kouki2g0 Posted April 9, 2007 Share #1 Posted April 9, 2007 I'm having a little electrical problem and kind of need some help. yesterday i was driving the car and everything was fine until everything just shut off. engine died, lights went out, no voltage, nothing. i check the battery, terminal connections, and everything was fine. i have some voltage now but its weird. sometimes it would read 12v and when i turn the key to the on position it does the normal buzzing sound. when i try to crank it, it just makes a clickick noise and everything shuts off. voltage down to 0. and after that the voltage would slowly go up and reads about 8v sometimes 6v and sometimes 12v. when i try to use any electrical component the voltage drops dramaticly. like the head lights or hazzard or even stepping on the brakes. i tried messing with the raley's ground and stuff but still no luck. any help would be great. thanks. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Posted April 9, 2007 Share #2 Posted April 9, 2007 It would be easier to help if we knew what year and model car you have.But in general, what you are describing sounds like an internal dead short inside your battery. That would be my first thing to test. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/#findComment-205282 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kouki2g0 Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted April 9, 2007 o yea sorry about that. i have a 79 280z Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/#findComment-205294 Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbane Posted April 9, 2007 Share #4 Posted April 9, 2007 My guess would be your starter switch-not the starter, nor the bit where you insert the key; but the bit behind the key cylinder that makes contact with the ignition circuit and other things. I had a similar experience with an old honda-it progressed quickly to the point where I had to hold the key in the ignition in the sweet spot in order to drive. Pull out your ignition cylinder and check all your contact points, repair/replace as neccessary. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/#findComment-205304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobc Posted April 10, 2007 Share #5 Posted April 10, 2007 I think Arne may have this one diagnosed. Sounds like a battery to me. Have you tried to jump it or replaced the battery? A quick test would be to jump it from another battery. If it starts and runs well, you can pretty much say it's the battery. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/#findComment-205414 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerZ Posted May 5, 2007 Share #6 Posted May 5, 2007 Check your battery cables. Both Ends. Both cables. If you have the original strap type connectors make sure one is not broken where it can't be tightened. Be sure your ground strap is secured to the body below the battery and then to the starter. Don't want to tell you the number of problems I have seen corrected by doing the above. If someone put on the one size fitzall type clamp connectors throw them away immediately. They corrode under the clamp and down the cable making the whole thing useless. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/#findComment-208519 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris'sZ Posted May 5, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 5, 2007 I had a similar problem which was/is (hopefully) corrected just by replacing both battery cables. My '76 is running like a top again and the volt meter matches closley to the volt meter in the car. Hope this helps...Chris... Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/#findComment-208536 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Beck Posted May 6, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 6, 2007 Let us know what it turns out to be - but I agree with bobc - dead short in the battery. Had that happen to a brand new battery - it drove me nuts for a week trying to figure out what was happening... Took the battery in for a "Load Test" and the short showed up. The battery would take and hold a charge.... so I thought it was good, especially because it was new.... live and learn....good luck,Carl B. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/#findComment-208584 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris'sZ Posted June 13, 2007 Share #9 Posted June 13, 2007 Can a dead short come and go? Can an alternator also work off and on?? I'm still having trouble with my 7/76 not charging. I live 30 miles from the closest "parts store" to test, but I guess I'll take the battery and alternator in for load testing. Any other possibilities I'm over looking? Chris... Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/23890-electrical-problem/#findComment-212115 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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