Battery / electrical problems
Battery / electrical problems I went to drive my car tonight, and as the engine was cranking, I lost all power. The dash went black and the starter stopped. I turned the key off, and back to run, and nothing. I tried turning it to start, and I heard a very faint door chime, and the seat belt light lit up, but was very dim. I popped the hood and left the key on. As I got out to check the battery cables, the power popped back on, so I sat back down and started it up. I noticed that the headlights and dash lights flicker as the car idles, and because of my cam, they really flicker a lot with the rough idle. I checked the battery cables, and they were secure. I noticed that all my presets and settings were missing from my radio. I backed out of my drive, and the car died and everything went black again. I started pushing it back into the drive, and the power came back on again.
Anyway, I have a few other electrical problems that seem to me may be related to this problem.
- I have a slow drain. Takes about 2-3 days to drain the battery.
- I go through batteries like crazy. About 1 a year or year and a half.
- I also burn up ignition switches. One of the wires is melted; either pink or red I can't remember off the top of my head. Eventually the switch also gets overheated and melts. Takes a couple months to kill a new switch. I've tried hunting this problem down but haven't found the problem.
I'm starting to wonder if my battery cables are worn out or damaged. Sound about right? Car has about 235k on it now, with original cables.
Anyway, I have a few other electrical problems that seem to me may be related to this problem.
- I have a slow drain. Takes about 2-3 days to drain the battery.
- I go through batteries like crazy. About 1 a year or year and a half.
- I also burn up ignition switches. One of the wires is melted; either pink or red I can't remember off the top of my head. Eventually the switch also gets overheated and melts. Takes a couple months to kill a new switch. I've tried hunting this problem down but haven't found the problem.
I'm starting to wonder if my battery cables are worn out or damaged. Sound about right? Car has about 235k on it now, with original cables.
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Texas
my car is doing that same thing but its not melting the wire like yours i have a small drain some where and the alternator is giving me a low charge but passes a the part store i don't know what it can be im fed up with it already i feel you pain lol
There are several grounds by the ignition coil, a ground strap that runs from the coil bracket to the frame rail, a ground by the oil dipstick brack on the block, one on the passenger side motor mount, etc. You definitely have a bad ground or a short somewhere.
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I've been having this problem before the engine swap, so I was hoping it would be fixed after the swap, which apparently it hasn't. That's why I'm kinda thinking battery cables, at least the neg one.
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Teching In
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Longwood, FL
This is not an easy problem to diag by any means. If you are having a drain on the battery, especially overnight, then you should try a parasitic load test with a dvom and a quick disconnect for the negative terminal which you can usually find at any auto parts store for under $10. Try that and see if that doesn't locate a circuit to test and that might make it easier to test. Does your PCM store any codes? I agree that this sounds very much like a ground problem, double check them simply because I have had grounds rattle loose and ohm your ground circuits as well.
There are also grounds on both sides of the core support, the driver's side fame rail below the ABS pump, etc
What year is your car? I know I have at least one good set of spare battery cables. I might have two.
What year is your car? I know I have at least one good set of spare battery cables. I might have two.
Anyway, mine's a 94.
Just to rule it out, I went out and got a new ignition switch the other day and swapped it in yesterday. The old one was discolored like it had been hot, but wasn't burned up like the rest of them have been when they failed.
Drove the car for about 2 hours last night with no problems.
Drove the car for about 2 hours last night with no problems.