Dead battery (left headlights on) - jump start, then nothing

razorbackram

Went to work early this morning and forgot to turn off my headlights when i parked. I have a new battery. After work, I got a jump start. The engine cranked once, then everything went dead. No power to anything, even with jumper cables connected. Where should I start?

carlherrnstein · Post subject: (Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:14 pm)

I had a intermittent problem with charging/everything dieing once on my truck an there was a very bad connection in the heavy wires to the battery. I would jiggle the wires then it was good till i hit the RR tracks agin Wink

then i had to fix it right cause that stoped working. You might check the wires from the battery to the firewall.
good luck

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razorbackram · Post subject: (Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:17 pm)

thanks - the ole "jiggle the wires" solution. It's worth a try - since there's no power to headlights, radio, horn, or anything, I don't guess it could be a fuse problem. Battery cables seem like the perfect place to start to me.

Reed · Post subject: (Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:56 pm)

Battery cables and fusible links. Did you have polarity correct on the jumper cables?

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razorbackram · Post subject: (Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:11 pm)

yes, polarity was correct (my first reaction after the car went dead was that the cables were incorrect - but I double checked and they were OK).

Where is the fusible link?

Reed · Post subject: (Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:33 pm)

What kind of car do you have? Typically the fusible link(s) come right off the (+) terminal.

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theomahamoparguy · Post subject: (Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:16 pm)

I agree, it sounds like the battery connection.
Depending what year car you have. Look for fusible links coming off of battery. Sometimes near the starter relay or left rear inner fender.
Locations vary. consult FSM.

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Reed · Post subject: (Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:29 pm)

You know, it could be something as simple as loose and/or corroded terminals. Clean and tighten the battery cable clamps and clean the battery posts, you might get lucky.

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emsvitil · Post subject: (Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:19 am)

My sisters used to fix their battery problem with a hammer..........

Hit the terminals, and it worked again. Wink

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

66aCUDA · Post subject: (Thu Feb 18, 2010 7:55 am)

I have had the same problem here in Arkansas BOTH times it was a battery cable. Hot once and Ground the other 2 different cars. Also make sure the chassis (body) ground is good.
Frank

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KBB_of_TMC · Turbo Slant 6 Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 846

90% of the time I've seen the like happen is was a poor connection right at a battery post - either between the clamp and post or from the cable to the clamp.

razorbackram · Post subject: (Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:02 am)

thanks - for some reason, the battery (it's new) just wasn't wanting to re-charge. I left the jumper cables hooked up to it for 10 minutes or so, now everything is fine. The terminals are pretty worn, so a new set is in order for the near future.

twentyshots · Post subject: (Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:18 pm)

alright...this seems like as good a battery thread as any to piggyback on....

my lancer is basically sitting for winter right now until i have the funds and weather to get into it. still, i try to start it at least once a week to get the "blood flowing". well, in the past week i went out and turned the key, the dome light was on, but.....nothing happened. no click, just silence.

the battery is only 4 months old but i checked the water anyway, which seemed good.

the next day the dome light was weaker, so it was obvious everything was heading south.

today, i tried to jump it and still nothing happened, the dome light (my only indicator) was dead.

the actual ignition when i put my key in it seems a little loose too....

???

oh, and just so we understand each other- i don't know squat but i'm trying to learn here......(i should probably put that in my sig so y'all don't think i've had a brain injury)

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emsvitil · Post subject: (Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:41 pm)

Charge the battery.

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

wjajr · Post subject: (Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:45 am)

Yup, give that battery a long slow charge. You may want to invest in a battery keeper, a little device that trickles charge into a battery as it needs it letting you know its condition with a signal light.

It is not good for the battery to stay discharged for any length of time; it will quickly shorten its life.

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