Random loss of electricity when starting.
Captain Regular
02-03-2004, 12:05 AM
Ok, here's what I have, and it's weird. I have a '93 SL-1 with a manual transmission. My battery is less than a month old, and the alternator AND starter have been replaced with NEW components (and the voltage regulator and starter solenoid are in those respective components, and subsequently replaced) are both less than 6000 miles old. And the problem really only started recently, well after the starter and alternator were replaced, but slightly BEFORE the battery was replaced. I feel confident in all of those 3 components. But once in a while, when I go to start it, I get nothing. No dome light, no radio, no inner or outer power... NOTHING. And if I leave it for even overnight or let the temperature warm up in the late noon, still nothing. Sometimes when I first go to start it, the power will blink on for a split second, but then down to zero. Now this only happens maybe one out of 10 attempts to start the vehicle, and it's random. No time of day or temperature factors. Now I can get going just fine, very easily...for now. I take off and reconnect the negative battery cable and BOOM. Right up. And all that happens is I lose my radio settings. That's visible, anyway. I've checked EVERY fuse that I know of, in the box next to the battery and in the passenger seat footwell, and they all look just fine. It WAS stolen and hotwired a few months ago, but has been fine since then. But I did have the electrical system looked at, apparently they not only damaged the ignition switch (I replaced that and spliced the wires myself, not pretty but has been working fine and still appears fine) but they ripped some lines around in the trunk in an attempt to get my speakers, and apparently damaged some grounds, but that was fixed over 3 months ago. After the alternator and starter were replaced, but before the battery. Any thoughts?
AkinaSpeedStar
02-03-2004, 08:25 PM
well i have ran into something like this on my 92 sl2 and my 78 ford F-150, check the battery cables make sure everything is tight, also check the starter and alternator lines, and i would check the wires that you fixed make sure there ground to a good spot.
DonRose
02-04-2004, 12:39 PM
This problem sound like a bad connection. First can you check the batter voltage when it is in the dead state? If it is good work you way into the fuse panel and find the Open circuit.
When you disconnect the negative terminal inspect the cable and the new battery insure that the cable makes good contact with the battery. It is possible that you flex the battery case and make an intermittent connection inside the battery connect. New batteries are not infallible. You indicate you have no battery power so I am thinking the problem is the new battery or the old cable.
When you disconnect the negative terminal inspect the cable and the new battery insure that the cable makes good contact with the battery. It is possible that you flex the battery case and make an intermittent connection inside the battery connect. New batteries are not infallible. You indicate you have no battery power so I am thinking the problem is the new battery or the old cable.
bobbyp
02-05-2004, 07:56 PM
Make sure that the negative cable from the battery is secure at the other end where it connects to the engine block as well. Out of all the wires and cables in a vehicle, the ground cable is the ONE that can cause EVERYTHING else not to work. Good luck...
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