Strange electrical problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 1
From: westminster California
Strange electrical problem
I have a strange problem about once a year I will go out and try to start the car and it will be dead (car is driven daily). I put it on the battery charger 10 amp for 1/2 hour and then switch the battery charger to start assist 55 amp and the car starts right up. The battery has been checked and is good also its less than two years old. Last year it did this but just once. Does an 02 vert have automatic run down protection? Seems something is draining the battery but what? Why only occasionaly?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Are you sure that the battery is DEAD or is the battery good and the car just wont start?? You need to have the battery LOAD tested the very next tine that this happens to determine if it is a true battery issue or something else. Could be a:
Loose battery terminals
battery cable issue
Starter issue
Starter wiring issue
Theft Deterrent relay issue
Neutral Safety circuit issue.
Get the battery checked out to eliminate it from the equation
Adding current to the starting circuit will help overcome high resistance connections that could exist and cause the issue your having.
BC
Loose battery terminals
battery cable issue
Starter issue
Starter wiring issue
Theft Deterrent relay issue
Neutral Safety circuit issue.
Get the battery checked out to eliminate it from the equation
Adding current to the starting circuit will help overcome high resistance connections that could exist and cause the issue your having.
BC
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 43
From: shavertown Pa.
dead?
maybe you just have a bad ground, or the power cable is just a little bit loose and gets a little corrision, and when you jumper it makes connection and then works, check the power wire on the starter see if you can move it with a little force. If it does move clean up the connection, and tighten it, I read something recently about those star washers GM was useing, and it said that it wasn't as good as of idea as they originaly tought. It was about bad grounds, it's worth a look... Hope you find your problem..B
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
starting prob
I was at a car show last night. got ready to leave. Dead as a doornail. Tried jumping..NOT. Swapped out battery with brand new "Optima" battery.(sad part. it came out of a mustang.how embarrassing )Nothing. , not a sound. Called tow truck. Now, remember we are with a hundred street rods. In disconnecting battery,had good spark, but not a click. Truck got there, rolled car forward three feet, and it started right up. Got home, started right up. Second time this happened.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 1
From: westminster California
When I opened the car door everything was dead no interior lights no power locks,no radio,no instrument display when turning the key everything absolutley dead so I don't think its a starter wire problem or solenoid. Battery connections were solid and corrosion free and I cleaned all the ground cables a couple of weeks ago. It really looks like something drained the battery. Would'nt I still get accesory power when turning the key if the resistor on the key was defective it just would not start?
