no start...ground issue?

[benjammin]

93 ATX, So I start my car today and go to the bank. When I go to leave it doesnt start, doesnt even crank, just like a dead battery. Dash lights are really dim. I get a jump from someone and make it home. I shut it off at home and try to start it again, nothing. So I get my tester out and test the battery, its at 13 volts, but still no crank, no dash lights and no head lights at all. Interior door panel lights are ok and so is the under hood light. Does this sound like a loose ground problem?...Battery cables are tight. FWIW, I just installed an aftermarket amp a couple days ago, and this was the first time ive started it or driven it since I hooked it up.

 

[oneqwicksho]

I think you answered your own question. If the car was fine before the amp and now its not and won't start I say disconnect the power wire going to your amp charge your battery if needed and make sure your alternator is not shoot and start her up. If it fixes your problem then you know you have a bad draw from your amp or something amp related

 

[benjammin]

well heres the deal....I thought I found the problem when I found a small knick in the amp power wire. But thats not it, I unhooked the power cable from the battery and I get all my lights and everything seems to be fine in the acc. and run position, but as soon as I try to start the car it just goes "click" then I loose all power again, except the keyless enty box behind the passenger seat will continually make a clicking sound. If I take off both battery cables then hook them back up I get all my power back, until I try to crank it, then I loose everything again and the keyless entry starts clicking again. I know its not the amp cause I dont even have it hooked up. Its getting frustating.

 

[rubydist]

Try jumping the starter solenoid and see if you get the same results - it sounds like the starter motor may be shorted.

 

[benjammin]

Sorry for being such a noob, but could tell me how to do that. thank you.

 

[1995mtxsho]

did your charge or test your battery after unhooking the amp?

 

[benjammin]

yes I did...13v

 

[oneqwicksho]

Is your battery terminals still getting hot?

I would check/ clean all terminals going to battery/starter/selonide with wire brush and if your battery terminals have been replaced with the bolt on types, unbolt them from the wire and clean the wire and wire contacts

This should help I had the same problem before

 

[benjammin]

I cleaned my battery terminals last night, and made sure the grounds were nice and tight. If my starter solenoid is shorting like Rubydist says, Do I need to replace my starter?...It had a lifetime warranty starter put on it a couple years ago.

 

[oneqwicksho]

Its up to you on that one but since your there if you want to nows the time ,but I would definitely change the solenoid and see if that fixes the issue. Sound like it could be the problem