GHOSTLY ELETRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

[EOLIVER]

My 1987, AT, Coupe acted really strange last night. When I turned the ingition swith to the start position, all the dash lights came on like usual but the starter did not turn. I turned the ignition swith again and all power was lost (complete power loss everywhere including no lights, even the hood lamps, as if the battery was disconnecrted) everywhere. Upon opening the passenger door to check the fuse panel the car's power suddenly returned everywhere and the alarm sounded (the remoted door lock quit working on that door a few weeks ago by the way). I tried to start the car again, and all power was lost again (entire car completely dead) upon turning the iginition switch. At that point, I decided to park the car in my driveway for the night, but about an hour later, I heard the alarm sounding and the inside courtesy light was on inside the car.

A few weeks ago I cleaned up all the grounds I could see, changed the battery, and power distribution block behind the battery for the same conditions. The alternator also has also been replaced late last year and I have good battey voltage.

I need to get this resolved because this could be a very dangerous situation should the car just die unexpectedly. Any suggestions of where I should look would be greatly appreciated, its alsmost as if the computer or some swith has gone bad

HELP

 

[geekinavette]

My 1987, AT, Coupe acted really strange last night. When I turned the ingition swith to the start position, all the dash lights came on like usual but the starter did not turn. I turned the ignition swith again and all power was lost (complete power loss everywhere including no lights, even the hood lamps, as if the battery was disconnecrted) everywhere. Upon opening the passenger door to check the fuse panel the car's power suddenly returned everywhere and the alarm sounded (the remoted door lock quit working on that door a few weeks ago by the way). I tried to start the car again, and all power was lost again (entire car completely dead) upon turning the iginition switch. At that point, I decided to park the car in my driveway for the night, but about an hour later, I heard the alarm sounding and the inside courtesy light was on inside the car.

A few weeks ago I cleaned up all the grounds I could see, changed the battery, and power distribution block behind the battery for the same conditions. The alternator also has also been replaced late last year and I have good battey voltage.

I need to get this resolved because this could be a very dangerous situation should the car just die unexpectedly. Any suggestions of where I should look would be greatly appreciated, its alsmost as if the computer or some swith has gone bad

HELP

I'd be suspecting the starter connections...do a close inspection of that.

 

[KANE]

My 1987, AT, Coupe acted really strange last night. When I turned the ingition swith to the start position, all the dash lights came on like usual but the starter did not turn. I turned the ignition swith again and all power was lost (complete power loss everywhere including no lights, even the hood lamps, as if the battery was disconnecrted) everywhere. Upon opening the passenger door to check the fuse panel the car's power suddenly returned everywhere and the alarm sounded (the remoted door lock quit working on that door a few weeks ago by the way). I tried to start the car again, and all power was lost again (entire car completely dead) upon turning the iginition switch. At that point, I decided to park the car in my driveway for the night, but about an hour later, I heard the alarm sounding and the inside courtesy light was on inside the car...

Maybe you have these in your electrical system-

Have you checked your battery- are the connections tight? Is the terminal falling out of the side of the battery (C5s had this)?

 

[Florida Guy]

I suspect the battery connections. This has happened to me. When you tried to start the engine a loose connection would instantly arc. And the resulting carbon would cause loss of continuity. Suggest you clean the posts and connections again and be sure that the connections are tight.

 

[KANE]

I suspect the battery connections. This has happened to me. When you tried to start the engine a loose connection would instantly arc. And the resulting carbon would cause loss of continuity. Suggest you clean the posts and connections again and be sure that the connections are tight.

I had the same problem with my C5 and my C3. The connectors were loose!

 

[badabing9]

I suspect the battery connections. This has happened to me. When you tried to start the engine a loose connection would instantly arc. And the resulting carbon would cause loss of continuity. Suggest you clean the posts and connections again and be sure that the connections are tight.

i agree as the same thing happened to me years ago.

 

[EOLIVER]

Thanks everyone. you were correct about the battery connections, for some reason the positive battery terminal was vibrating loose. Today I cut bacl the plastic around the wire terminal, cleaned it up real good and added a lock washer to the connection and so far so good. For the life of me I can;t understand how the cable becomes just loose enough to cause a no start, no power situation.