So today I go to start the P car after several cold weeks of inactivity and at the first turn I get a few clicks then nothing but interior lights remain on. Seems like a battery problem so out come the jumper cables.
I've jumped another family member's vehicle several times in the last few months and her (+) terminal has a green cap with a black on the (-) and as mine are opposite on the Pantera (who puts a green cap on a (-) terminal??) I make a careless mistake on first connection and connect the (+) cable to the (-) terminal and ground the negative. A shower of sparks brings the error to my immediate attention. Break the connection and neither vehicle seems worse for the wear and neither is in flames.
I make the correct connection, let it run for a few minutes and start the Pantera. At this point it's a typical cold start after weeks of inactivity and takes several turns to get her started but she comes to life. I leave her idling in the drive for 15 minutes and everything seems standard. I turn her off so I can air up the tires and make some other checks and when I go to restart I get a click, half a turn then nothing. Out come the cables again and she fires right up while connected.
Figuring perhaps I didn't give the battery enough time to charge, I take her out for a 30 minute run. By the SOTP meter everything seems normal and no apparent misfires. Driving totally as normal.
Back at the house I power down then attempt an immediate restart and I get the same. A few clicks, a half hearted turn then nothing at all. Hook up the cables and starts right up immediately and back in the garage she goes.
I had a new coil and MSD box placed 18 months ago after a total coil failure left me stranded. I was having starting problems leading up to that event that were probably signs of the failing coil.
Does this sound like another evolving coil problem? Would I not expect to have any running problems, misfires, etc? Or did I fry something with the cable goof?
Any thoughts or recommendations before I go digging around under the hood tomorrow? Thanks in advance.
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