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Joined: Feb 2001
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last night when I when to start the tour something strange happend
1) I opened the car door and the interior lights came on.
2) When I tried to start the car the lights went out
the car had no power. The door locks would not lock
3) I then opened the hood and touched the negative (red) terminal connections the cabin lights came back on and I was able to start the car.
The negative or red inner most cable connection was not loose. So what did I do when I touched it. Did I groud the battery? So is this an indication that my battery has a grounding issue?
Any thoughts
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
...
2) When I tried to start the car the lights went out
the car had no power. The door locks would not lock
3) I then opened the hood and touched the negative (red) terminal connections the cabin lights came back on and I was able to start the car.
The negative or red inner most cable connection was not loose. So what did I do when I touched it. Did I groud the battery? So is this an indication that my battery has a grounding issue?
Any thoughts
Battery is low or wiring is loose (loose not necessarily at the battery terminals. Could be loose at the other end. Check all the wiring from battery to alternator and to ground). In addition, red is positive terminal and black is negative terminal.
Test battery. Engine off, lghts on for 1 minute, then voltage across battery terminals should be 12 to 12.5.
Test alternator. Engine running, voltage across battery terminals should be 14 to 14.5
Edit. Loose wire issue.
Originally posted by SetiRich:
Ok, it's 2.5 years later, and I had the problem again...bye-the-way, I fixed it the first time...
There is a small black wire that loops up between the battery & the air filter box. This small wire attaches to a connector at one end, and seems to follow the "main" positive wire to where-ever it goes...haven't followed it.
The end that connects to the connector...is in with a group of wires that comes off the "secondary" positive terminal...this is sort of an extension to the main terminal. Both the pos & neg have these "secondary" connection posts...I guess because they needed more places to connect things close to the battery.
Anyway, the small black wire keeps coming out of the connector end. It's a PIA to get at...you have to remove the battery & battery box. Last time it just seemed to stick in there, so I left it. This time, I'm taking the battery stuff out and fixing it "for good".
I figure this must be something going to the solinoid, since there is no clicking or anything when this is out...and all light's, are great. New battery too...whenever it just doesn't start, I push it back into the connector & off I go for another 5-6 months. Guess it's nice weather again so time to fix it right.
Rich
Last edited by Tony2005; 10/21/05 01:54 PM.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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Joined: Feb 2001
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By the way my battery is a interstate 5year that I purchased over three years ago. The interior lights when they came back on were bright not dim. I have had a dead battery twice before when my alternator went and when the battery went and in those cases the cabin light was very dim. I have tried to have a shop guy replace my battery and alternator cables before and was always told that those cables were okay when the alternator and battery was were replaced. Yet I have read in CEG that alternator and battery ground cables can rust all the way thru giving the outer appearance of being sound. Are the electrcal connecting cables to the alternator, battery and the ground to the body that expensive to replace?
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Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
...Are the electrcal connecting cables to the alternator, battery and the ground to the body that expensive to replace?
The dealer will probably charge $300 to $400 for labor. I would suggest that you check it out yourself. 9 times out of 10, it is a loose connection by the ground. So check the black wires going from the negative to the chassis. IIRC I read a post where there was one which goes to the side below the battery which usually comes loose.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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