Car does not start with or without jump. Headlights, horn & interior lights work but radio, antenna, starter and blower do not. Fuses all check out fine. Alternator was bench tested and is on spec. Battery connections solid. Even swapped out the computer with no change (I had a spare).

There is no clicking or any noise when key is turned. Only other clue is that as I turned it off for the last time, it went dead immediately - the antenna did not even complete its descent.

I checked all the suggestions under It's dead....now what? in this forum.

 

But it runs fine with a jump?

Looks like you have a short somewhere...Get out the meter and start looking...

Try removing the alternator and starting the car.

 

No - it will not start with a jump or on its own.

 

Well, then there's something wrong with the wiring harness or a connection. The only way to tell is to get a meter and start testing things. It will take time.

 

Look under the fuse block in the engine bay. one of the wires should be black and have a flat copper fitting on one end. I forget exactly where it comes from on the fuse block, but I can look on my car and tell you after work tonight. Anyway, if this is not connected, your lights and things will work, but the car stereo, half the gauges, the starter, and the car itself will NOT run. check that wire, I bet it has come apart. What kind of car do you have?

 

Thanks BR. That black 10ga. wire was not disconnected, but the connectionwas a little corroded and showed 10 ohms on a continuity test. I shorted it with a test lead and everything went back to working. A new crimp connector and a 10 cent fix!!

 

Try to bump start it, that might leave some clues!

 

Thanks to all you conributors - the PROBLEM IS FIXED. The culprit was the 10 gage black wire connection that comes out of the harness under the main fuse block. the connection had corroded and was not passing any current.

 

Glad to hear it!