Will not start after changing fuse panel under hood

Tiny
BENGMAN827
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 KIA SPECTRA
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
I bought the car listed above it is the Spectra5 model. A few months ago. I knew it had a couple issues but it turned out to have more than I thought. I hauled it home on a trailer. I changed the lower control arms and struts. It would start up and drive but the power locks, power windows, radio, speedometer, tachometer, gas gauge, temperature gauge, and pretty much everything on the dash (other than the heater and passenger airbag light) did not work. Then it would stall out and battery would need charging. I discovered under the hood in the fuse panel that there was a bigger screwed down fuse along the side of the panel that had blown. I was unable to change the fuse itself because it had been previously stripped. I have pretty much the same car that I bought brand new in October of 2005 but I crashed it in July 2006 with 24,000 on the odometer. I took the whole fuse panel a from my other car and installed it in this one. The engine will crank but it will not start. I can hear a click upon turning the key then another click a few seconds later. I have traced it down to the "ECU#2" 30 amp fuse. If I pull the fuse no click but still no start. Any ideas?
Thursday, December 14th, 2017 AT 7:07 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,752 POSTS
The diagrams do not show if there is a computer board inside the fuse box, but if there is, it likely has to be programmed to your vehicle's VIN number. Put the old box back in to verify the engine starts and runs. If it does, you might consider using your other box for parts to fix the fuse terminal.

Bolted-in fuses are for the generator's output circuit. They will be really huge, as in perhaps more than 120 amps. Simple plug-in terminals cannot handle that kind of current.

With that fuse blown or not properly connected, the charging system is not working and system voltage will be low. That can cause some computers to become confused and do weird things, including shutting down. The battery will run down in less than an hour.
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Friday, December 15th, 2017 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,003 POSTS
The click is as power relay that sends power to the ignition coil and more. Items it needs to run.
You need to narrow down if it is loss of spark or fuel. Easy trick is to shoot some starting fluid into the intake. If it tries to run then it's likely fuel related. If not you do not have spark either.
Then we can go through the areas to test.
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Friday, December 15th, 2017 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
BENGMAN827
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I will put the old panel back in as soon as I get a chance to see if it will start. I have another job to do before I can get back at that one. I get to change a fuel pump today on a 1998 Oldsmobile 88.
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Saturday, December 16th, 2017 AT 7:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,968 POSTS
Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken
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Sunday, December 17th, 2017 AT 6:36 PM

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