GP Dead

[trailshredder]

I just jumped in my car after work, turned the key on to start, just started to turn over and everything instantly went dead. I checked the main fuse and it is good. Any ideas?

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

start checking electrical stuff.

battery
alt

does it even crank over?

[brand121]

start checking electrical stuff.

battery
alt

does it even crank over?

^^This...

[trailshredder]

start checking electrical stuff.

battery
alt

does it even crank over?

No, no lights, no chime, totally dead like no battery.

[brand121]

Then check the battery... it happens

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

check the battery's voltage.

im guessing it just died and its time for a new one.

how old is the battery? Because I bet it has too may dead cells.

[machinegunsquid]

Then more than likely, the battery is dead. Depending on the age of the battery, it might be time to replace it..

[trailshredder]

Then more than likely, the battery is dead. Depending on the age of the battery, it might be time to replace it..

5 years on it. Started and ran this morning fine.

[donmega]

no crank no start = battery

[trailshredder]

Would I at least have some instrument lights or something? Just seems strange it is all of a sudden and nothing at all comes on.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

sometimes yes, but most of the time no.

when you first tried to start it, you prolly drained it complety and now its prolly toast.

I am guessing that the battery was already weak. Sure it did start fine for a long time, but after a while it just slowy dies and now its gone.

I mean you can try charging it and seeing if it will last a little bit, but its 5 years old, and thats getting old for something that gets used every single day.

[matt5112]

corroded terminal?

Might just have to clean it off.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

corroded terminal?

Might just have to clean it off.

yea maybe that too

[onetyme77]

my girls honda did that and it ended up being the battery, most of the time it'll start to be slow to crank, that's like the only warning. And sometimes as others have said it'll jus go. if you can get to autozone (or similar) have then do an electrical test. make sure to check your alt. too. a weak battery will kill a good alt quick

[machinegunsquid]

The other thing...much simpler...check your positive/negative connections..if ones not on well, it'll do the exact same thing..

[trailshredder]

Ended up being my positive cable. I took the negative off in case it was a glitch in the ECM, but never gave thought to checking the positive. I just had both off a few months ago and always use di-electric grease on the terminals, so the last thing I would have expected is a corroded cable.

The humor in this situation is; as I was there pulling fuses, checking wiring, getting a jump, a co-worker (ford guy) pulls up and says, "wiggle the battery cables!" Fired right up after that! Must be a Ford thing, he even admitted that is what you learn when all you have owned is Fords. Made the entire event well worth the frustration!

[klj5022]

Sweet takes a ford owner to let you know what wrong they have the practice lol

[SnowDrift]

Glad it was something simple, bro. Too bad the ford guy was the one that made the suggestion. We'll give him this one...

[TheManiac]

Batteries are funny. They could work fine and suddenly WHAM! Dead! Since you have no lights/instrumentation really points to a dead battery (or you drained it completely). You have 4 options to test IMO:
1 - Check the voltage on the battery. See if a volt meter reports that it has juice.
2 - Check wires on the battery (not just the terminals). The wires may have become corroded/damaged.
3 - Jump start the car (you MIGHT be able to jump it, if it jump starts, I think it's comfortable to say, it's the battery). Let it run and get a charge. And of course, if it dies over night, it's the battery.
4 - Borrow a battery from another car.

But, to be perfectly honest, I agree with everyone else. You have a 5 year old battery. It sounds like it's just it's time. I believe most auto parts stores can charge it for free and then test if it's good (gives you a warm and fuzzy on buying a new one).

[matt5112]

Batteries are funny. They could work fine and suddenly WHAM! Dead! Since you have no lights/instrumentation really points to a dead battery (or you drained it completely). You have 4 options to test IMO:
1 - Check the voltage on the battery. See if a volt meter reports that it has juice.
2 - Check wires on the battery (not just the terminals). The wires may have become corroded/damaged.
3 - Jump start the car (you MIGHT be able to jump it, if it jump starts, I think it's comfortable to say, it's the battery). Let it run and get a charge. And of course, if it dies over night, it's the battery.
4 - Borrow a battery from another car.

But, to be perfectly honest, I agree with everyone else. You have a 5 year old battery. It sounds like it's just it's time. I believe most auto parts stores can charge it for free and then test if it's good (gives you a warm and fuzzy on buying a new one).

problem solved