Hi, I have a problem with my 2002 MCS w/ 60K miles. Here's the load down:

1. MSC started fine in the morning and ran normal.
2. Helped a friend to jump start a dead battery in his Toyota (connected jumpers from the rear battery terminal).
3. power down MCS and started it up again to head out to our local Sears to buy his replacement battery (it's less than 5 miles away).
4. Had lunch for about an hour.
5. Started the MCS and it wont turn. I can hear it is trying but wont turn as if there was not enough gas to start.
6. Did a "rolling start" and all it made was a fluttering sound. did not start.
7. checked my "Red Top" battery for defects and there was none. It's two years old. My Stewart volt gauge shows that the power was around 10 vs 12 (i think that is where it is normally).
8. placed a good battery into my MCS and still wont start (same result).
9. I even reset the inertia kill switch located near the upper right in the engine bay and had no luck.

Here is what I'm wondering:

1. It is a fuel issue. Could the jump cause the fuel relay or some electrical to blow?
2. Could the Clifford Alarm Matrix alarm I have could have trigger the fuel cut off?
3. Could it be a simple Battery low issue?

Got my MCS back into my garage now. Need to see what is wrong or I need this to be towed to the mechanic.

Thanks everyone in advance.

 

you want to be around 12.6-12.9v for starting... did you get any sparks while connecting the clips to the terminals on one of the vehicles? sounds like a short somewhere, but the DEI alarms are known to go faulty and cause a no start condition have you tried to bypass it?

 

I saw some spark but it was a little. I'll try to recharge my battery to see if that helps. As for the alarm, I'm not sure how to bypass it. All I remember is that it was a Clifford Matrix from around the early 2000's.

 

I just got off the phone with Clifford. They said that my kill switch will trigger the starter not the fuel line. I recalled when my alarm is on, my MCS wont turn, were as, now it tries to turn but has no fuel to start it.

If there might be a short, I wonder if my Fuel pump relay might have been blown? I found out our local Oreilly has it for $23 bucks.

 

try it and report back.

 

I remember when I was a teen we jump started a friends car with a another friends of ours explorer and it blew the fuel pump relay.

 

That is cheaper blown part than a pump. I was reading that I need to turn the key to position II and hear a clicking or hissing sound. If that is present, than it's not the relay, if it's quiet, it's a dead fuse.. anyone can confirm that?

 

My Mazda 3 would prime the fuel pump if key was in the second position so I'm sure the mini would do the same.

 

I'll give that a try...

 

Charged the battery for two days and tried it this AM. it looks like the battery is only at 12 volts. Not sure if the battery is not holding it's charge. Picking up a new battery tonight to try again.

 

So I replaced the battery, barrow a working relay. MCS is trying to turn but sounds like there is no fuel. I even reset the inertia kill switch (the mystery button for the 02 MCS), and still does not work. Unless there is another relay, I give up. Called my mechanic and tow for next week.

 

Car was towed into my regular MCS mechanic. It should be resolved by today. It was a dead fuel pump and much needed replacement fuel filter. You figure with premium gas, the filter should be pretty clean. They said that for a MSC pump to run 10 yrs was pretty good. Thank goodness it was just that. But my bill will be about $900.

 

Got my MCS back this AM. Drives great and got a slight break on the bill (they charged me $800 to fix it).