Did I FRY something??

[bamaboy473]

My 2000 7.3L with 152K miles is turning over, but won't start.

I was working on the window and turned the key to the ON position in order to lower the window...and like an idiot, I left the key that way overnight, and the batteries drained down.

A day later they're charged up again, but the truck doesn't want to fire. This happened once before, but it started on the second attempt when I let the glowplug light go off.

Did I do something that's and easy fix? If the batteries draining and the no-start syndrome aren't related, how do I start to diagnose the problem?

[NoRalPh]

First, I don't think anything can "Fry" from having the key left on and the batteries drained....

Now that they're charged back up, does it spin as fast on the starter as it did?

This time of year, as the temp changes, starting problems creep-up. I see you're in AL but, did it turn alot colder all of a sudden there?

Does the WTS light come on when you first roll-on the key?

Does the tach needle rise-up a little as you crank? If not, do you have a spare CPS to try?

[bamaboy473]

Thanks for the suggestions, Ralph. I got lucky. Tried starting it again and noticed that the "theft" light was blinking a whole lot faster than usual, so I just locked and unlocked the truck door and...it started.

So my question now is....how does that "theft" light get activated, and does the truck spin but refuse to start if the "theft" mode has been activated?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

Thanks for the suggestions, Ralph. I got lucky. Tried starting it again and noticed that the "theft" light was blinking a whole lot faster than usual, so I just locked and unlocked the truck door and...it started.

So my question now is....how does that "theft" light get activated, and does the truck spin but refuse to start if the "theft" mode has been activated?

Theft light was flashing. Is this an excursion? Does it have a PATS Key?

[bamaboy473]

It's a 2000 Excursion and the key I have is just a key...I don't have the remotes. Does that help?

[Dave]

That makes sense then.

If the pats system doesnt recognize the key. It does exactly what you were describing. It recognized the key and started

[bamaboy473]

Interesting. I just had a duplicate key made and used that on the truck. does the truck need that key to be used a few times before it recognizes it? There's no chip in either key, FWIW.

[Dave]

Is the Key fairly thick where the ford portion is? Thicker than your truck key?

If so the chip is in there. If the duplicate key cost 5 bucks or less its not a pats and isnt supposed to work in the ignition