Question key left on, not starting

[goathead]

while removing dvd's, my wife accidentally left the key on(i know that you dont have to have the key on to do this, and now she does too. we went away for the weekend in a different vehicle. after returning home, we were going to the store and discovered what had been done. now, NOTHING. when jumping the sequoia, all the lights come on but when cranking, it makes a loud clicking noise. the lights will not come on or anything w/ the seq. battery alone. however, if it was just the battery, when jumping, shouldnt it start?

[al-in-s-fla]

Sounds like a bad battery to me. Take it to a parts store, and have it tested for ability to take and hold a charge before you spend any serious money.

[Limited Sequoia]

If the battery was left on all weekend no jumping it won't start it there isn't enough juice there. The battery may or may not be bad put it on a charger overnight and then start it up and take it to the auto parts store to get it tested.

[canddmeyer]

Replace the battery and get it over with.

[goathead]

thanks for the replies.

took the battery to sears....battery needs replacing.

replaced w/ an optima 34R. 169.00 at advance. 12.00 core exchange.

done and done.

[JBH1989]

Originally Posted by goathead

however, if it was just the battery, when jumping, shouldnt it start?

What's happening is there are two draws on the jumper battery/vehicle: the dead battery and the starter. The dead battery is being recharged by the jumper battery, and there is enough battery capacity in the jumper to allow the electronics run on the dead Sequoia. When you add the starter into the mix, though, there isn't enough capacity in the one battery to charge the dead battery and turn the starter over while keeping voltage above ~7V. What the clicking sound is the solenoid in the starter--the pull-in winding is cycling. It pulls in the plunger, which bridges the motor contacts and engages the flywheel. When the motor contacts are bridged, the starter motor draws LRA (locked rotor amps, aka max current). This causes voltage to drop below the point where the hold-in winding can hold the plunger against spring tension, letting it release. As soon as it breaks contact, voltage goes up and the pull-in pulls the plunger back into contact, and the cycle repeats as long as you hold down the key.

What you can do next time is charge the battery with a charger, then try to start it, or, let the jumper battery/vehicle charge your vehicle (if you're stranded) for awhile then start it. No vehicle with a completely dead battery will start right up the instant you hook the jumper cables up to it.

Just because a battery went dead does not mean it's worthless. You did shorten its life by deep-cycling it, but it'll come back usually. Just slow charge it for a day and it will last a long time. But the stores don't want you to know that