1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

help! Car is dead ! D - E - D !

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Old 02-17-03, 09:18 AM
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Lightbulb help! Car is dead ! D - E - D !

The car has ran fine, no problems whatso ever with the electrical system, up to this point. It sat for 2 days and this morning, I get in and turn the key half way to turn the radio on , just long enough to fasten my seatbelt, and when I turned it all the way to start it, everything just died. no clicking, no dash lights, no nuttin. Dead.

Any Thoughts on my next step? Help!

scot
Old 02-17-03, 09:27 AM
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this sounds like a tough one

have u checked the fusable links up front??
Old 02-17-03, 09:35 AM
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I have checked fuses under the dash- and they were fine. I just walked out there and the same thing happened, but before I turned the key, the domelight was on. Maybe the battery is dead?
Old 02-17-03, 09:42 AM
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Sometimes this happens to me if you put the battery posts on and not tight and they haven't been connected for some time. THen you tighten them and still nothing. Scrap them up with sandpaper or simialer, both the posts and terminals and tighten them and start. IF it still goes all dead, try the battery on another car then on yours again.
Old 02-17-03, 09:45 AM
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RE-check your battery is conencted well, clean the posts and make sure they are tight..


Also check the fuseable links.. they are on the drivers side shock towner.. they are wire loops sticking out.. if they are still there, they are good, if they are melted in the middle they are bad. There is like 2-3 of them.


-Zach
Old 02-17-03, 09:49 AM
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Is it started yet? battery posts fer sure.
Old 02-17-03, 09:57 AM
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You guys are all over this stuff- Right again. Battery posts are clean, but the ground post was a little loose.
Old 02-17-03, 09:57 AM
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thanks again !
Old 02-17-03, 01:28 PM
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Ok - Its still dead-

Tightened the terminals, double checked the fuseable links, checked the water level in the battery, and after all that, , now there is power, but no turn over.. no click- turn the key and the gauges light up, that's it. I don't have anyone here right now to jump it off. Could it just be a dead battery?
Old 02-17-03, 01:52 PM
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I still think it's the terminals.
Old 02-17-03, 01:58 PM
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make 100% sure your battery is charged up fully, it can make all the difference
Old 02-17-03, 03:19 PM
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I had the same problem, started fine one day, next day, nothing.
Replaced BOTH battery cables, fixed it. You might try cleaning the terminals at the ground and starter.
Old 02-17-03, 03:37 PM
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Often it's the ground cable. I have a little $15 VoltOhmMilliameter in the glove compartment, and one time I found a 1.5 volt drop between the negative post and the chassis. Conclusion: bad ground cable.

B
Old 02-17-03, 05:02 PM
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check the little spade connector on the starter, sometimes they fall off when your driving and you don't know it untill you try to start it again.
Old 02-17-03, 05:29 PM
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Yeah, what he said. That happened to me once. I was working aroud my water oil cooler before I got rid of it, and my bracelet got caught on the harness that that spade connector runs through. When I pulled my arm out, I disconnected that wire unintentionally. Anyway, took me about 45 seconds to realize what I did, haha. I also unplugged my reverse lights too, haha .

~T.J.
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