Hi,
MCP73834, here the ds:
page 17, table 5-1. Standard hook-up. 10k "The system test mode is entered by driving the THERM input greater than (VDD-100 mV) with no battery connected to the output."
There is no battery connected, indeed, but the THERM input is pulled-down with the 10k resistor. So how could the 73834 enter is such a state?
Marco