It started yesterday when I went to start my car and nothing happened. All the instruments lite up and everything seamed fine...I turned the key and nothing, no clicking, nothing. I ended up going under the hood and played with the fuses (making sure they were all pushed in tight) and disconnected the ECU and reconnected it. I then went back inside and turned the key again and it started.

This morning I was driving and my dome clock was going off and coming back on for no reason. Then this afternoon I was driving again and first I noticed my Nav unit went blank, then my DSC and ABS lights came on. I needed to use my Nav unit so I turned the car off to see if it would come back on, which it did, then I went to restart the car, again nothing. Again I played around with the fuses and ECU hook ups with no affect, then out of the blue the car started.
When the car restarted the DSC light stayed on this time but no other lights. I got the car home and went to restart it, nothing. Now it sounds like the starter is turning but it's bogged down and when I went to turn the key my driver side window started to roll down.

I have not clue what is going on...I did do some work to the car within the last two weeks, had to have some work done to the supercharger, so the whole car was apart, but I never touched the fuses and I only disconnected the ECU. I sounds like I might have a short but I have no clue where to look.

PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

After reading so many posts about dead batteries being the cause of problems, I went out an changed mine. After cleaning the terminals and putting in a new battery the car started right up no problems.

Bad mini...now I have to go beat on you.

 

nice work doctor...

 

After I disconnect the battery, I have to hammer my battery connectors on the terminal so that the connection is good. If I don't, after a day or so, the neg cable will get a little loose and the car will die randomly. I just jump out of the car open the hood, and twist the cable around and everything is good for an hour or so...

 

for the poor connection on AliceCoopers car, it sounds like you have oxidation on the terminal posts. Get an old school terminal brush and really clean the posts till shiney. Clean the inside of the cable connectors as well. You should never hammer on the top of a battery post. Bad things can happen inside the battery if you do. If you want to go all the way there is a barrier spray you can put on the post/clamp AFTER it's all put together...

Matt

 

So the problems now continue. If I let the car sit for a little while it will start fine, but if I drive it, turn off the car then try and start it within say 5-10 mins the car just clicks once and won't start.

I'm thinking I may have a bad alternator, which really sucks because I just had the whole car apart last week . Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

Does it make any strange noises after the car is shut off and the key is pulled form the ignition?

 

I should have been more specific...the terminals are ridiculously clean...when I first had this problem, I cleaned them. I definitely DO NOT hammer the terminal head, just the ring of the connector. It is like the neg cable is just 1mm too small so it is raised above the top of the terminal by a couple of mm. I say hammer, but I usually use pliers to hit the connector until it is lower than the top of the terminal. Thanks for the concern Doc

 

What do you mean by strange noises?

 

Does it sound like something is running after it's been shut off? Like a fan or anything?

 

I noticed that it sounds like something is running and every few seconds the fan kicks on the turns right off and it keeps doing this for I dont know how long. I dont know if that could have something to do with it, but if it does then how would I fix it?

 

So that noise never stops, really? Even with the car off and the keys out of the ignition? I bet that noise is draining your battery. And I wouldn't be surprised if it is power steering pump/fan related.

 

It's my radiator fan that is turning on and off.

 

Its seams like I'm having a problem with the starter solenoid as it heats up. I'm going to change the starter and see if that clears it up.

 

Just an update...Everyone can relax. After pulling off the starter and having it pass a test I was left dumbfounded as to the problem. I brought the starter back, installed it and turned over the engine to see a giant blue spark. Turned out that one of my grounds wasn't so good SO I fixed the ground and turned the engine over again and she came right to life with no problems.

Bad mini...now I'm going to have to beat on you again.

 

So what wasn't grounded properly?

 

Ya... after everything I did, it turned out to be a bad ground wire off the motor.

 

Considering the alternatives, I'd say that was a good outcome. Congrats!