Starter shorting? on 94 LT1
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: Hermosa Beach, CA
Starter shorting? on 94 LT1
My car's been sitting for a while and when I went out to crank it today I put the key in to start it, lights came on as usual, but when I actually turned the key everything went dark. After 30 seconds or so with the key still in the run position all the lights came back on. Any time I actually try to start it it loses all power. Not sure what's going on here. Anyone experience this or have some insight that I don't? Thanks for any help.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
What is going on is you have corrosion on the battery cable lugs and a poor electrical connection. The connection is good enough for lights, radio, and light loads, but the starter requires 100+ amps and the poor battery connection blows out and a little while later reconnects.
Solution: Remove the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts until they are bright and reconnect the cables (neg last) to the battery.
Solution: Remove the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts until they are bright and reconnect the cables (neg last) to the battery.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: Hermosa Beach, CA
I hoped it was something like this. What makes the lights all turn off and stay off though? That seemed like some circuit was blowing and when it cooled down it was contacting again. That's what made me so unsure of what was happening.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
What happens is the corrosion only leaves a small area connection between the lug and the battery terminal. This small area is fine for the low current of normal accessories. BUT when starter current starts to flow it vaporizes (thats the pop you hear) this small area and disconnects the battery. Because the cable lugs are under pressure from the attachment bolts, with time, another small area makes connection to the battery terminal and you have lights again. Battery cable connections need to be like your lover, bright and tight! 
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 7
From: Lahaina Hi
94's eat batteries. I am on my 3 one in 2 years.
Just ate a dry cell last week.
Check your voltage when you first start the car in the morning.
I had a problem with my alt wires at the front of the engine on the alt side running down the injector rails had bad wires ,rebbed through at the black bracket,installed new wire everything ok .
Just ate a dry cell last week.
Check your voltage when you first start the car in the morning.
I had a problem with my alt wires at the front of the engine on the alt side running down the injector rails had bad wires ,rebbed through at the black bracket,installed new wire everything ok .
