No pwer to anything??

Topic: No pwer to anything?? (Read 631 times) previous topic - next topic

No pwer to anything??

November 13, 2005, 04:51:37 AM

I am desperate for help. 5 days ago my starter went out. It has been replaced. My son helped a guy I know change it. Afterward, the car had lights and tried to start but didn't so he changed the solenoid. After that, I had nothing, no lights, including map and interior, nothing when you turn key. So, he thought it may need a battery. New battery, still nothing. The wires from solenoid on both sides of fusible links show power, fuses are all good. I'm a little mechanical but not at all electrical. I am lost. There is a small black wire-teal stripe from negative on battery going into the passenger side with a group of wires. It has one of those plastic casing like things(sorry, I don't know what they are called) not far from the battery end. I took it apart and where the wire is inside the plastic, looks like maybe it is corroded. So, could this be my problem? Or bad wires between battery and solenoid.? What can cause no power for anything and everything? I start a new job on Monday and have to have my car. Any ideas or suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance.

No pwer to anything??

Reply #1 – November 13, 2005, 08:57:43 AM

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Afterward, the car had lights and tried to start but didn't so he changed the solenoid.

If the engine spun normally on the starter motor, but wouldn't run, then the solenoid was probably okay. It's just a big relay.

Quote

so he changed the solenoid. After that, I had nothing, no lights, including map and interior, nothing when you turn key.

Are all the wires on the proper side of the solenoid? Everything should be on the battery (+) side except the big cable going to the starter, which should be alone on the other terminal.
Does the starter spin if you use jumper cables (or a big screwdriver) to "short" the two big solenoid terminals together?

No pwer to anything??

Reply #2 – November 13, 2005, 09:02:29 AM

Are you sure the wires were put on the solenoid correctly (not backwards)? If you reversed the heavy gauge wires there will only be power to the rest of the car when the solenoid is turned on. To test for this, simply take a jumper wire from the battery to the small post on the solenoid and see if you get power now (have somebody sit in the car and see if the dome light comes on or other signs of power. CAUTION - engine will turn and may start when you do this).

Also, check all connections for corrosion. Check the connectors that are attached to the solenoid, but also make sure the ground connections are good.