Car wont start
Asked by Tre Jan 02, 2018 at 11:35 AM about the 2008 Lincoln MKZ AWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I attempted a stereo removal last night and
only got as far as removing the heating
component.... While I was removing the
heating component I noticed some buttons
stopped working before anything was even
unhooked so i tried to start the car but it
wouldnt start... First try it made a weird
noise and failed to start... Next try it was
completely silent then I heard a clicking
noise under the hood... tried to jump it
today and still nothing... What could I have
messed up ?
4 Answers
oldcarpenter answered 6 years ago
I can assume you didn't disconnect the battery prior to starting any work, as you noticed "some buttons stopped working" What Buttons? explain "weird" if possible, do your best...and failed to start, meaning cranking over but not starting? did you attempt to try and locate, as best you could where the clicking noise was coming from? if so, do you best to explain where it was coming from IE: left side , right side, top, bottom, etc....give as much detailed info as you can and maybe you can be pointed in the best direction to start troubleshooting the problem....
No I did not disconnect the battery. First thing I did was pop off the panel where the gears are... then i pulled out the vents and tried to pry the top off ,, i did not pry with much force as i didn’t wanna force anything ... The clips loosened but because the heating component wasn’t dismantled yet so i began to dismantle it ,, as I was unscrewing the nut behind the ash tray my hand were hitting buttons on the heating component ,, thats when i noticed the seat heating and cooling buttons weren’t working but most others on it were still working... The only buttons i noticed werent working specifically were the 4 stated above... I then tried to start the car but it hesitated to turn and quickly stopped trying to turn over then the noise came...The noise was a failed start then turned to a clicking noise that sounded like it came from behind the steering wheel ,, possibly the fuse box under the hood... wen the starting failed the lights were very dim and began flickering even with everything shut off... it flickered all night i suppose... and in the morning i tried to jump start it and all i hear is the clicking but the lights and radio still all work fine wen the cables are connected... cables off the flickering continues so i disconnected the battery.... what should i do next ?
oldcarpenter answered 6 years ago
First let me say it is very difficult to help troubleshoot your problem without being there....but i'll try to help...Sounds to me as if you have a "hot short" A hot wire shorting out where you were working in the dash.....the flickering lights are a dead give away and when you put the jumper cables on the lights and radio work... pull the fuses for the HEATING COMPONENT, the radio and the cigarette lighter.But before you connect the battery, look very closely where you were working for a damaged wire...a disconnected "hot" wire shorting out on metal...You could have damaged or disconnected a hot wire for the heating component, and not realized it. Look carefully......look with a bright flashlight.Then with the fuses i mentioned pulled out of the fuse box, connect the battery cable just for enough time to see if is still happening...I suspect it is in the heating component circut. Be very careful you DO NOT want to start cooking wires. I suggest you have a helper with you to be a second pair of eyes.AND AGAIN MAKE SURE YOU PULL THE THREE FUSES I MENTIONED
I guess this is a lesson learned. Never work on the electrical system of a vehicle without first disconnecting the battery. This includes connecting and disconnecting things. I agree that you must have disturbed some wiring or something else.