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Need Help/Ideas ASAP Please - Electrical??

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Posted by: DMcBrideBoston

Thanks...

My issue is that when I walked out to the car this morning I had little to no juice for startup...car did turn on lights for 1 sec, then off/dead. Figured battery was dead so I got a jump, but there was still no activity electrical wise after 5 minutes of trying to jump start. Any ideas where to look next. Car was fine yesterday.

Could there be a fuse somewhere that could have blown? Any idea what I can try before calling a tow truck to go to Ford....

I have to leave for work at 11am if I have to take the train/bus, so time is of the essence.

Thanks Alot

Dave

Posted by: beaups

main fuses are near the battery. sounds like could be a bad connection at the battery terminals? Lastly, if your battery is truly fried it could refuse to charge enough to jump start.

Posted by: Frat-man-du

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaups

main fuses are near the battery. sounds like could be a bad connection at the battery terminals? Lastly, if your battery is truly fried it could refuse to charge enough to jump start.

DITTO! Clean the terminals, then charge. If still toast-have the battery tested.

Posted by: SoonerLS

Yeah, these electronic monsters are highly dependent upon the battery; if it's dead, they won't start.

For some reason, mine really like to die in the middle of August, when it's well over 100 degrees outside. At least my T-Bird had the courtesy to do it on a tree-lined street so there was some shade; my SHO did it in the middle of a parking lot...

Posted by: LincolnTech38

First get the battery tested.

then if you replace or its good, try this

Take the undertray down from under the driverside knee bolster, pull the carpet back on the left side, you will see where they battery cable bulkhead connection is, make sure it is tight.

there is also another on the passenger side by the fuse box, harder to get to, that one has a nut on the inside of the firewall and on the out side, you will have to take the passenger wheel well out to get to those, make sure those are tight, best thing is to loosen them all check for corrosion and tighten them all back up.

Then check the starter connections, they get corrded as well, as already mentioned your battery conections as well.

Jay

Posted by: DMcBrideBoston

Thanks for the in depth reply's guys....

As a last ditch effort before jumping on a train, I pulled the Optima out of my Bonneville which is in the backyard dead. It jumped up good, so I guess my battery was just toasted.....I just wonder how?...

Thanks Everyone...

Dave

Posted by: beaups

just make sure when you replace it you get the special battery that has a vent tube. you'll need that!

Posted by: 5.7sbc

Check your alternator or could be bad ground.

Posted by: SoonerLS

Could be a bad ground, or a bad alternator, an overtaxed electrical system, or just an old battery. They are "wear" items that do eventually go bad.