A strange not starting problem, no lights

[jackson.sho]

Yesterday I drove my car twice, fro and to home, for about 15 minutes each. Then less than an hour later I went out to start the car and it didn't. But heres what happened.

I unlocked and got in the car: dome light, and all other electricals on.
I sat down closed the door: still fine
I put the key in the ignition and turned to on/run: dash lighted up fully had no indication of loss of elec. (I know I did this because I always do. I pause there to make sure the car is ready to start.)
I turned the key to 'start' : the solenoid 'may' have fired but the starter didn't come on at all, and all the light, dash and otherwise, promptly went out.
Let off the key right away: the dash isnt' lit, but a few bulbs are burning dimly.
open the door: the dome light is dim and flickering and a relay is chattering on/off.

There is no power more than dim bulbs anywhere; everything's dead. I checked the under dash fuses and the under hood fuses. They are fine. I diconnected and wire-brushed the battery terminals. It was also the first cold day of the year, about 35 degrees, but the car ran twice that day.

Is there a fusible like for the whole car? Where?

Any ideas on how to get my car back online?

-j sho

 

[wood_e]

Battery cables maybe?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Yup, I'd be willing to bet on a loose battery cable connection either at the battery or the starter. Leave the key in the on position with the door open and start wiggling the batty cables.

When you hear the door chime, you've found your suspect cable.

 

[dpsutphin]

Don't rule out the battery itself. The Texas heat is ****** on batteries, especially older ones. But as long as it stays warm, as it has until today, the battery doesn't have to work as hard to start the car, so the problem doesn't show up until a day like today. I had the same thing happen to me a couple of years ago.

By the way, it's 17 degrees here in Fort Worth, guess you guys in the capital are having a heat wave. Hope mine starts in the morning.

 

[jackson.sho]

I fixed it.

So after careful deliberation (being ****** off) I went back to the basics as a reply suggested.

I cleaned and reattached both battery cables to the terminals. One had looked trouble free to start with and was snug so I left it be, but cleaning and reattaching did the trick.
I was reminded of why the battery terminal brush is on the top level of my tool box, a lesson my dad taught to me over and over again: the first place to go for not-starting problems is the battery connections.

So now how do I make my radio work? It hasn't played anything for months, but the speakers will hum, and the volume buttons make a 'click' in the speakers. I'll post that in the stereo section.

 

[ohfosho]

if your electrical problems occor again, take the battary to get tested.


as for the stereo, check your fuses first, and the connections in the trunk. and anything else if you have removed the deck lately or anything else stereo related.