Cause of the battery explosion...

[muleskinner]

The car was running at the time of explosion?


The fuse is melted.


Alternator checks out fine.


I have no idea why the battery would explode, but a fuse being melted like that is because something is drawing more power than the fuse can handle.

I would replace that fuse block and leave that fuse out. The battery can't force too much power through a fuse. Something has to be on the receiving end PULLING the power from the battery. I'm guessing you'll be looking for a new blower motor but that's just a guess. You'll have to get the car running and troubleshoot to see how many amps/volts are going through that circuit then find what is causing it.


On second thought, i bet the battery exploded when the fuse block melted and fused together some contacts that should never contact...

I might have a spare ecu for cheap if u need one.

I don't even know where the ECU is or what it looks like?. I guess I could use one!

About the fuse. I think there must have been a wire stuck in there for the radiator fan. Someone had jury rigged the fan so it would run.

[muleskinner]

Ok, I looked in my 89' shop manual and the only thing I can find is an ECA. Is that the same as an ECU in a 93'?

If not, is the ECU located in the same area?

[scitzz]

Take off the driver side speaker grill and speaker. You will see the silverish box. IIRC when you put your head under the dash and look up you will see three large plugs going into it. Unplug those. Use a 10mm socket and extension through the speaker grill. Undo the bottom two bolts. pull out. Should look like this.


I may have gotten a step wrong since it has been over a year since I did it last.

Running around outside the asylum again with my tappy talky appy

[muleskinner]

Thanks Paul, I will try that...........

[muleskinner]

Got it! It seems to look fine. I guess looks are deceiving.

Now I just need to find another one.

I can basically get one out of any other year Festy right?? It doesn't matter if its a stick or auto??

[gergorian]

From the pic of your ecu, you will need a 2 plug one and I think if you have an auto, you have to put an auto ecu back in. I could be wrong. Im not too versed on the diff between auto and manual ECU's ( if there are any.)

[tooldude]

You should never run your car without a battery in it. The theory is that without battery voltage going to the regulator, the alternator will put out unregulated voltage that may exceed the limits of the electronics and destroy the computer. That might be why the car started and then would not start again. Did you remove the jumper cables after it started?

[muleskinner]

Did you remove the jumper cables after it started?

Yes, unfortunately.

I knew I did something wrong once I unhooked the jumper cables. The car stalled after I did and it wouldn't start again.

[scitzz]

They are different. I was thinking you said 89 which is 3 plug. 93 is 2 plug. You need 90-93 efi ECU .

Running around outside the asylum again with my tappy talky appy

[zoom zoom]

I have a b376 ecu, it's a MT ecu, originally in my festiva when I bought it. 20+shipping if you want it. Somebody has already swapped yours and spliced those two atx transmission wires together to make the car run on a mtx ecu.

I can't say running the car without a battery killed it either, I've had my batteries unplugged and left the engine running for periods of 5-10 minutes before, and I'm not scared to do that again either.

call it what you want to call it but my favorite way to make a car with a dead battery start is to hold a battery upside down on the dead battery till it starts. alotta guys will say it's stupid or that I'm gonna get an arc and make an explosion, but the bottom line is, it works.----and I don't like losing my presettings on the CD player.

[muleskinner]

I have a b376 ecu, it's a MT ecu, originally in my festiva when I bought it. 20+shipping if you want it. Somebody has already swapped yours and spliced those two atx transmission wires together to make the car run on a mtx ecu.

I can't say running the car without a battery killed it either, I've had my batteries unplugged and left the engine running for periods of 5-10 minutes before, and I'm not scared to do that again either.

call it what you want to call it but my favorite way to make a car with a dead battery start is to hold a battery upside down on the dead battery till it starts. alotta guys will say it's stupid or that I'm gonna get an arc and make an explosion, but the bottom line is, it works.----and I don't like losing my presettings on the CD player.

Could it be something else besides the ECU?? I eliminated the coil by process of elimination but nothing else.

Matt, How can you tell someone has swapped mine already? Remember this car (silver streak) is a 1993 GL automatic.

I might be interested in yours if the car at the JY doesn't have one in it.

[zoom zoom]

the number on that ecu you put up pics of matches the number on my MT ecu, so it had to have been swapped. I saw the auto shifter in the pic, so I kinda figured it was an auto :p

[scitzz]

If what you have is modded, I am not sure how the ignition system is setup. It could be ICM, Ignition Control Module. On most "normal" late models, it sits next to the coil. The test procedure eludes me ATM, but IIRC, it involves a multimeter...

[muleskinner]

the number on that ecu you put up pics of matches the number on my MT ecu, so it had to have been swapped. I saw the auto shifter in the pic, so I kinda figured it was an auto :p

So your saying your ECU should work in that Festy.?

I'll see what's in the one at the JY. I am going out there Monday morning. I know one out there is an auto so it may not work then, huh?.

All the other Festies out there are 88-89 manual trans. Would any of those work?

[muleskinner]

If what you have is modded, I am not sure how the ignition system is setup. It could be ICM, Ignition Control Module. On most "normal" late models, it sits next to the coil. The test procedure eludes me ATM, but IIRC, it involves a multimeter...

Hmm? I will look into that I haven't checked that.