1993 Toyota Camry electrical glitch

JOHNMICHAELBEASLEY

MEMBER
1993 TOYOTA CAMRY
102,000 MILES

Battery checks out fine w/ multi meter. Previously, there was no power getting to the cabin from the battery, but once I moved the terminal cables around, power would come on, the car would start, and I drove happily off and lived with it (for as long as it let me!). Now moving the cables does nothing yet power does come to the cabin, but all power ceases (shorts out) once I turn the key ON in the ignition switch. Any ideas?

Saturday, November 16th, 2013 AT 3:51 PM

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

Those are the classic symptoms of a bad connection. Turn on some things like the head lights or heater fan so the problem is occurring, then start at the battery with your voltmeter, then move the probes to the cable clamps, then down to the next points to see where you lose that voltage. A test light is faster, and in this case, it can be more accurate, but the voltmeter will work fine too. If you have a smaller positive battery cable bolted to an under-hood fuse box, that is a common place to find a loose or dirty connection.

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Saturday, November 16th, 2013 AT 4:11 PM