I put my key in the ignition and turned it and then all power shut off. The car wouldn't start, not like it's cranking but not turning over, it wouldn't start like there was no battery in the car. This has happened to me before but today was the first time in about a month. Usually I lock and close all the doors and then open my door and the security light blinks and the car has power again.

Today that didn't work, after I did that two or three times the power still shut off when the key started turning. So I disconnected the battery cable and reconnected it and then power was back. But I had do this two times before I could start the car.


This happened to me twice today.

 

hmm...sounds like my situation awhile back. there's prolly lots of oxidation on the battery terminals. try this: mix some baking soda with warm water til you get this rough paste, then use an old tooth brush or something and brush/clean the two battery post with it. then wash off, dry the posts, and reconnect everything. try that and see if that'll fix your little problem. good luck

 

Thanks for the tip. I'll try it in the morning.

 

speaking of that, I cannot seem to keep the crud off of my positive terminal. Even after I clean it, it is totally covered again in a week or 2. I have tried the fiber washer things, but they don't work- also tried coating it in some dielectric grease- also no luck. Any thoughts?

 

Try permatex part # SA-9 or 80370 it is a spray on battery protector keeps corrosion at bay or so they say.

 

I'll check that out- thanks!

 

I've also heard that you can use coke a cola to clean the battery terminals. Haven't tried it though. Makes you think twice about drinking coke too!

 

Yep, coke does work- eats right through it, but doesn't necessarily keep it from coming back, which is my problem..baking soda and water is the preferred method, and less sticky!!

 

Your battery might be on the way out. Have it tested. Make sure your major grounds are all good too.

 

coke is pretty acidic in pH level. i'm guessing that's why it's effective in cleaning the terminals.

 

I used that permatex and cleaned the battery post. Hopefully this will correct the problem. We'll see in about a month.

 

I've been using the red spray Sears battery post inhibitor (looks like the Permatex, may even be the same stuff) along with the little absorbant pads that go underneath the battery cables.

Been doing this for about 15 years, and it's worked fantastic. Got them on both our cars, as I got tired of having to clean the positive cable once or twice a year to keep from getting stranded somwhere. The last stretch I got 5 years or better, it lasted as long as the last battery did. Just resprayed them again with the new battery. Walmart and autoparts stores sell a metal battery terminal brush (Male/Female for posts and cables) for about $3. Makes cleaning the battery posts about a 1 minute job after you've got the cables off. Then just spray with the corrison inhibitor.

 

Yep, got the wire cleaner thing- works great, and I use it every time I clean the post. Just looking for something to stop having to clean it every 2 weeks I'll try that spray stuff- thanks for the tip!

 

Well that didn't work. It happened again today and then I did what I usually did and started it. Two hours later I went to the store and when I came back out to my car it did the same thing. I spent about 40 minutes trying to start it but no dice. It would have power until I turned the key to start it, I could put it in ACC and listen to the radio and roll down the windows but when I started turning the key everything cut off. So I left it there and walked home, 8 or 9 blocks, because my cable company was coming out for a service call. I'm about to walk back down and see if I can have any luck.

 

Oh yeah I got the battery checked when I bought the permatex and it was good.

Update: 7 months of frustration for a loose terminal. I just bought a new one to replace the old one. I'm very relieved, that's a huge monkey off my back.