Car loses all power when trying to start, with video.

[T.O_SHO]

As you can see in the video, as soon as I turn the key to start the car, I'll lose all power and sometimes the starter will click, as you can faintly hear. Most times after trying to start it the clock will reset to 12:00 and I'll lose all radio pre-sets. If the key is in any other position I have normal power to everything.



It did this a couple months ago so I checked the ground on the fender, cleaned it and re-attached it and also replaced the starter solenoid. It's been fine since, but now it's doing it again. Does this sound like a familiar problem? I can bump start the car no problem, but really hate doing so. Battery is fine, checked with voltmeter and also checked the alternator when it was running and it was putting out over 14 volts.

I've read from past threads it's most likely a grounding issue, but I only know of the ground on the fender, and it's fine.

Any help is appreciated

 

[firebat45]

Clean your battery terminals? You could check the ignition switch too to figure out if the problem is before or after it, but that's more work.

 

[T.O_SHO]

Battery terminals were clean, but I cleaned them again anyways, same deal.

 

[LJRuddy]

My car does that same thing if you fail to depress the clutch pedal. Maybe the clutch switch is bad? Just a thought from another perspective...

 

[T.O_SHO]

The signs lead me to believe it's something not so simple. The radio and clock resetting is something that tells me it's definitely electrical related.

 

[hawkeye18]

Every time I've lost power when trying to crank (and it has been many times), it has been poor contact at the battery terminals. In my last case, the terminal had actually cracked on the inside and wasn't clamping at all. It is something you might want to look into.

 

[the4biddendonut]

I'd have a load test done on the battery. Just because the battery reads the correct voltage doesn't mean it's a good battery. It's just another thing to cross off the list.

 

[T.O_SHO]

I will look closer at the battery... I'll also try swapping it for the one in the Mustang, see if that makes a difference...

Thanks guys

 

[T.O_SHO]

Turns out it was the battery

Tried it with the current battery, nothing... Swapped for the Mustangs battery and it fired right up...

Thanks for the help guys

 

[hawkeye18]

Turns out it was the battery

Tried it with the current battery, nothing... Swapped for the Mustangs battery and it fired right up...

Thanks for the help guys

Ok so I wasn't right on the money but at least I was close. Glad we could help!

 

[T.O_SHO]

It's doing it again.

All day yesterday it was fine, today it was pouring rain and wouldn't start, just like in the video. Brand new battery too.

 

[Ishodu]

Try moving your battery cables around a bit. Some times they rot away from the in side. Also check them where they connect to the starter.

 

[SHO_ROLLER_2]

Check/change the POS battery cable.

Mine was grounding out and eating solenoids because of it.

Check the whole thing. On mine, the cable was showing UNDER the plastic cover so it looked fine until I removed it and had a good look.


I'd check the contacts on the starter as well.

 

[T.O_SHO]

Thanks guys... I'll have a look on the weekend...

 

[SHO SPD]

Check the resistance in the battery cables also, sounds like you have a bad cable, and moving it around changing the battery effected it.

 

[T.O_SHO]

Thanks.

Is that something I can test with a multimeter? I can truthfully say I'm not fond of electrical work

 

[SHO SPD]

Haha, Yea test it with a multimeter. Set it to ohms and put one lead on one end of the cable and the other lead to the other end. LOW Resistance it what youre looking for.

 

[T.O_SHO]

Thanks man, I'll give it a shot...

 

[raff18]

ha fix the prob i bench tested his starter and its got no balls lol so hes getting a new one
welcome bro

 

[shoon]

Also check the large ground cable going to the bellhousing!