OK so here is my issue. I was driving my car back home today and my Aftermarket Radio decides to turn on and off several times without warning. I figured it had seen it days since i was having issues with it to begin with. So i pull into the garage and for grins I decide to try and start it again. I get nothing. I next few times I try it ends up setting off my alarm. All my lights and radio work etc. Next I decide to disconnect the battery and clean the connections. ( I recently had to replace the - connection since it was corroded so bad it snapped when i was cleaning it) I cleaned both + and - connections, reconnected them and and tried to start the car again this time it started but took a while for it to start you could tell it was having trouble. Im guessing it has to do with a loose connection maybe my positive connection? or could it be my battery is dead? starter? Alternator? It started fine leaving from work and coming back from the store. Any thoughts? Suggestions? If I had to guess i would say I need to replace my + connection.

 

after some more research im almost sure its a bad connection think ill replace the + connection and see if that works.

 

If you've had to mess with the connections before, I'm going to put my money on that. I used to have an issue with my battery connection. Woke up one morning with a friend to head out to an Autocross event. Stoped at Sonic for breakfast, car doesn't start back up. Try to jump it, charge it, push-start the car, nothing. I jiggle the battery connection and it starts right up. Haven't had an issue like that for a while though.

 

Well it ended up being multiple different things.

Bad Alternator
Bad Idle Pulley (Bearing went bad)
Bad Battery
and Bad Connectors.

Wasn't a cheap fix lol

 

At least it's fixed now, but I bet you're pockets are hurting a little. Did you take it to someone to get it fixed or did you do it yourself?

A while ago my alternator went bad and I had no clue about finding out how to test it and how to replace it. Little did I know it's easy as f*** to do, but I ended up paying twice as much as I should have because I took it to a shop. I just don't know much about car electronics.

 

I did not have time to do it myself so i took it to the ford dealership. Luckily I work there so i got half off if not more. Plus I was able to work while my car was being worked on.

 

I just had to spend $300 on a new alt 2 weeks ago. Not a fun day.

 

It always sucks when you have to replace a broken part on your car.

 

because you think, there goes mod money.

What things can a bad idler pulley cause?

 

That's exactly what goes through my mind when that happens.

 

remember guys, especially you folks that use dealers for repair (insanity IMHO), these are not nuclear weapons, they're just cars. Nothing in them is anything more complicated than wrenches and pliers. 12v is stupid easy if you take the time to see what's happening.

I've done it before and I'll tell you guys now, if you think you can possibly do it yourself and you're just not sure or need some tips or a complete procedure, then for the love of god PM me or one of the other similarly experienced guys with your intentions and worries and we can probably make it a 15 minute driveway job with just a few pointers.

I built almost my entire car in my driveway. There are very few things you need to have anything special for and those things are usually tools you'll need again anyway.

I've been known to give members my cell phone number and invite them to call me for help on a particular project just so they can learn to do it themselves and stretch their capabilities. Those guys have taken the bull by the ***** and decided that they'll ask for help when they need it and they'll also learn and just figure it out when they can. Those chaps have learned a lot and are way more confident now. You can be too! All you have to do is take advantage of the help and support that are made available to you here by some of our more dedicated members every day.

Remember guys, this forum is a community. We're all in this together and we all help. Don't think you're alone in a repair just because there's not another set of hands holding wrenches.

 

Unfortunately they aren't as lucky as me. If I have an issue, I can make the 10 minute drive to your house.haha But I would encourage anyone who wants to learn more to take r3d up on his offer. He knows his **** inside and out and I know I've learned a lot. Just remember, if you can take something off, you can put it back on. Just remember where things went though.haha