Car shut off completely while driving?
03-15-2015, 01:02 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: VA
Posts: 2
Car shut off completely while driving?
Hey
I have had a Mustand 1997 base coupe 2dr v.6 3.4 For about a year.
The previous owner must not have ever done squat to it. The past year I have had to replace the oil pan,alternator and the starter. I found a fuse that had been blown in the fuse box under the hood wrapped up in aluminum foil.(That's important for later) For the past month the car would stall a bit when I went to start it but eventually started smoothly. If I left my lights on for 5 min my battery would drain completely and the car wouldn't even click to start. So I got a higher cranking power battery and thought my issue was done.
While driving the car completely shut off. Like no lights anywhere and won't start. I checked every fuse,the cables and the terminals had a good connection. They thought it was my battery again. But when they tried to jump it the jumper cables started smoking and sparked pretty bad. I am at a loss at what is going on. The starter and alternator are both new could they be bad? It has always been drawing power when turned off as every other time I have had to jump it the negative side sparks. Any ideas? Yes I had gas lol 1/2 tank at the time.
I have had a Mustand 1997 base coupe 2dr v.6 3.4 For about a year.
The previous owner must not have ever done squat to it. The past year I have had to replace the oil pan,alternator and the starter. I found a fuse that had been blown in the fuse box under the hood wrapped up in aluminum foil.(That's important for later) For the past month the car would stall a bit when I went to start it but eventually started smoothly. If I left my lights on for 5 min my battery would drain completely and the car wouldn't even click to start. So I got a higher cranking power battery and thought my issue was done.
While driving the car completely shut off. Like no lights anywhere and won't start. I checked every fuse,the cables and the terminals had a good connection. They thought it was my battery again. But when they tried to jump it the jumper cables started smoking and sparked pretty bad. I am at a loss at what is going on. The starter and alternator are both new could they be bad? It has always been drawing power when turned off as every other time I have had to jump it the negative side sparks. Any ideas? Yes I had gas lol 1/2 tank at the time.
03-15-2015, 10:50 PM
#2
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 1,155
Your car is 18 years old. Things will break. Come on, get serious here.
For the battery, those only last a handful of years. It is guaranteed that they will fail at one point. You did not need a higher cranking power battery but that certainly won't hurt.
The only reason the jumper cables would smoke is if someone was an idiot and crossed the cables.
I'm sure your car has high mileage. Even if it doesn't it's still 18 years old and mechanical things will fail.
For the battery, those only last a handful of years. It is guaranteed that they will fail at one point. You did not need a higher cranking power battery but that certainly won't hurt.
The only reason the jumper cables would smoke is if someone was an idiot and crossed the cables.
I'm sure your car has high mileage. Even if it doesn't it's still 18 years old and mechanical things will fail.
03-16-2015, 09:16 AM
#3
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,061
Once you have a good battery back in there, Google "parasitic drain" and read up on tracking down what's causing the drain. Fairly simple thing to do as my car had one also when I got it.
You didn't finish the story about the tin foil fuse, what circuit was/is it on ? I'd pull that out right away and replace with the appropriate rated fuse. If it blows again, replace whatever is causing it to pull the extra juice.
Good luck
You didn't finish the story about the tin foil fuse, what circuit was/is it on ? I'd pull that out right away and replace with the appropriate rated fuse. If it blows again, replace whatever is causing it to pull the extra juice.
Good luck
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