So I went to start my 94 for the first time after the winter and had to jump it because the battery was dead (forgot to disconnect). In any case, I connected the jumper cables and the lights turned on under the hood, everything seemed ok. Then I went to start it and as soon as I tried everything turned off like a fuse blew and now nothing works. Is there a breaker before the headlights from the battery that prevents anything from turning on when blown? I don't even know where to start looking for something like this. Anyone had this problem? Thanks.

 

Even if you disconnect your battery it still self discharges about 1% every day and sitting for the entire winter will destroy the battery because as a lead acid battery discharges, lead sulphate collects on its plates. Lead sulphate is a good insulator and a sulphated battery acts like it has nothing inside of it and will not accept a charge. First replace your battery! Also, you cannot jump a battery that is totally dead and start a car because the jumper cable and connection resistance to the battery posts is too high to pass enough current (100+ amps) to operate the starter motor. What you did was cause a burnout where the jumper clips were contacting the battery terminals and this disconnected the jumper clips and you were back on the cars dead battery. I have posted here many many times that you should never let your car sit for long periods of time (4+ weeks) without maintaining the charge on your battery. If you already own a battery charger, then buy an interval timer and have it charge your battery everyday for its minimum interval (usually 15 min) and it will keep your battery up and you will experience a normal battery life. Yes, you can find posts in the archive where some CFer lets his vette sit all winter and then it always starts in the Spring. But for each one of those you find, I'll bury you in posts where the poster had your experience!
What you need is a new battery!

 

>Also, you cannot jump a battery that is totally dead and start a car because the jumper
> cable and connection resistance to the battery posts is too high to pass enough current
> (100+ amps) >to operate the starter motor.

You need to upgrade from the 22 ga jumper cables. :)

I've certainly jumped cars that had _no_ battery in them. And with fairly cheap cables.

 

This would make sense except now when I connect the battery cables nothing at all happens. No matter how I move the cables. Could this still be the problem or is it something else? I'll take and test the battery and get it charged but it just seems like something more to me.

 

Sounds like you burned the jumper cable crimp to the wire on the battery clip and there is no connection, or you discharged the battery you jumped from or the good battery needs its cable connections removed cleaned and replaced.
Where did you clamp the negative jumper cable? It should be put on the block.


[Modified by jfb, 11:02 PM 5/9/2004]

 

Check the fusible links
They're connected to the fuse panel behind the battery.