OSP

I jumped in the car to head out for a spin, and no power what so ever, no interior lights, nothing, just like a flat out dead battery… though the battery is not dead. The inside door lights flickered and came on for a few seconds, though when I turn the key, the lights are out and dead completely. I opened the rear hatch to test the battery and accidently set off the alarm, which worked as it was suppose to and was very powerful… I checked the ground from the battery and it seems good.

This is very strange, I have never had an issue starting before and the battery is new this spring. I had driven the car about 2 hours before this, and it was fine.

Are there other connections I should be looking at or master fuses anywhere?

Thanks

tveltman

Is this a symptom of the dome light failure? If so, new battery is coincidence.

OSP

no, everything is dead, no horn, no lights, nothing.... though alarm seemed to work.

shmark

Ignition switch. Try jiggling the key and if you get power, your ignition switch is due for replacement.

BBX

Are your battery terminals tight? Take them off and clean them then tighten them back up. Sounds like a loose or corroded terminal.

BBX

Oh, wait. Your car started. Never mind. It does sound like a ground or a short somewhere...

paalw

BB, what drugs are you on?? i would like to try some just kidding, but read again

OSP

battery connections are good. I just looked it over again, the inside lights came on, when i turned on the headlights, all the lights went out, then came back on 2 seconds later, turn key all the way to start and all go out.

tailpipe

Could be burnt out diods in the alt my car did that a couple times just replaced the diod pack and all was great after.

WallyP

"battery connections are good." Oh, really?

All of these?
Ground strap at battery terminal
Ground strap itself.
Ground strap connection at chassis.

Positive cable at battery.
Positive cable itself.
Positive cable at starter solenoid.
Cable to jump start terminal at solenoid.
Cable to jump start terminal itself.
Cable to jump start terminal at jump start terminal.
Cable from jump start terminal to Central Electric at jump start terminal.
Cable from jump start terminal to Central Electric at Central Electric.
Ground cable from engine to chassis at engine.
Ground cable from engine to chassis at chassis.
Ground cable from engine to chassis itself.

You have a bad cable or connection on one of the main battery cables or grounds, or a faulty battery. "New" does not always equal "good".

shmark

Right-click, copy, save....

BBX

Oh your in S.D.? i think I have a spare ignition switch. It's yours if I have it, I will look for it later.
Have you tried cycling your key a few times? It fixes everything for me...

BBX

paalw, I'd tell you, but I might get banned...

OSP

thanks guys for the suggestions, i giggled the keys around in the ignition and this seems to have done the job, lights back on and she starts right up... will need to keep an eye on this one.

shmark

Yep ignition switch is toast. You'll find that when you start the car, turning the key back about 10 degrees and leaving it there will fix it. Various theories, but most accept that the weight of the keychain pulling down eventually ruins the contacts and turning the key back a little hits a better spot. Mine did exactly the same thing.