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Old 05-21-2007, 08:47 PM   #1
Andursun0013
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Member#: 11616
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Coweta, OK
Vehicle:
1998 2.35RS-T
2006 Baja 2007 Leg. Wagon

Default Strange (to me) starting problem

Okay, I'm having some trouble getting my car to turnover. Its been sitting for right around 1 full year without being started or even cranked. I've kept a battery tender (for gel cell) on my optima yellow top, and it shows to be 13.6 volts. I can put the key in the ignition and the dash lights will come on. The MOMENT I turn the key to engage the starter I lose power to EVERYTHING. I can check the battery and it shows 13.2-13.4 volts - no popped fuses. Continuity from battery terminals to starter terminals. I even show 12+ volts on the fuses inside the cabin.

I do have a Hydra EMS if that makes a difference. PLEASE help me! Its stressing me out. I haven't got to start my car in over a year and I'd like to hear it again.

*edit* I forgot to mention that after about 5-15 minutes the dash lights will come back on and I can go thru the same process again

Kyle
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Last edited by Andursun0013; 05-21-2007 at 09:05 PM.
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Old 05-21-2007, 08:56 PM   #2
Mulder
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Make sure all your power and ground connections are tight and clean, particularly the battery terminals and main grounds. A poor connection at the battery will cause exactly the symptoms you are reporting. You should pull the terminals off the battery to look at them, there can be deposits inside or on the posts that aren't visible otherwise.
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Old 05-21-2007, 09:12 PM   #3
Andursun0013
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1998 2.35RS-T
2006 Baja 2007 Leg. Wagon

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Checked terminals, looked clean. Cleaned anyways. Same result
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Old 05-21-2007, 09:26 PM   #4
Andursun0013
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Location: Coweta, OK
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1998 2.35RS-T
2006 Baja 2007 Leg. Wagon

Default

Loose ground strap - thanks!!
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Old 05-21-2007, 09:31 PM   #5
Mulder
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Measure the voltage at the battery while you are trying to crank the engine. It should be 10V or above, if it dips much lower the battery may be NG even though the no-load voltage appears normal.
If the voltage does NOT drop when attempting to start, I'd look for a bad connection someplace. Probe with the voltmeter between the battery terminals and various points in the positive and negative lines, while either engaging the starter or turning on some high-current accessories (lights, defroster etc.). You should not see more than a fraction of a volt drop anywhere, if you do that is where you need to look for a problem.

edit- ok see that I typed all that for nothing. Oh well at least you found it, I'll leave this for future reference.
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Old 05-21-2007, 10:32 PM   #6
Andursun0013
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Location: Coweta, OK
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1998 2.35RS-T
2006 Baja 2007 Leg. Wagon

Default

Thanks mulder - thats basically what I did but under no load conditions. I started checking the voltage from the positive terminal to each individual ground point. I eventually found one that read 2.7 volts at the anchor point and 13.6 on the wire. This was obviously the loose connection.
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