How do I reset my antitheft security on 97 Sephia

[leadthrower]

Hey everybody,

I unplugged my battery to reset my check engine light and for some reason my car will not start.

It's a 5 spd, so I was able to push it to the top of a hill and roll it down. I popped the clutch and she turned right over.

When I try to start it it doesn't even crank over. All the lights and buzzers work, but the engine sits idle. My friend tells me by messing with the battery I've activated some anti theft thing.

I have already put the key in, turned it forward for 6 minutes, turned it off, then turned it forward again for another 6 minutes and it still won't start.


Any help here guys?

LT

[itwasthedog]

LT - When you popped the clutch going downhill (hillbilly starter technique - know it well did the motor start? Does the motor just not turn over when you turn the key forward, or does it turn over and not start?

I had to replace the starter in my Sephia (97 with the 1.8 & 5 speed) last month. I have a new battery, and the motor would turn over very slow when cranking. With the new starter, it goes like nuts.

If you jack up the car and look at your starter, (don't forget blocks, set your parking brake and chock your rear wheels - be safe!) it will have a big wire coming from the battery and a little one coming from the start position of your key switch. I'd try unplugging the little wire and run a jumper from the positive side of the battery to the terminal of the starter the little wire goes to. If the starter cranks the engine (make sure your tranny is in neutral for this test) then the starter and solinoid are O.K. If the engine doesn't crank, pull the starter and take it and about $110 to your local friendly parts house and they can get you a rebuilt one.

[itwasthedog]

Just though of something - in the aforementioned test, I'm assuming that the heavy cable ant the terminal running from the battery to the starter is O.K. You mentioned that this problem started when you yanked the cable to reset your computer? I do that all the time and it doesn't affect my starter a bit. I'm not aware of any anti-theft device that would prevent the starter from working on a Sephia.

This may sound totally redundant, but make sure your terminals are good and clean. Make sure that the cable is making a good contact with the terminal - especially if you have those funky factory crimped together el-cheapo terminals. Then try the jumper wire to the little starter terminal trick.

Good luck!