Car wont start unless I wiggle battery cable...
This has happened a couple times in the past year, but today it happened like 3 times! I was walking to my car after dinner, and I disarmed my alarm, all well so far. I opened my door, all interior lights were on (those that are suppose to be on when door opens). I put the key in the ignition, turn it, then suddenly all the lights turn off, car wont start, nothing, as if battery wasn't connected. Since this has happened to me before, I popped my hood, and I proceeded to wiggle the battery cable around. When I do it, the alarm goes off again, like as if the cable was never connected, and everything resetted. So i disarm the alarm again so the sirens would turn off, close my hood, and head back inside (lights are back on again). I put the key in the ignition, turn, same thing happens. This never happened to me before, so instead of taking the keys with me, I leave them in the ignition, and tell my g/f to disarm the alarm when it goes off again, and then turn the key. I did the same procedure with the battery cable, my g/f did what I told her to do, and car started. Once the car is started, I know it won't shut off, regardless if the battery cable is on or off, so I drive home. When time comes to take my g/f home, the same thing happens! All 3 times, when looking at the positive terminal, I can see some powder looking (bluish almost) substance on the lower side of the terminal. Im guessing its battery acid. Why is this happening? Any ideas? Anyone go through the same situation? Is it the cable or battery or both. Let me know, thanks and sorry for it being so long.

 

I'm thinking it's the cable. The car does EVENTUALLY start without a jump, etc. So, it has the necessary cranking power. It's probably corrosion or something. Try cleaning everything out with a wire brush and/or sandpaper and then tighten the cable so it doesn't jiggle.

No, I have never gone through this before.

JT

 

Thanks!

 

Listen, you prob is battery corrosion. It may only be on the inner ring becuase thats the way it was on my jeep. It looked fine from the top but i needed to turn it to get a good connection. Also test you battery connector. I bet the stock wires on the car or the ones you may have repalced with a Rockford gold plated clamp like ar corroded too. If you put the OHM Meter on one side of the clip and then the other you will prob get your answer. CLEAN THE CLIP 1ST AND IF THIS DOESNT WORK SWITCH IT. I HAD TOO. Good luck.
-jared