleaner or high speed drill. The lights on the dash were on as well as the lights in the car. But the beeping sound when you put the key in the ignition didn't turn on. It gave me a check volt gauge warning. I tried jumping it with cables but that didn't help. Now there are no lights in the car or on the dash.

[DaMaroon]

Sounds like you didn't get good connection to the battery. Enough power to spin starter but not enough to engage the engine. Attaching jumpers to the posts wouldn't help as it would still be going through bad connection.

[asuber]

Now there's nothing. The security lights doesn't come on. The lights on the dash doesnt come on. Just to give a little more info, Four days ago I had my alternator, MAF sensor and PCV Valve changed.

[asuber]

took the battery to autozone and had it tested. The battery had two bad cells. I purchased a new one and connected it. I tried to start the car and it wouldnt crank. It just made a loud noise again.

[asuber]

I was hoping for at least a little help or suggestions. I have to be to work on Saturday and I would hate to have my car towed.

[Archon]

Dash lights back on now? Does it sound perhaps as if the starter is turning but not engaging the flywheel to turn the engine?

[asuber]

yes the dash light are back on now. and yes thats exactly what it sounds like.

[Trinity]

yes the dash light are back on now. and yes thats exactly what it sounds like.

Pull the starter and have it tested.

[DaMaroon]

Check battery cable to chassis connection. Chassis to engine block too, both ends. And all the cables. Electrical ground problems seem to be common with these cars.

[FasGP]

Use a large ratchet and socket on the harmonic balancer bolt and turn the engine over a little bit. You may have a small part of your flywheel stripped out, which if the engine stops on that spot, your starter would spin instead of grab. It is worth a try...

If your starter is spinning, it could be the coil is not engaging the clutch to turn the sprocket, but to make sure, I would rotate the engine a little. All you did was shut it down and now it won't start...it could be where the engine stopped.

Also agree with DaMaroon about grounds...do a double check on those as well.

[asuber]

ok. i'm just a newbie when it comes to these things but i am a very hands on person. So I had my wife turn the key while I listen under the hood. I noticed that the engine isn't moving. Could that be a timing belt issue? I had my water pump fixed less than a month ago and the intake manifold gaskets.

[FasGP]

No timing belt issue. Your car has a timing chain setup.

If you hear the starter make noise but no turning over, one of two things is the cause. Teeth on the flywheel or starter gear are shreaded, or the starter coil is not engaging the gear clutch. That is why I mentioned to turn over the engine a little manually to reposition the flywheel and then try it again to see if it starts.

[asuber]

update. I am so embarrassed to even admit this. After scratching my head I remembered I accidentally connected the battery's neg cable first when I reconnected the cables. No wonder why I had to replace a perfectly good battery. Please tell me I didn't do permanent damage other than frying my battery.

[justin85]

i dont think that would do anything as i do that too sometimes, i seen a 3800 series 2 in a impala come in to my friends garage a week ago with the same issue and what we found was a a flywheel was broken and had to replace flywheel. how we found that was we took off the starter and used a flathead screwdriver and turnd the flywheel with ease. after we seperated the engine to transmission we found the flywheel had broken in a perfect circle outside of the flywheel bolts.

thats just my experience on this. hope its just something simple.

hope this helps

[DaMaroon]

update. I am so embarrassed to even admit this. After scratching my head I remembered I accidentally connected the battery's neg cable first when I reconnected the cables. No wonder why I had to replace a perfectly good battery. Please tell me I didn't do permanent damage other than frying my battery.

Connecting the negative first won't do any damage, in its self. It's done last so if something positive touches the chassis it won't do an arc welder impersonation. i.e.: When you're tightening the positive battery terminal the wrench is positively charged.

[Trinity]

update. I am so embarrassed to even admit this. After scratching my head I remembered I accidentally connected the battery's neg cable first when I reconnected the cables. No wonder why I had to replace a perfectly good battery. Please tell me I didn't do permanent damage other than frying my battery.

Connecting the negative first won't do any damage, in its self. It's done last so if something positive touches the chassis it won't do an arc welder impersonation. i.e.: When you're tightening the positive battery terminal the wrench is positively charged.