Electrical short.

[misterRollsRoycer]

Just replaced wheel hub assembly unit on 98 lesabre. Now car doesn't start. Dead battery. Drained from what I think is a short. Plugged in ABS sensor and put car in neutral to turn wheel to finish setting in the 3 torx bit bolts to knuckle. When engaged ignition to ACC position, noticed sequential flashing of dash lights and lights of buttons next to radio- vent, AC, heater, etc.. Everything started lighting up like a christmas tree. Finished with bolts, turned key to off position. Disconnected neg. batt. wire thinking would reset everything, stuff would work itself out. DID NOT. When wheel and everything back on tried to turn over ignition to start engine and flickering came back along with clicking. Now I thought starter was bad. Tried again. Then chiming sound came along with everything. Followed chiming to headlamp, sentinel etc. module at floorboard below stereo. Pushed "sentinel light" button on driver's side door, turned off chime sound. Clicking sound remained on third and fourth try. Eventually went away, headlights grew dimmer and power just completely drained out of battery. Have no idea what happened. Guy at Auto Zone thinks I fouled up ECM perhaps because didn't disconnect battery cable before doing hub assembly job. Had done the job before w/ battery intact and not had a problem.

Am not sure what is going on. Will check all fuses and try a jump on battery too. And will use DMM to see if voltage appears while battery out of loop showing that there is a short. Any suggestions?

 

[Homer Jay]

Don't worry, I have done several hub replacements without disconnecting the battery. Start with the basics, have the battery load tested, check connections for corrosion and make sure the side terminal cables are tight.

 

[misterRollsRoycer]

Will do. Am going to get it charged up first at AZ tomorrow, then load tested. Is pretty low on juice. I'm almost tempted to remove part 25628664 (sentinel, headlamp, etc. module) after battery is charged up and start car without it. Tried once more to hook battery up today and there is still a spark at terminal. Only thing is is that headlights and under hood lamp always come on right away. Key isn't even in ignition yet. Maybe this will bypass what is blocking car from starting and right out the computer system if it is messed up in any way. Checked fuses too- well at least the under hood ones. Pulled out everything (fuses) ABS related-two under hood and one under steering wheel. Those fuses look fine though too.

I am glad to hear that you have also done hub assembly jobs with battery connected. I didn't think that that would be a big deal. Thanks for reply. Will keep you guys updated.

 

[misterRollsRoycer]

Got battery charged at AZ. Seems like that was main thing. Also took out ground bus wire beneath driver's side floorboard to check connection. Was damp on floorboard around that area and dirty around wires. Thought could have something to do with system short. And also had detached abs wire at wheel and sentinel cluster behind door trim. Everything together seemed to do well enough to get the car started again. Eventually put connections back on. Left ground bus wire from floorboard hanging out though-just in case started to get wet and dirty under there again. Got this done a while ago too. Sorry for late update. Thanks again for help.