Seems like dead battery but battery okay

[Rav]

Hello All,

I have SHO, 98 GenIII that has some electric problems.

Symptoms: open the car with the remote, interior lights are on, key brings up accessory lights on the dash, etc. Turn the car to start and nothing. No lights, no starter click, nothing. Turning the key to off and trying again, this time nothing at all, no accessory lights or anything.

Things checked: Battery reads 12.6V when off and over 13.5V when running, so assume that battery and alternator are ok. Check between negative battery terminal and ground on the car body and about 0.2Ohms drop. Stripped positive battery insulation back a bit and the cable to the connector look okay, just one broken strand. Cleaned up terminals and connectors, still have the same problem.



How I got it started: Wiggle the positive battery cable.

My thoughts: Maybe a dodgy positive battery cable.

Now I don't understand why when I first try the car everything lights up, etc. Then on the second try everything is dead.

Any thoughts? Also how difficult would it be to replace the positive battery cable?

So far anytime it's done this a little and I mean only a tiny wiggle on the positive battery cable will get it started.

Thanks

Rav.

 

[mrecoolgar]

Make sure the battery connections are tight.
Clean them, apply dielectric grease and tighten.
I've experienced the same thing and the above always resolved the problem.
New terminals may be needed if you cannot properly tighten.

 

[SHOZ123]

Just be sure to not put the grease on the terminal until the cable is tightened down.

 

[tqmx1]

Reswedge the postive termanal. My 96 did the same thing and thats all it needed, for the last year not a glitch. What I used was a pair of Vicegrips and tigthened them down a little at a time until tight.

 

[SHOZ123]

I've had that happen on other cars. I use a #8 sheet metal screw between the post and the cable clamp. You can buy new clamps at Walmart. You just need to cut the old one off so it still leaves a lug on the cable end to attach the new clamp. Avoid the lead head ones.

 

[Siman]

Voltage is only a part of the equation what really matters is the battery’s AMPs