hi all, 85 xtracab, 22re. got in today it a parking lot after i just got done driving it, as soon as i hit my key, i lost all power, clock reset and everything, if i got out and messed with the terminals i could get power back but as soon as i hit the key everything would dim, then eventually i got enough power that it would click the starter solenoid but then loose almost all power every time i hit the key. put jumper cables on it, fired right up. then i drove it to the parts store and threw a new battery in, same thing, kept losing power. throw a set of jumper cables on it, fires right up and drove it home. got home, cant start it again but if you put jumper cables to it itll start. my battery tested 12.64 volts and 730cca, and i tried a brand new battery in it at the parts store, the only way it starts is with jumper cables on it. i am stumped, anyone got any ideas?

 

Bad ground?

 

Clean and check your battery terminals!

 

I have to wonder just what your battery terminals look like.

It sure sounds like your terminals are not making contact with what ever battery you install.

Clean the inside of the terminals or maybe replace.

Time to upgrade the ground cables as well

The Fact your battery measured good pretty much says it is in the battery terminals or a bad ground will also do this.

Are you attaching the jumper ground to the engine??

 

my terminals are like brand new, still have the fancy paint on the outside and clean on the inside, ill try cleaning them up tonight and checking out my ground.

 

x3 on possible ground. Check connection at starter and cable itself. You're in PA so there's possibly gotta be some corrosion somewhere. Keep us posted.

 

i realized i only have a ground to the body, im going to get a ground wire to run to the block tonigh ill let you know if that helps

 

Cold Temps that will cause that to happen.

I see it way to often.

Even a ground to the frame and inner fender will cause a no crank issue in the cold.

Good clean connection to the block.

I have run ground wires to the bottom starter bolt at times.

 

FIXED IT! the secondary ground wire to the block made her fire right up! thanks guys!

 

Good to hear buddy! That's awesome. Was the block ground gone or bad?

 

it was m.i.a. haha

 

Was it a PO hack job or you take out? It never hurts to check your grounds when the electrical bugs show up.

 

mustof been a PO hack job b

 

Yay!

 

Funny how some vehicles can have good cranking voltage with poor grounds till it gets colder.

 

Definitely.
And the starter needs the most current, hence least resistance, on the block so block ground as close to the starter as possible is best.
I'm in planning phase of ground and alt-battery wire upgrade, as we speak. I see no issues at present because I cleaned all my connections but I like robust so wanna do this.

If owner measures with negative probe to block and positive to starter solenoid screw-on terminal, they would catch the bad block ground. However, most people measure battery post. That would read good, even IF, and especially IF, connections are bad because they're basically reading voltage of batt with no load.

 

Truth be told there is quite a lot of copper and converter theft in that part of the Commonwealth .

Seems someone needed more then one day a year in the spotlight. Getting a taste of fame was just to much for the little guy.

Now to support his lavish lifestyle poor Phil has turned to a life of crime!!