Lost all power
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Lexington NC
Lost all power
Not sure what just happened, but after being snowed in for a week I took the 99 convertible to the grocery store just to get out. It started fine and went to the store with no problem. When I came out, I used the fob to get in the car and it unlocked the car then put the key in the ignition and the seats and steering wheel moved like normal, however when I turned the key the dials on the dash went all of the way to the stops, as usual and on the way back the car quit cranking and the dials stopped in mid stream like it lost all power. The fob will not lock or unlock the doors, in fact all power is lost. No lights no nothing. And turning the key produces no response as if the battery went from ok to disconnected. It is a fairly new, within six months, red top and has been working well. I opened the hood and all connections feel tight but I had no tools. Got my wife to get me and I'm going back in a little bit, but any ideas?
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
The very first thing I would check would be the tightness of the battery terminals They should be torqued to 11 ft/lbs
Next,, the battery could be totally bad as in burnt buss bar inside the battery resulting in totaly dead battery
Next,, the battery could be totally bad as in burnt buss bar inside the battery resulting in totaly dead battery
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Lexington NC
Thanks Bill. I went up there with my meter and it read zero volts at the cable, so I first tested the tightness of the battery cables and they seemed very snug, but I took them off and tested the battery at the terminals and they read 12.3 volts so I tightened them back up and as soon as the positive touched the terminal the lights came on and things started working. So, after tightening everything back up the car cranked fine and I drove it home. Not sure why this happened. The battery box is very clean, the terminals were clean and the cables looked fine with absolutely no corrosion. Yet, it did happen so in the light of day I'll take a good look and see if there is anything to see. I'll give them a good cleaning whether they need it or not and test the cables themselves, but at least I'm not out in the sleet trying to get it home!
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 54
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From: Yettem California
no start...
No big deal, just clean the cable ends and the batt terminals...make sure where the cable meets the terminal end is good tight w/ no corrosion...if it's a screw on type, take it apart and clean it...but it sounds like you had some oxidation form in the cold air...
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
Ive seen the plastic cable terminal cover get between the battery and cable contact pad.. Check that. Other than using a brass or stainless Steel wire brush and cleaning both mounting surfaces, thats about all you can do. MAKE SURE that you properly TORQUE the bolt! 11 ft/lbs
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 4
From: cinnaminson n.j.
St. Jude Donor '14
Ive seen the plastic cable terminal cover get between the battery and cable contact pad.. Check that. Other than using a brass or stainless Steel wire brush and cleaning both mounting surfaces, thats about all you can do. MAKE SURE that you properly TORQUE the bolt! 11 ft/lbs
Bill
Bill
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
You probably know as well as I know that; if you tell someone that the battery terminals need to be tight,, Some will install it finger tight and some will strip out the battery terminals.
I have only used a torque wrench twice but,,, I can usually get it pretty much with in a pound or two either way without using one. Just like header bolts. I dont use a torque wrench there either but I get the bolts almost nats on cause I have done them 500 times.
So,, I default to telling people who are having battery issues to use 11 ft/lbs so I at least get them close to being right and not destroying the battery.
Bill
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