2008 Scion xB Switched jumper calbles

Tiny
DANIINPITT
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 SCION XB
  • 80,200 MILES
After leaving my lights on the night before my car battery died and I tried to jump it, accidentally crossing the cables. It began to smoke and I took the cables off. After that, I tried a new pair of cables. It worked and the car started but it would not accelerate. Normally it idles right under 1000 RPMs and when pushing on the gas it goes slightly above 1000 RPMs at about 1-3 MPH. My friend told me to unhook the battery and wait and if that didn't work then try looking at the fuses. Today, after checking the fuses, which don't look burnt, the car wont even start. It clicks when I turn the key. I tried it three times and by the third time it seemed like the battery was drained. Can someone lead me in the right direction? I'm an unemployed college student and have limited funding to fix it. Even a suggestion for a cheap tow would be helpful. Also, when it turned on yesterday most of the dash lights were on including the engine light.


Thanks!
Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 AT 10:13 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
FREEMBA
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,152 POSTS
Have your battery checked and charged at autozone (they'll do it for free). Install the battery and the see if it will start. Get back to me on the results.

Meanwhile, clean all of the battery grounds that you see (follow the negative battery cable to where it grounds on the engine). If you see any other grounds on the transmisson (near the top) remove and clean them as well.
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Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 AT 11:15 AM
Tiny
DANIINPITT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I went to Autozone and had them check and charge the battery. I had reconnected it and it started right up. Once It was running I had again tried to push on the gas with no luck. This time it seems that it doesn't rev at all. So it isn't the battery. And I don't believe it's the fuses. What now?

Thanks.
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Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 AT 3:53 PM
Tiny
DANIINPITT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
When I have the car in Neutral or Park and hitting the gas pedal, the car will only hit 1,500 RPMS. In drive it will not move and only stay at 1,000 RPMS which is the idle RPMS.
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Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 AT 3:59 PM
Tiny
FREEMBA
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,152 POSTS
Is the check engine light on?
If so, that could give some idea of what is going on. I've heard of the TPS going out because of power surges, but that doesn't happen in every case. I'm interested to see if the computer has set a TPS code.
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Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
DANIINPITT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes, the check engine light is on. I've been reading things online to try to figure this out.I've read different posts that have said it could be a fusible link or the ECM. Either way, I'm unsure. I don't have money for a tow to get it to Auto Zone to check it. Do you know of any services that would be able to come to your home to check this out? Any other thoughts, and what do I do now?
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Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 AT 5:06 PM
Tiny
GREASYLUNCHBOX
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
So what ever happened with this? Was it ECM or TPS?
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Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 AT 5:13 PM
Tiny
HUGOBOSS6262
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
This is happening to me now. Pls help
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Thursday, June 25th, 2015 AT 1:44 PM

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