Urgent - Can I use a trickle charger without access to the negative post?

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Rezist

Senior member
Jun 20, 2009
726
0
71
It's too late to be useful now but plugging in would have probably saved you if it was possible. We've been having a nice -40C cold snap and my 2012 work truck almost didn't start.

Also if you can run the car for like 30 mins every couple of hours can really save you as well.
 

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
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It's too late to be useful now but plugging in would have probably saved you if it was possible. We've been having a nice -40C cold snap and my 2012 work truck almost didn't start.

Also if you can run the car for like 30 mins every couple of hours can really save you as well.

Oh absolutely--but my wife has no access to plugins at work.

We will definitely start it every 2 hours after this debacle..
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,228
4,932
136
Perhaps it's flooded? Try the flooded start procedure, which is usually to hold the gas pedal to the floor when cranking.

I see in the manual, you should also press the brake pedal at the same time.

That only applies to engines with a Carburetor.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,228
4,932
136
It's Christmas. The dealer said it'll be two weeks before they can even look at it... so I'd rather do it myself if I could.

I will have a look at the fuses.


Then they should provide you with a loaner.
 

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
0
That only applies to engines with a Carburetor.

No. Cranking with your foot on the floor, i.e. TPS voltage at the WOT threshold, generally causes an EFI car to go into 'clear flood' mode . I don't know if it's 100% universal to OBD2 cars, but the vast majority will cut injector pulse completely. The few that don't still heavily reduce fueling. If it manages to try to start in this mode, normal fueling should kick back in at IIRC 600rpm.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
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That only applies to engines with a Carburetor.

No, it is pretty much universally duplicated with fuel injection.

Besides that, it's clear in my post that I read it in the 2014 Escape owner's manual...

It is not specifically called the flooded start procedure, but the failed start procedure.

Here is a quote from my owner's manual, 2008 Jeep with the 5.7L Hemi, which I assure you is fuel injected:
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” procedures,
it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages.
 

disappoint

Lifer
Dec 7, 2009
10,132
382
126
No. Cranking with your foot on the floor, i.e. TPS voltage at the WOT threshold, generally causes an EFI car to go into 'clear flood' mode . I don't know if it's 100% universal to OBD2 cars, but the vast majority will cut injector pulse completely. The few that don't still heavily reduce fueling. If it manages to try to start in this mode, normal fueling should kick back in at IIRC 600rpm.

Why would a fuel injected engine be flooded? Bad fuel injectors? Stuck open valves?
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
Presumably there are conditions where the injectors are firing during cranking, but the engine does not start, resulting in too much fuel in the cylinders.
 

monkeydelmagico

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2011
3,961
145
106
little shot of ether in the intake. If it fires then stalls you have a fuel problem. No start = spark problem.