Total electrical failure in intersection

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Mar 4, 2006 | 12:08 PM

humiliategravity

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 199

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From: Santa Monica CA

Total electrical failure in intersection

This is a weird one. I pulled up into the left turn lane, turn up the volume on my radio, and I hear a quick loud buzz from the speakers as the car's entire electricty fails and the engine dies. Turn the key, nothing.

So I embarassingly push my car through the intersection, get it parked in the nearest parking lot, and tried turning the key again. Nothing. I checked some stuff, tried it one more time before giving up, and to my shock the damn thing starts right up and I drive it home.

Does anyone have any ideas what happened there? Was that an electrical short of some kind? (It had rained the night before)

Is this something I should try to fix/worry about? Thanks everyone.

Dave

Mar 4, 2006 | 12:10 PM

bobs77vet

Race Director

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 11,874

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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod

yes worry about and then clean all the grounds and battery connections and any other connections you can see especially around the starter

Mar 4, 2006 | 02:48 PM

MasterDave

Moderator

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 7,117

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From: Dove Mountain Arizona

It's the BIG RED WIRE in your ignition system. It goes to your connector block on the firewall engine side then passes thru to the dash side. There are really flimsy 'V' type blade connectors inside the connector block and the one that usually fails is the main ignition connector. To prove it out have someone move the wire around while you try keying the ignition, turning headlights on, etc. and you'll get mixed results. Two ways to fix it; (1) replace wiring harnesses or (2) hard wire (solder) this particular wire with the same gauge wire, pass it alongside the connector block at the firewall and do the same inside the car. Worked for me and hasen't missed a beat in 4 years now.

Mar 4, 2006 | 08:57 PM

71forKen

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 101

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From: New Orleans Louisiana

Alternator

Probably wouldn't hurt to get your alternator checked while you're at it. I've had alternators fail on me before and the car just dies like it did on you and won't crank back up. Bring it to an auto place and have it checked for free. Then at least you can check that off the list.

Mar 4, 2006 | 09:06 PM

shafrs3

Melting Slicks

Joined: Dec 2005

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If the alternator fails it should still run off the battery.

Mar 4, 2006 | 09:19 PM

birdsmith

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2006

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From: Japan

Fusible link??? If I remember correcly it comes off the starter and would have the same effect; kills ALL the electrics

Mar 5, 2006 | 12:20 AM

isosceles

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 3,128

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From: Deltona (son of Deland and DAYTONA) FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdsmith

Fusible link??? If I remember correcly it comes off the starter and would have the same effect; kills ALL the electrics

the wire leading to it might be corroded.

Mar 5, 2006 | 12:25 AM

onaqwst

Le Mans Master

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 7,186

Likes: 45

From: detroit area

are u running a medium to large audio setup.... if so, make sure u have the right gauged wires for hott/ground......

sounds like a ground problem..... once it diedout, and u pushed it, it might have shifted the ground to make a better connection..... check all grounds first though....bad grounds can lead to fires and thats not cool.......

b