Interesting electrical problem
 

Tried to start one of my cars and it was completely DEAD I meaning NOTHING so I checked to see if I left something on and couldn't find anything turned on. Oh well so I put in a nice new battery and turn the key everything is normal until I fully turn to start then nothing again and everything is dead. The battery is fine.

So this what I've done so far:
Battery is located in the rear deck area so I ran another hot wire and ground wire

Tried different GOOD batteries without getting anything not even the initial key turn lights, dings etc... that I was lucky enough to get the 1st time I swapped batteries

Used straight jumper cables from a good battery

Checked every fuse and relay

Tried a different ECU

Tried a different Alt

Checked grounds on the engine, starter etc...
When the positive cable is attached the ground cable doesn't react or spark on the battery

This has to be something very simple or I really messed something up and need a new frikken harness. However nothing is fried and I don't see any melted wires, no bad smells etc...

The long lead cable going to the back has no fuse on it which is probably not a good idea but again I couldn't find anything wrong with the cable and ran another one just for the hell of it.

Anyway if you have any ideas for me to try please let me know. I'm going to fool around with a volt meter today but I don't think I'll see anything because like I said once the battery is hooked up there's just nothing going on. When the lead cable is attached I can touch the ground anywhere I want and I won't get any spark.

I would start looking at the ignition switch.

I took the steering column cover off and tinkered with the connections but that's it. Would that cause the negative battery connection to not spark. This is wierd it's like the battery is getting cut off by the lead cable and I'm a complete idiot when it comes to electrical things well actually most things because whatever I learn is forgotten 5 minutes later lol.

I'll swap out the little plastic white switch and see if that works but again I think this is something completely idiotic or some serious deep doo doo.

2 things come to mind:
1. corroded connection somewhere in the starting circuit, causing open circuit as soon as it heats up from current draw
2. bad contacts in ignition switch - there have been several threads on cleaning the switch and getting rid of no-start problems

Dave

Hi Dave,
This isn't your typical no start from a bad switch I have NO POWER can't turn a light on anywhere in the car, can't even use the cig lighter :scratch:

Please meditate on it a bit for me and I'm confident you'll nail this one but I'm BAFFLED like a mofo :)

First off, its pretty odd to see you actually start a thread. Second, this is definitely an odd situation...

The only idea I have is that the harness between the starter and the fuse box near the battery terminal might be hosed. Or perhaps that fuse box might have a problem.

Well...

Question: Does anything (like headlights) work without the key in the IGN?

If not, you certainly have an open circuit somewhere. There are many positive and ground paths, but since ALL are dead/intermittent there is something at the battery or between the battery and the rest of the electrical system that is open. A search with a VOM should indicate where the open circuit is. The initial search would be the current path to the main fuse, and then the main fuse itself. Next would be your ground path from the battery. If they are not near zero resistance, there is something wrong.

Dave

If you ran a new power wire from the battery directly to the starter then I agree that the problem is between the starter and the main fuse panel. Something is stoping the power before it gets to the system.

I had a similar issue when I was reconnecting my battery. No door ding, no lights, no power... nothing. I also checked all my connections, starter, cable from the battery to the front of the car, ect... It turns out I forgot to add the wire that connects the main fuse box to the secondary fuse/relay box on the front driver's side of the car (next to the strut tower). Maybe your wire is lose or came off completely. You might want to check that area before tearing apart your ignition more than your already have.

I had an issue like this where the main wires running to the battery were tight and secure - the car would drive fine, so symptoms nothing and then the next time i would get into the vehicle to start it up i would get a "click" and everything was dead - I would wiggle the connectors up and down and suddenly the alarm would come on indicating it was getting juice again... I doubt this helps but it is symptomatic of what you've described - double check the terminals

did you check the clutch interlock switch

I think it's a bad starter side harness because after bending a crackling that POS the ignition key bell came on and I was able to start it. So that sneaky snake is going in the TRASH!!!

Thanks guys for the help :icon_tup:

Hate to revive an ancient thread but this same damn thing is happening to me after i did some suspension work and put in a powerFC (didnt touch any of the wiring though)

im curious if the OP fixed this problem with the new starter side harness

Yes he fixed it with a starter harness.