Out for a ride. Car runs fine. Pull into a parking lot car totally dies. No electrical at all. No dash lights. Nothing. I had turned off batt switch before I left and back on to reset drive cycle. I crossed the batt switch poles with a screwdriver , no good. It's like they're s no batt installed. I can't get to the batt here now to check cables etc. AAA on they're way. Any ideas?
I reswitched the batt switch and jumped it with a screwdriver. Not the batt switch. If alt failed the car wouldn't be dead. It started and ran fine. I don't think the batt is shot. There is nothing from the batt. At all. It's as if batt switch is off or no batt installed. I'd like to check batt cables but can't get to it out here.
The batt switch switches ground. Alls intact in the engine. I'm thinking a batt cable came off but I didn't go over a bump or anything.
I'll get into it on another day than Fathers Day but on the way home on the flat bed after going over a bump the hazards came on. I had depressed that switch earlier. I think the most logical conclusion is a loose batt cable. Thanks for the responses. Great AAA driver. Did a nice job.
"I crossed the batt switch poles with a screwdriver , no good". Assuming you did cross the battery posts with a screwdriver and there was no spark even slightly, it is an indication of a dead depleted battery. Two situations maybe the cause. 1) loose connections. Check wires connections at the terminals on the battery posts and seated. Verify continuity on the negative wire from the battery negative post to the point bonded to the car chassis. Verify continuity on the positive wire from the positive battery post to the alternator. Main battery wires rarely come loose on their own. If it was the case, the battery neither charge or discharge even in the case the connections came loose when the car is in motion. It doesn't pick and choose. And if the connections were loose prior to first start, you wouldn't be able to start the car to begin with. 2) In reference to your comment in quotations above, it sounds like a dead battery (no longer take a charge). I assume there was enough juice to start the car but depleted a short time afterward. The engine ran because the alternator was supplying electricity. The dead battery acted as an electrical staging point. Once you turn the engine off, it won't turn on again. There's always that 1% chance "strange things do happen" so my assumption of course is based on your comment. Placing conductive objects between the posts of batteries is ill advise. While the electrical motor force of a 12 volt batter isn't enough to overcome the resistance of human skin to cause bodily harm, there is enough current stored inside to create sizable spark if shorted. The secondary consequence maybe fire and burns to the car and personnel nearby. This is the main caution. It won't however, damage equipments electrically. Nevertheless, never place anything conductive between the battery posts. Always use an electrical meter to verify batteries condition.
sounds like something simple, sorry it came home on a flatbed. I am sure you will have it fixed quickly. After a Fathers day get together, I took the 355 out for a very spirited drive. What a blast.
I didnt jump the batt posts, I jumped the batt switch poles just to eliminate the batt switch as the issue. The car started after bouncing around on the flat bed on the way home. I would be surprised if it is anything but a loose battery cable connection. It was just odd in that it occurred while driving through a smoothly paved parking lot. No way to get at the battery at that time unfortunately to check that. No harm, no foul as we all ended up home safe and sound out nothing but a tip to the AAA driver, a dad working on Father's Day.
Don't you just hate that sinking feeling when she either wont start or just dies? I cross my fingers every time I take her out. Hopefully it is a loose cable and you don't have to go crazy trying to troubleshoot an electrical problem.
I had this before on a 911, where a battery cable did come a bit loose (made no contact to the battery post anymore apparently) on a smooth highway without potholes or bumps. So no reason at all to do it on that exact moment, as far as I could see. It just happened. Was an easy fix, 911 batteries are easy to get to.
Thanks Captain Obvious, I'm sure that is exactly what the OP was looking for when he posted here for assistance, and I'm sure yours was the most helpful post.
Does your car have the bullett disconnect cable that leads to the ground? My 348 had it and it caused what you described. Might also be a lose chassis ground off that same cable. Kai
I am not aware of that on a 355 and have never seen it. That would surely be suspect if it existed. Going to have a look at the battery later today.
Dr. Bob, so what was the exact problem assuming you fixed it. Fill us in so we don't repeat your mistake .
