I got 2001 SE. Like the title says. When key turned to "acc", all the dash lights up, as well as dome light etc. Then turn to "on" position to start the car Everything just goes black, like I have no battery.

I replaced both battery and starter 2 months ago. Everything has been good up until this morning. Is it some main fuse or something? Any help appreciated.

 

Just a thought.....check to make sure your battery terminals are tight.

 

Terminals are tight and corrosion build up free. Starter cable connection is tight as well. Could the starter wires bad inside insulation? I'll buy a digital multimeter tomorrow and rule that out.

 

voltmeter would be your best bet to check your voltage at battery during crank and voltage at starter. you mention starter and battery were replaced a few months ago, what was the original failure? did you remove or loosen any ground cables in the process?

Having all the lights go out completely when you crank is typical of loose terminals, loose ground, dead cell in battery, a really discharged battery, or a dead short somewhere. The volt meter will tell you alot.

 

^What he said.

 

Sounds like the battery does not have juice. If you have access to another car, just take the battery to the place where you bought and have it tested. Most batteries have full replacement within a year.

 

I had the battery on charger/maintainer overnight. Hooked it up, everything lit up. Then turn the key all went black. Bad cell in the battery? Going to Napa during lunch to have the battety tested.

 

I get this a lot and it's always the hood matting hitting the battery terminal and I have it as tight as can be. I had to pull the red cap off and still get it occasionally

 

The exact same thing happend to me lastnight when I went to the store. I know it's not my battery because I upgraded to a optima red top battery last year. My first assumption was maybe I left the lights on, but it was night so I'd know if I didn't.

Second thing I did was check the fuses to see if one went out, wasn't that. I knew it wasn't a dead battery because I have a digital battery terminal and it was reading 12.5volts which was normal when the car is off.

I twisted the negative battery terminal and then I seen the interior light came on. So cleary it was the grounding. I'll service the car just to make sure it doesn't happen again because it was freezing cold and I had my baby nephew in the car. Good luck

 

Does the engine try to crank or do you get nothing? Two other possibilities common to the 2000 and 2001 are bad ignition switch and bad reverse stop switch. Both are cheap easy fixes. If you put it into gear and then slam it into Park will it start?

 

Try this. Attempt to start the car in neutral. If it works, let us know.

 

Problem solved! Battery negatuve cable was bad. Put in new cable, everything is back to normal. Thanks for all the replies!

 

#winning