Well, ladies and gentleman... mostly gentleman... I done goofed.

Left my headlights on in my 02 Max while rushing to the LRT, got back and the car wouldn't start. Dead battery.

So after a few failed attempts of trying to boost the car by pushing it with a buddy and clutching out into second (too much snow and too slippery to get her going fast enough), a taxi guy ended up giving me a boost. The asshat wanted me to give him $25 to do it and after talking a few minutes he ended up doing it for free. Its really a much longer story but we'll skip most of the bull****.

Anyways I'm not proud of this but finals week can do some strange **** to a person. I mistakenly crossed the plus and minus cables.

Thankfully no fire or really big issues or anything, just a few sparks. We figured out what was wrong after it wouldn't start and re-hooked it up the right way.

Now, the problem: Just noticed the stereo doesn't work. At all. Everything else works , the heated seats, headlamps, cluster, climate control... everything but the stereo.

What could be the issue here? Do I need a new stereo?

If I do need a new stereo:

Option A: Are new factory stereos expensive?
Option B: Has anyone gotten a double-din installed in their car? How do most double-dins fit on the Max?

 

You've checked the radio fuse I assume?

 

I'll have to do that when I get home. How do I locate it?

 

Just check the fuse, it is probably fine.

Also, you should bump start in 4th gear as soon as it starts clutch in before it stalls out.

 

Yeah check fuse ......

 

Replaced the fuse! Its fine now, thank you everyone.

And what do you mean in 4th gear? You serious?

 

Meh 2nd is fine.

 

Won't start with a depleted battery no matter what gear you choose.

 

Glad you got it all sorted out.

 

Is this possible with a 3.5? Drive by wire

 

Yes, youre not starting it with the throttle, you just use the throttle to keep the car running once it starts.

But spock is right, if the battery is completely flat, it wont start regardless because the ignition system needs a decent amount of voltage to fire the injectors and run the ECM, the alternator wont produce it fast enough unless youre going REALLY fast

 

I see. So if they battery is not completely flat (lights, cluster, etc. still turning on), but not charged enough to give me a start, then what is the best procedure at this point?

I actually recall us trying it with 1st gear. But we were moving it max 5 km/h due to the snowy conditions.

 

Match the gear you choose to your speed. If you cant get any real speed going at all then you should use 1st gear, but its much less likely to start.