Last feb I replaced the alternator and battery. Sold the car to my brother, he drove it around but now something very crazy goes on. I turn the key the car doesn't crank when I depress the clutch, when I turn the key to the off position the dash lights ( check engine, seatbelt etc) stay on and kind of dim.. we tried jumping his car, no luck, tried charging up the car battery still no go. I am ruling out the battery because 1/20 starts the car cranks. But when it doesn't, the lights stay on in the dash until i disconnect the batter terminal.

My thoughts were:

Ignition Switch: could be a bad connection, why I no longer think that's the problem? Me jiggling the wires at the battery terminal contributes to the car starting.

Wires at the battery terminal: I wiggle them in a certain way and the car starts. I started the car, and drove it for 1/10th of a mile towards our driveway and the lights inside the car started dimming. The alternator I don't think is the problem, but a loose connection from battery to wherever IS.

What do you guys think? Should I change the wires going to the battery terminal? How hard is this job? I think that may definitely be the problem unless you have other suggestions.

 

Sounds like there is some serious corrosion in the cable from the battery to the starter. If a good supply of current is not coming from the altenator via the starter cable, then the car will act like the alt is going out. Make sure the connection from the battery to the starter is good.

 

you could be onto something for the ignition switch....

 

If you can wiggle the battery cables under the hood and get it to start, then it cant be the ignition switch.

 

if wiggling the wires start ur car, than either ur terminals have a break in them or they r highly corroded

 

Did a little RTFM..12 volt lead is what I need to get..

 

DUH, obiously its the connection at the battery then.
Make sure they're tight first, if they are, Pull off the terminals, check em out, clean them.
And check the plugs that go into the stock terminal, there are 2 of them, pop them out and check them, they're likely corroded, IIRC the plug towards the firewall is your alternator wire.

 

Hope that fixes your problem.

 

Your not suppose to be able to wiggle the cables on your battery terminals. If you are then either find a way to get them tight or buy new termnial connectors. If your connections are loose you will have electrical gremlins everytime, especially if your grounds are loose.

 

Is that why GMs and Fords suck? All battery cables have some play. Your breathing privileges have been revoked.

 

My max did this about a week ago. It's more than likely your ground connection is too loose. Get a new terminal connector and you should be fine.

 

Well, I worked on the maxima today. I love working on this car no sarcasm, it's so simple. Anyway, the negative lead..that attaches to the crank case? Well it was torn..this thick peice of wiring, was torn at the end as if someone cut it off. That's what 11 years of driving in salty areas does. The grounding points for it were also..rusted through to the core. I changed both + and neg, drilled a new grounding point next to the old one. Plugged it all in. Starts as smooth as butter, single crank..must be me but the electronics seem brighter/music louder!

Anyway..lesson learned

 

chassis to bell housing ground. Common fault in our cars, due to vibration and the weak nature of the ground, should really be a strap not just a 18G wire.

Glad you fixed it up, grounds are the first thing you should upgrade on ANY car, but especially on old cars.

 

Whoop whoop!!