Thread: Electrical problem

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OK, here goes trying to explain what happened. We were at a car show and on the way home, We stopped to eat. The car was running fine. I come out and the car just clicked. Starter wont turn over. I have great lights and power windows work. We try a jump start nothing. One of the guys noticed when I hit the key the negative battery cable would jump. Like someone was moving it. CRAZY RIGHT? So I keep trying to start it Nothing just clicks. I then remember I have a battery safety switch on the car. I turn it off and back on and the car started. Do you think the switch was or is bad? I have never in my life seen a negative cable jump like it was alive before? Thanks ahead of time for help!

Yes your switch is going bad I just had this happen to me yesterday. The altenator side opened up. So I hot wired my Nova and jumped the starter with an screwdriver then drove it home.

The cable jumping was indicative of a high amp flow.

That your other electrical was working indicates the switch is fine.

My guess is starter. It's the only thing which could channel enough power to make the cable jump.

How is your battery safety switch wired, and what type is it?

Switch is a cheap plastic one. Can't see how it is wired until I tear it out. Buried down along frame by firewall. I would say starter to but as soon as I turned the switch off and back on the car started right up. Thanks I guess trouble shooting in the morning. Tips helped now have some ways to go on this, Thanks again

Ok, another thought is the switch itself is shorting to ground. ( just as the first reply said )

Bottom line: the cable is jumping from a massive magnetic field, generated by a high amps pulse.

Keep us posted.

Did you actually see for yourself that the cable jumped? A cheap plastic switch mounted low and what sounds like to me an area exposed to the elements. Could have corrosion on the contacts especially if not used, a cycle would clean them enough to get the juice flowing.

I agree with firebird77clone with the thought that other system were working and the switch being ok. With that being in mind the starter needs the big amps to turn over. I point this out because a bad solenoid will click and because the contacts are burned it will not pass enough power to turn the starter, even with a full charge on the battery. So if the switch has a big enough resistance across the contacts it could very well reduce the power down to a point and cause the starter to not want to turn the motor.

So I guess I am back to the switch and would be where I would be looking first, to test it just remove the lugs and put a bolt through them..... Be sure to insulate the connection and drive on, or leave as is and when it raises it ugly head go right for the switch cycle it and you will have the answer.

One note I used the solenoid as a way to describe the instance, I am not saying you have a bad one, to me it is the switch.

Food for thought
pepi

I'll agree that there is/was a bad connection and that caused the cable to jump. Since you cycled the switch and it then started easily, I would investigate there first. Sounds like a weak connection in the switch to me. fwiw right?

Thanks guys. Was the switch and starter that caused the problem. Switch was grounding it's self out. Tested starter and it was in need of a rebuild! Thanks for all the help!

Thanks for the update! It's always nice to know the outcome.