2003 No Power after sitting 21 years

[Lcaldwell]

I have the coral 007 2003 thunderbird. It has been sitting in my garage since I bought it in 2003. Only mileage is driving from dealership. But, since it has not been driven, now the electronic system is not working. It will not turn over when I try to crank. I have replaced battery, and still nothing. I have had one technician at a dealership to try and fix it but with no luck. If anyone else has had this problem, please let me know if you were able to get it fixed.

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[biddle]

I updated your title "2003". How is anyone supposed to know what your post is about when all the title says is 2003?

Also why did you post this is parts for sale discussion? 🙄

When was the last time the car was started?

What do you mean by "the electronic system is not working? Is the car completely dead?

 

[Lcaldwell]

The car started fine about 4 years ago, but now everything is dead (even after changing batteries).

 

[edward301]

I would connect the battery for four hours or so, not do anything with the car, do not try and start. Then disconnect the battery
for about an hour, then reconnect let sit for about an hour, then see if the car will start or begin to power up. If not repeat over
and over a few disconnect cycles and see if car will start or power up.
The car has sat for so long most of the computer modules will not power up most likely because many of the capacitors have
lost all conductive properties, so the modules will not power up. Going through multiple power up cycles may allow the
capacitors to slowly come back to life.

 

[biddle]

If the car has been sitting for years, there is no telling what is wrong with it. Could be all kinds of issues including rodent chewing a wire.

 

[Frankie the Fink]

Won't turn over and no power can mean two different things, do the headlights/horn work ?
If so then there is enough power to run an OBDC scan and see what diagnostic codes are thrown.
If you are handy with a multimeter you can put it across the battery posts while someone tries to start the car.
If the voltage drops much below 9V you have a battery issue; if it drops very little from the ambient 12.8V or so you have a connectivity issue (corrosion, loose cables, etc).

What did the dealership technician say he did and what might be the issue ?

The worst thing you can do with any vehicle is drive it too much or too little...

 

[silverhawk.michael]

Won't turn over and no power can mean two different things, do the headlights/horn work ?
If so then there is enough power to run an OBDC scan and see what diagnostic codes are thrown.
If you are handy with a multimeter you can put it across the battery posts while someone tries to start the car.
If the voltage drops much below 9V you have a battery issue; if it drops very little from the ambient 12.8V or so you have a connectivity issue (corrosion, loose cables, etc).

What did the dealership technician say he did and what might be the issue ?

The worst thing you can do with any vehicle is drive it too much or too little...

I have the coral 007 2003 thunderbird. It has been sitting in my garage since I bought it in 2003. Only mileage is driving from dealership. But, since it has not been driven, now the electronic system is not working. It will not turn over when I try to crank. I have replaced battery, and still nothing. I have had one technician at a dealership to try and fix it but with no luck. If anyone else has had this problem, please let me know if you were able to get it fixed.

Hello and welcome
Try this: run a jumper cable from your positive battery post to your starter..you might need two cables to reach..if it cranks you know it's the positive cable which runs along the passenger door up and under the glove compartment..you will find a plastic cover that looks like a battery post..pull it off and there is a connection that goes through the fire wall..clean and reconnect..then turn your tires to the left pull your plastic mud protection lose trace your starter cable to the fire wall and check clean and tighten..note make sure you use jack stands...mine was super lose straight from the factory ..good luck

Michael

 

[jneuenburg]

Like @biddle, I too thought about a rodent chewing a wire. It's even more likely if there have been signs of mice or rats in the garage. Look for little pieces of black feces, and holes chewed through cardboard.