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No crank, no power to dashboard, battery is good

Tiny
TRINITY58
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 BUICK CENTURY
  • 3.1L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 42,000 MILES
Hello!

Came home the other day to find my roommate gone to work but the car in the driveway. First thing I checked was the battery. 12.8 volts. Next I attempted to start it. No power when turn the key to on position, no courtesy light, no headlights, nothing. Next I checked all of the Maxi Fuses and they were all good. I swapped the mini relay #13 (ignition main) with mini relay #10(cool fan 3) and had power to dash lights and courtesy light back. Turned ignition key to start, engine cranked, no start. (Sometimes it takes two tries to start) Turned key to off, then to run position. All dash lights and chimes working. Turned to start, engine cranked briefly then I heard a strange noise and lost all power. I assume I blew the swapped relay. My roommate told me when she was driving the car home she thought she heard a noise that sounded like rats under the hood, but the car kept running until she parked it. I know something is causing the ignition main relay to blow, but not sure where to start. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!
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Sunday, October 15th, 2017 AT 2:55 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 43,047 POSTS
This sounds like a battery or connection problem to me. Can you please load test the battery by following this guide?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

and if bad

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

Next I would make sure the battery connections are clean and tight.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, October 16th, 2017 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,011 POSTS
"Sound like rats" squeaking or scurrying? That could be wiring that shorted or loose/bad connections at ground or powers.
Sounds like you have a VOM? What other test gear do you have and can you follow a schematic?
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Monday, October 16th, 2017 AT 10:01 PM
Tiny
TRINITY58
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
No crank, no power to dashboard, battery is good - Fixed

Ken - I load tested the battery per the link you supplied. It tested good. Then I started cleaning connections. I got a little wire brush wheel for my dremel tool and started at the battery and worked back to the fuse box. I peeled back the rubber on the side connectors and gave them a good brushing on both sides, and then put a thin coat of dielectric grease on the clean metal. I also cleaned the body and engine ground connections. Since the relay blew while I was cranking the engine, and I was disconnecting the wires at the starter to clean them, I decided to pull the starter and have it tested. It passed the first testing, but failed the second round. Intermittent short on the motor I suppose. I replaced the two relays that were blown and got a new starter. She cranked and started right up!

Steve - I asked and those "rats" were scurrying. LOL
While checking the connections at ground as you suggested I thought why not clean all the electrical connections I can find? I started in the main fuse box and pulled every fuse and relay out. Polished up the blades with the dremel wire brush and then put a very thin coat of dielectric grease on the blades. I think I will start a project and get a can of electrical connector cleaner and hit all the connectors to the sensors, light sockets, etc.

Thank you both for your quick responses!
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Friday, October 20th, 2017 AT 7:25 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,011 POSTS
Clean connections can make a BIG difference. You have a good plan. You will be surprised at what you may find. Just be sure to disconnect the battery first, some sensors can be "fussy" if they are unplugged under power, OH and don't try cleaning the TPS sensor, they hate getting anything in them.

The reason I asked on the rats

Squeaking - could be the alternator is failing and placing a larger load on the system and the belt was squeaking due to the higher loads.

Scurrying - could be an electrical connection that was lightly arcing and it sounds similar to leaves crackling or rats claws on a floor.
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Saturday, October 21st, 2017 AT 12:14 AM
Tiny
TRINITY58
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Thanks for the advice on the TPS sensor and the explanation about the "rats" question Steve!
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Saturday, October 21st, 2017 AT 8:26 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,011 POSTS
Sometimes you don't "think outside the box" You stomp the box flat and toss it in the trash.

So will you be the go to for auto issues now?

Thank you for using 2carpros. Com, Return anytime with your automotive questions.
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Saturday, October 21st, 2017 AT 4:14 PM

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