Weird... car dies and won't even crank. Then starts like nothing happened.

[TFENT]

Morning gentleman…

Got a new one for you to ponder with me. As I do almost weekly when the weather is nice as it was this weekend I take the beast out for a cruise. So last night I am pulling into a driveway with my right turn signal on and the dash starts freaking out, head lights start flashing on and off, and it just dies…

I was on the phone at the time and thought for a brief moment I stalled it out from choosing the wrong gear but then reality hit me. I turned the key over and nothing… everything else was functioning as normal. Gauges, lights, flashers, signals, instruments, radio, ect. All working normal, it just wouldn’t even crank. I popped open the hood to inspect the new battery and no loose cables, all was fine. Tried the key again, still nada. I sat there pissed off for 5-10 mins and was just about to call a tow truck and tried it one more time. Spun right up like nothing happened at all. Drove it around the block, no problem. Parked it for an hour then drove 30 miles home. No problem.

What just happened???

[Ccmano]

Check the obvious stuff first. If the whole dash was blinking in and out, it sounds like an electrical supply, main connector or ground issue. Check the battery connections and grounds first. Sounds to me like a ground or the main harness connector through the firewall.
H

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by Ccmano

Check the obvious stuff first. If the whole dash was blinking in and out, it sounds like an electrical supply, main connector or ground issue. Check the battery connections and grounds first. Sounds to me like a ground or the main harness connector through the firewall.
H

Altho Hans is not stupid. Wish we'd get a better emoticon.

[bobbyhi]

My first thought was a ground issue but why would it start after sitting for awhile? Same thing with the wiring harness. Why not the coils are over heating?? But that normally doesn't shut the engine down. Even though the keys are new the whole ignition switch in the steering column could be shot. Just replaced that in the Caddy last week....

[tccrab]

Dumb question, but when you pulled into the driveway, was there a bump or a curb that you had to go over?
My WAG (Wild Azzed Guess) would be flexing of the frame could have put extra tension on some wiring or connector and momentarily interrupted a important ground or caused a plug to wiggle slightly in a socket.
If the headlights went on and off then it's probably something to do with the battery cables or a ground.

I'm thinking that this one will be tough nut to crack, I wish you the best of luck.

TomC
"Crabs"

[TFENT]

Originally Posted by tccrab

Dumb question, but when you pulled into the driveway, was there a bump or a curb that you had to go over?
My WAG (Wild Azzed Guess) would be flexing of the frame could have put extra tension on some wiring or connector and momentarily interrupted a important ground or caused a plug to wiggle slightly in a socket.
If the headlights went on and off then it's probably something to do with the battery cables or a ground.

I'm thinking that this one will be tough nut to crack, I wish you the best of luck.

TomC
"Crabs"

Nope died about 15 feet from the driveway. Was slowing down and downshifted with the phone in my hand when it died and gauges started to freak out. The LCD display was displaying different wording the usual. The speed numbers were circling and the instant mpg were circling. It was really weird to say the least.

[rhipsher]

Chances are you need a new starter. Mine started pulling that crap and I put a new starter in and it never happened again.

[TFENT]

Originally Posted by rhipsher

Chances are you need a new starter. Mine started pulling that crap and I put a new starter in and it never happened again.

You had the same symptoms??

[Dynomite]

If it started back up like nothing happened meaning it turned over like a full battery with full voltage.......that would suggest battery and alternator are in good shape....it would also suggest starter is in good shape as it is usually solenoids that go on starters.......which can be intermittent problems.

And from this it was a zero ground or a dead short somewhere that killed the engine as others have suggested. Then it prolly did not start again untill the location where it was shorted cooled down..... I am not sure how a poor ground would reactivate itself. If it were just battery cables, seems to me it would run on the alternator. If it did not restart...seems to me it could be battery cables......and on and on.....

As I recall......there might be a delay of 10 minutes on starting after several failed attempts as an anti theft measure...but am not sure.

You and all others reading this can tell I am guessing

This guy (WB9MCW) knows what he is talking about
http://www.zr1netregistry.com/forum/...theft+starting

meaning Dynomite

[TFENT]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

If it started back up like nothing happened meaning it turned over like a full battery with full voltage.......that would suggest battery and alternator are in good shape....it would also suggest starter is in good shape as it is usually solenoids that go on starters.......which can be intermittent problems.

And from this it was a zero ground or a dead short somewhere that killed the engine as others have suggested. Then it prolly did not start again untill the location where it was shorted cooled down..... I am not sure how a poor ground would reactivate itself. If it were just battery cables, seems to me it would run on the alternator. If it did not restart...seems to me it could be battery cables......and on and on.....

As I recall......there might be a delay of 10 minutes on starting after several failed attempts as an anti theft measure...but am not sure.

You and all others reading this can tell I am guessing

This guy (WB9MCW) knows what he is talking about
http://www.zr1netregistry.com/forum/...theft+starting

meaning Dynomite

I am really curious about this 10 min delay security thing.